In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
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From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 7–10—Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie's first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. The daily struggles of reservation life and the tragic deaths of the protagonist's grandmother, dog, and older sister would be all but unbearable without the humor and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world. The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney's simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney's illustrations. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Arnold Spirit, a goofy-looking dork with a decent jumpshot, spends his time lamenting life on the "poor-ass" Spokane Indian reservation, drawing cartoons (which accompany, and often provide more insight than, the narrative), and, along with his aptly named pal Rowdy, laughing those laughs over anything and nothing that affix best friends so intricately together. When a teacher pleads with Arnold to want more, to escape the hopelessness of the rez, Arnold switches to a rich white school and immediately becomes as much an outcast in his own community as he is a curiosity in his new one. He weathers the typical teenage indignations and triumphs like a champ but soon faces far more trying ordeals as his home life begins to crumble and decay amidst the suffocating mire of alcoholism on the reservation. Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here. Chipman, Ian
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By TeensReadToo
Format:Hardcover
I'll admit -- I put off reading THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN for well over a year, in favor of more "exciting" books. Boy, what a mistake I made!
Told from the perspective of thirteen-year-old Arnold Spirit, an intelligent, observant, sarcastic Indian born with encephalitis and a love of cartooning, Sherman Alexie takes us along with him as he moves away from a circumscribed, oppressive life on the Spokane reservation towards a more promising future by attending an all-white school thirty miles away.
Never one to get bogged down in sentiment or self-pity, Mr. Alexie refuses to present Arnold's friends and family as one-dimensional stereotypes, nor is the world beyond "rez" borders portrayed as the Great White Hope. Arnold's family has problems, to be sure: an alcoholic father, an enabling, codependent mother; a near shut-in older sister. But their love for each other is evident through their words and actions. And despite the ostracism and ridicule heaped upon him by former friends and other tribe members, Arnold reacts with biting wit rather than total despair.
This has to be one of the best books I've ever read in my life, so I hope everyone gives it a try.
Reviewed by: Cat
Told from the perspective of thirteen-year-old Arnold Spirit, an intelligent, observant, sarcastic Indian born with encephalitis and a love of cartooning, Sherman Alexie takes us along with him as he moves away from a circumscribed, oppressive life on the Spokane reservation towards a more promising future by attending an all-white school thirty miles away.
Never one to get bogged down in sentiment or self-pity, Mr. Alexie refuses to present Arnold's friends and family as one-dimensional stereotypes, nor is the world beyond "rez" borders portrayed as the Great White Hope. Arnold's family has problems, to be sure: an alcoholic father, an enabling, codependent mother; a near shut-in older sister. But their love for each other is evident through their words and actions. And despite the ostracism and ridicule heaped upon him by former friends and other tribe members, Arnold reacts with biting wit rather than total despair.
This has to be one of the best books I've ever read in my life, so I hope everyone gives it a try.
Reviewed by: Cat
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was recommended this text from a number of colleagues in my middle/high school. I purchased my own personal copy, and a number of reluctant readers in my classes (grades 10 and 11) were drawn to this particular text. I purchased another 2 copies, and they are now well worn. In a few short months, I have had at least 5 "non-readers" pick up this text and finish it within days. In my school, we have a number of students from neighbouring reserves, and they have said time and again that they identify with the protagonist in the text. I recommend this text for anyone ages 12+, with a stress on high school students.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ray Ray
Format:Paperback
This book was so fun to read, but is also very deep. I think anyone can relate no matter what your background is!
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mrs Q: Book Addict
Publisher: Little Brown
Pages: 288
Source: Personal Copy
Sherman Alexie has written a book that has really hit home with me. Read more
Pages: 288
Source: Personal Copy
Sherman Alexie has written a book that has really hit home with me. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mrs. Q: Book Addict
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
This is and absolutely delightful book. As one other review states though - it will make you laugh until your heart breaks. Will be looking for more books by this author.
Published on May 30 2011 by Bookworm
3.0 out of 5 stars
School quality?
I ordered a class set of this novel. It came with removable paper covers over boring blue hardcovers. Read more
Published on Feb 19 2011 by D. Skinn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sheer Brilliance!
Sherman Alexie is a genius. It's as simple as that.
This wonderfully funny, serious and moving book is a roman a clef of Alexie's life. His protagonist, Arnold Jr. Read more
This wonderfully funny, serious and moving book is a roman a clef of Alexie's life. His protagonist, Arnold Jr. Read more
Published on July 26 2010 by BeatleBangs1964
4.0 out of 5 stars
Serious Issues and Lots of Humour
On his first day of class, Junior threw a geometry textbook at his teacher, and broke the teacher''s nose. It was an accident, of course. Read more
Published on Dec 29 2009 by K. Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty Awesome!
Junior is an Indian boy who dislikes his life at the reserve. Life at the reserve contains almost a monotonous feeling of despair. Read more
Published on Jan 5 2008 by Reader Rabbit
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