My name is not easy

Luke knows his Iñupiaq name is full of sounds white people can't say. So he leaves it behind when he and his brothers are sent to boarding school hundreds of miles away from their Arctic village. At Sacred Heart School, students -- Eskimo, Indian, White -- line up on different sides of the cafeteria like there's some kind of war going on. Here, speaking Iñupiaq -- or any native language -- is forbidden. And Father Mullen, whose fury is like a force of nature, is ready to slap down those who disobey. Luke struggles to survive at Sacred Heart. But he's not the only one. There's smart-aleck Amiq, a daring leader -- if he doesn't self-destruct; Chickie, blond and freckled, a different kind of outsider; and small, quiet Junior, noticing everything and writing it all down. They each have their own story to tell. But once their separate stories come together, things at Sacred Heart School -- and the wider world -- will never be the same.

"Book design by Alex Ferrari ; Editor: Melanie Kroupa"--Title page verso.

pt. I: The day the earth turned over (1960-1961) : My name is not easy / Luke ; Looking for a tree / Chickie ; Never cry / Luke ; Indian country / Sonny and Chickie ; How hunters survive / Luke ; Snowbird / Chickie ; Kickball / Sonny ; The size of things back home / Luke, Sonny & Chickie -- pt. II: The day the soldiers came (1961-1962) : Rose hips and chamomile / Donna ; Burnt offerings / Luke ; Military trash / Chickie ; The day the soldiers came / Luke ; The meanest heathens / Sonny and Amiq -- pt. III: When the time comes (1962-1963) : Coupons and bomb shelters / Chickie ; Our uncle's gun / Luke ; Eskimo kiss / Chickie ; Forever / Luke -- pt. IV: The earth can't shake us (1963-1964) : He's my brother / Chickie ; Eskimo rodeo / Luke ; Unchained Melody / Donna ; A weak spot or a secret strength / Luke ; Our story ; Civil disobedience ; Good Friday -- A new gun / Luke.