Book Blab @ Stevenson H. S.

2007 Young Adult National Book Award Winner

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

Review by Mrs. Dettling

From the very first moment I began reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I had one thought floating around in my head, this is such a great book for guys! A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story written in a first person narrative, complete with drawings by graphic artist Ellen Forney, basketball, angry young men, and an unrequited crush.

Life has never been easy for 14-year-old Spokane Indian Arnold “Junior” Spirit. Junior is bright, very poor, an aspiring cartoonist, and the son of an alcoholic, living on a reservation in Wellpinit, WA. Junior never considers asking for more out of life until he has an angry outburst in math class that leaves him suspended. Junior’s math teacher visits him at home and inspires him to want more than the life of poverty that engulfs all the young Native Americans on the rez. Junior takes the advice seriously and enrolls in the all-white high school in a neighboring farm town. Junior finds himself an outcast in his own community and a curiosity in his new school.