As the book limps to an end, I feel it is necessary to reflect on what I thought of the book as a whole. I must say, it left something to be desired. Although there were several occasions where I found it quite relatable, the flow of the plot and the overall message seemed to be lacking. There were a lot of cliches throughout the story that I feel took away from the message. Even the writing itself was often much too bland. But through all this, I still think the story had several important lessons to be learned. For example, it seems that music has the power to get you through anything. Or unique cultures, specifically Native American culture, need to be preserved. I'm sure there's others that I just can't think of at the moment, but you get the point. If the book was written better, I think the many messages would be more effective.
     As we entered the last section of reading, Coyote Springs is about to play with a contract on the line. It's clear they're nervous. "Inside the recording studio at Cavalry Records in New York City, Coyote Springs nervously re-tuned their already tuned instruments" (223). This is an example of one of those relatable times. When people are nervous they sometimes redo things that are really unnecessary. Like, tying your cleats over and over again before an importants soccer game. It's like everything needs to be perfect. That's what they were going through, and I feel for them. In a newspaper article about the audition, Junior says, "Listen, if we make it big, it just means we won't have to eat commodity food anymore" (228). I like this quote because it shows that Junior especially is still very humble about this amazing opportunity. He's not concerned about becoming famous or rich, he just wants to be able to eat normal food. What kind of modern artist would be satisfied with that? None. That's one of the differences between the Native American culture and our culture. They are much more appreciative of what they obtain because they work so hard for everything.
     Finally, as I had said above, the book seems to emphasize the differences between our cultures. This is true right to the very end. as they decide to leave the Reservation, seemingly for good, Thomas says, "Anywhere off the reservation, is a long ways from the reservation" (304). this quote basically sums up what the group will have to go through for as long as they remain outside the reservation. The rest of the world is such a harsh contrast that it makes for a difficult transition for many Native Americans.