Chapters 9 and 10 Summary

The story transitions from Rayona's perspective to that of Christine's as Christine explains her troubled childhood, lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Lee. Lee is tall and beautiful, while Christine is heavy set and struggles, both with her looks, and with Aunt Ida, who clearly prefers Lee. Ironically, Lee does not realize how desirable he is to other people, or the intensity of Christine's jealousy for all that Lee has.

It is the middle of the 1960's and the world is filled with peace demonstrations and talk of the Vietnam War on TV, but that world seems far removed from the reservation where Christine and Lee are finishing their high school years. The tight brother and sister relationship is challenged when a young man named Dayton moves to the reservation and becomes Lee's best friend.

Lee and Dayton become...