The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 0316013684

Plot

Arnold Spirit, Jr. or "Junior", lives on a Spokane Indian Reservation. After an incident with a teacher Junior realizes that the reservation does not value education as much as they should. His father is an alcoholic, while his mother is constantly working for the family. Junior discovers that his sister was also a really good student but she now does nothing with her life. Junior does not want to end up like her so he decides to transfer to Reardan High, a white school that is more than twenty miles away. When he decides to transfer his friend, Rowdy, and others are upset that he is leaving the reservation. Junior turns out to be the only Indian at Rearden high. Rowdy is upset with Junior for leaving and vows never to speak to him again. While at Reardan, Junior feels like an outcast as well but does mind since he is actually being intellectually challenged at school. Junior wants to prove his social standing to those on the reservation and those at Reardan and decides to join the basketball team, and he is actually a good player. When faced with playing against the reservations team he begins to get nervous since he has to play against his ex-best friend. Throughout this high school woes, Junior faces many other challenges along the way, include the death of loved ones.

Critical Evaluation

This novel leaves the reader feeling sorrow but yet hopeful for Junior but Sherman uses underlying humor to deal with serious issues. Many of the scenes and drawing were funny but at the same the situations were not humorous. Sherman uses humor to deal with serious issues which is how the young character dealt with things. The reader feels the same emotions as Junior told through Sherman's use of language.

Reader's Annotation

Arnold Spirit, Jr. is a Spokane Indian teenager who leaves the reservation school system to join the "whites." Arnold has to prove to those on the reservation that he is not a "sell-out" but is it really worth it?

Information about the Author

This is Sherman Alexie's first book for young adults is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles.

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Talk about life on a reservation

2) Read excerpt when Junior wins the basketball game but feel guilty

Reading Level/Interest Age

Young Adult

Challenge Issues and Defense

Some of the issues that are discussed in the novel include, masturbation, eating disorders, physical abuse, and racism which are controversial and maybe more suitable in high school rather than middle school.

The book does not glorify any of these topics. The novel has also won the National Book Award in 2007.

Why included in selection?

I was one of the books that we had to read and it became my favorite.