Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown.
Plot Summary:
Life for Arnold Spirit (aka.Junior), on the Spokane Indian Reservation, is not at all glamorous. Not only does he have a bunch of medical problems, alcoholic relatives, mediocore access to education, lives in a run down trailer, and is the number one target on every bullies list (even the adults), he is also very lonely except for his grandmother. Junior is not only embarrassed by the poverty that has enveloped his family, home, and community, he longs for something greater where he can forget about the problems at home and within himself. Thankfully, the one outlet Junior can rely on to to relieve all the frustration and anguish is drawing.Despite begin physically inept, Junior is actually quite smart and really funny.
Just when life cannot get anymore "exciting," Junior has been accepted into an all white school that will require him to leave the "Rez," which brings a lot of uproar from the community. Although this is a great opportunity for him to get a better education, the simple fact that he is attending an all white school, Junior has been become a "traitor" for leaving his him and people. Moreover, when he falls in love/lust with Penelope (whose father is a huge racist), his life takes even more interesting twists than he expected. Of all people to be on a basketball team, Junior is chosen to take on a task that is close to impossible since he has no physical talent other than outrunning the bullies on the reservation.
Critical Evaluation:
Sherman Alexie is probably one the greatest, and well-known, Native American in the United States. Although known for his adult fiction books, Alexie has written a book/memoir for teens to convey that no matter who we are and where we come from, we always have a choice to be better. This story is absolutely hysterical simply because Alexie takes a "sensitive" issue and provides another aspect how history always manages to repeat itself. Through the use of cartoon bubbles and witty dialogue, Alexie uses these tools to express non PC (politically incorrect) thoughts in manner that makes them almost ridiculous. Also readers who are unfamiliar with the issues that have been plaguing the Native Americans such as poor housing, limited access to resources, the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs), and continued isolation of these people, will be humbled by this well written account of one Native American teen. This book is filled with tons of information that would be great for any teen book club and as part of any school curriculum, especially when students are learning about American History.
Reader's Annotation:
Arnold Spirit (aka. Junior) is special. Not only was he born with "water on the brain," but he is the number one target on every bully's list. He is not at all popular, but he is smart and talented, which helps him escape the mundane world he lives in on the Spokane Indian Reservation. In order to free himself from the curse of alcoholism and unhappiness, Junior enrolls in an all white high school that lands him on the basketball team and labeled him a traitor to his people.
Information about the Author:
Sherman Alexie is Arnold Spirit (this novel is based on his life). According to his website, Alexie planned on becoming a doctor, but ended up giving that up since he kept fainting in Anatomy and enrolled in creative writing. Alexie excelled in writing and has written numerous award winning titles such as: Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven and Reservation Blues. In fact, Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven, was turned into a movie, entitled Smoke Signals, that one acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival.
Alexie has also received many awards for his poetry and he is actually an accomplished public speaker, director, and comedian. In 2010, he won the Faulkner Award for Fiction (War Dances), and his first young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, won the National Book Award in 2007 and the audiobook of this titled won the Odyssey Award in 2009. Alexie continues to make a difference by encouraging dialogue between the many ethnic groups that make up this country.
Genre:
Memoir
Curriculum Tie-In's:
N/A
Booktalking Ideas:
Given the humorous aspect of this book, it should definitely be the main tool in introducing readers to this title. Whether it's a witty introduction, or a a world history lesson in sixty second featuring the Native Americans, this should definitely hook the readers into Alexie's story about growing up on a reservation and how he took his own future into his hands to be who is today.
Reading/Interest Level:
Grades 9 & up
Books Similar to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian:
- American Born Chinese by Gene Yuen Lang
- A Step from Heaven by An Na
Challenge Issues:
Being a guy, there are going to be certain subject matters that are considered taboo (sexual urges, masturbation, etc.). This book recently went under fire, and actually pulled, from one public school in Missouri because the language was vulgar, the descriptions of violence, alcoholism, and S-E-X. Although it can be argued that these reasons are not valid enough for the removal of this title, the school board ultimately could not be swayed and the teens of Springfield, Missouri will never have the opportunity to read this title. As a Librarian, if something life this goes this far, the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom should be notified since they have a building full of lawyers who would love to take on this case. Moreover, I will do everything that I can to, within my duties, to make sure that everything can be done to keep this book on the shelf.
Why I Picked this Book?
I chose this book because it tackles a group of people who, in my opinion, have been left to the wayside. I actually watched an episode of Extreme Home Makeover and the house that was being renovated was a dilapidated trailer on an Indian Reservation. The young man who sent the videotape managed to create a solar heating unit out of soda cans to create clean heat for his asthmatic sister, which left me in tears. By seeing the condition of the home, and the rest of the homes, on the reservation, I was just appalled. Coincidentally, I came across this novel and just loved it simply because despite the difference in their situations, these two guys decided to make a difference in themselves, and everyone around them, which is a noble trait that teens should see and practice.
Awards/Recognition:
- National Book Award Winner
References:
Penprase, M. (2010, September 9). Stockton book ban upheld 7-0 in packed public forum | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader. News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader | Springfield news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Springfield, MO. Retrieved December 29, 2010, from http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100909/NEWS04/9090375/Stockton-book-ban-upheld-7-0-in-packed-public-forum
ShermanAlexie.com: Biography. (n.d.). ShermanAlexie.com: The Official Site of Sherman Alexie. Retrieved December 29, 2010, from http://www.fallsapart.com/biography.html
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