The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary

of a Part-Time Indian

By Sherman Alexie

Art by Ellen Forney

Little, Brown and Company

Copyright 2007

pp. 230

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Required

     This is a very moving and touching young adult novel. Nothing is sugar coated; the reader can definitely feel the characters’ pain and grief. The themes include prejudice, grief, alcoholism, poverty, determination, hope, friendship, and family. Junior, a fourteen year old boy, lives on the Indian reservation of Wellpinit and is the narrator of this novel. His observations are both humorous and heartbreaking. Junior is the designated punching bag of the reservation. He has one friend, Rowdy, who tries his best to protect Junior, alcoholic parents, and a sister who will not leave the basement. One day at school, Junior decides he has had enough of poverty and throws his thirty year old geometry book across the classroom, which hits his teacher in the face. This incident becomes a wake up call to Junior’s teacher, Mr. P. He visits Junior at home and encourages Junior to want more for himself. Junior then decides he wants to go to school in Reardon, the small white town outside the reservation. This decision leads to many obstacles for Junior, he becomes an outcast on the reservation and in his new school. However, Junior has one thing that no one can take away from him, hope.

     While reading this book, I did not know whether to laugh or cry. There were so many moving moments. For example, when Junior’s beloved grandmother died, I could feel his pain, frustration, and loneliness. It reminded me of my own grandfather’s funeral. Then there were parts that reminded me this is definitely a book narrated by a fourteen year old boy, such as when Junior and Gordy are discussing if a book should give someone a boner. The art work throughout the book is superb and definitely enhances the text. It helps the reader get a true sense of Junior and the world he lives in. I do not believe the book would be the same without the art work. I would certainly recommend this book for upper middle school students. I believe there are several life lessons to be learned by reading this terrific novel.