The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a novel written by
Sherman Alexie. The protagonist of the book is a part-time Indian named Arnold "Junior" Spirit. He is a feeble cartoonist who lives in the Spokane Indian reservation. Arnold faces several problems everyday because of his misfortunate luck and his parents' poverty. Arnold sometimes can't go to school because his parents run out of money to buy gasoline, so he hitchhikes or walks for a long time. His problems deepen when he throws his geometry book unintentionally at his own geometry teacher's face, Mr. P. His geometry teacher doesn't get angry at Arnold, but persuades him to not stay in the same school anymore and move to another school.
I appreciated and enjoyed reading this book. My opinions are that this book was written by a very heavily influenced author and this book's fantastic story makes a great fictional diary. This book was also a National Book Award winner, which makes sense because the book was incredible.
Sherman Alexie has made chronicles of a teenager who faces difficulties as a part time Indian that lives in America.
-Reviewed by Elliott, grade 9.
Comments
The novel’s content looked pretty childish in a cool mature way at least. I liked how there were some graphics in the book. It reminded me of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series I used to read consistently when I was little. The cover of the book also looked pretty cool too except I started to wonder why some of the icons look like those typical green military action figures you'd see from Toy Story. And the font was bold in blue which is also a good thing. What's also better is since this is only a fictional diary, it wasn't so detailed because the story only lasted about 230 pages. Even though I didn't like the part where some of the scenes were a bit inappropriate, I thought it was still kind of funny based on how I looked at the tone. In fact, this was a banned book in the past because of the sexual innuendo content and the intense foul language being used. Also, another reason why this book was banned is because there are some racial offenses here that can be made towards a certain reader. I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone because it can look offensive and inappropriate depending on how an individual would look at it since everyone has different perspectives when it comes to literature on controversial things. So maybe starting around 14 years of age like Junior, you can probably begin reading this book as long as you know there is sensitive content here.
Reviewed by Hannah R., Grade 10
Downtown Central Library
My opinion about the book is positive the book was very funny and I liked the positivity of Junior, he was positive about the bad and good things that happened in his life. I think a lot of people probably mostly teenagers would like the book because of the way the characters react to the problems. The book made me feel bad for Junior because how others treated him and I thought if the same would happen to him if Rowdy was still with him and protected him.
Reviewed by A.T., Grade 9
Central Library
Junior's life is hard -- at school and at home -- but he overcomes it all, regardless of all the hindrances that come with high school life.
I think this book was extremely touching and covered many taboo topics like alcohol abuse, bullying, and violence with grace. Sherman Alexie does an excellent job showcasing the story of a Native American in an all-white environment and how he handles that extreme culture shock that comes with it.
I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys non-fiction and high school stories. Even if you think you wouldn't enjoy it, you should give it a try. You never know! This was a great read and I'll definitely read it again in the future.
Reviewed by Melody S., Grade 10
Montrose Library
I liked this because this book shows me what the people that have disabilities are going through. I think everyone will love this book because it is a very fun book to read. This book has a very interesting story line and this book was also based on a true story. This book made me think about things I could've done to help people with disabilities. I really recommend you to read this book because it shows you what the people with disabilities go through every day and how they go through living with disabilities.
Reviewed by First Name, Grade 9
Casa Verdugo Library
This is a hilarious book. There are many insulting and racist jokes. Junior is a great protagonist that gets through the many obstacles of his life. The story is partly true along with the setting. There are many symbols and themes that, when understood, make the story better. You feel true sorrow for Junior. Another great character in Grandmother Spirit. She is very wise and meets a sad end. A 9/10 book with funny illustrations and dialogue.
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
Personally, I truly enjoyed this read. Sherman Alexie captures the reality of the hardships a teen faces throughout their life. He gets a unique perspective of how it feels to be different in a world that is not excepting. With this, Alexie inspires his readers to embrace their diverse qualities in a positive manner or live up to what they believe. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for some motivation, inspiration, and merely a good laugh.
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 8
Glendale Central Library