"Okay, the description isn't racist in and of itself, but I've read it three or four times and it SOUNDS racist, but not in a way I can pinpoint. Am I just looking for reasons to hate this book at this point or does anyone else get the vibe?"

I think it was the bit about the reservation. Because, of course, Native Americans don't live anywhere but reservations, and "going off the reservation" is BAD.

(EDIT: Thank you for fixing the format ... I get the sense that it took a while.)