LSSL 5385: Book 1

The Absolutely True diary of a Part-Time Indian

By Sherman Alexie

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.

Junior is a fourteen year old boy who was born with hydrocephalus, poor eyesight, and a lisp. On top of all that he is an adolescent boy dealing with the struggles of fitting in and discovering who he really is. As a result, Junior is picked on by his fellow peers and even some adults and has become a permanent member of the black eye of the month club. Junior lives on the Spokane Reservation with his alcoholic parents, older sister, and his grandmother. He’s had a tough time growing up but he has an outlet with his drawings and his best friend Rowdy. Rowdy is being raised by an alcoholic father too and that’s part of the reason he’s attained the reputation of being the meanest boy on the reservation. Junior can count on Rowdy to protect him and knows if someone messes with him that Rowdy will take care of it.

Junior is excited to be starting high school and looking forward to having geometry with one of his sister’s favorite teachers Mr. P. Although once class starts and textbooks are passed out, Junior realizes that his textbook was previously his mothers and that it would make the textbook at least thirty years old. Junior feels a range of emotions when he discovers that fact, but ultimately anger takes over and he throws the book, hits Mr. P with it, and breaks his nose. He’s suspended and sent home, but is surprised a week into his suspension when Mr. P shows up at his house. Mr. P shares with Junior and gives him great advice; that Junior deserves better than what the reservation has to offer him. In order for Junior to take his hope and to become something better he has to leave the reservation. Junior’s plan is to attend Reardan High School, and even though his parents know transportation will be tough they support his decision to switch schools. Once people on the reservation hear of his decision he becomes a trader in their eyes, and even his best friend Rowdy has turned against him. This is when Junior starts to feel as if his now a part-time Indian.

At Reardan, Junior realizes that everything is now different, and the shift to a part-time Indian is now permanent. At his new school, they call him by his first name, Arnold, rather than Junior. Junior soon discovers that fistfights are completely different than they are in Spokane, and he has to become acquainted on how things are done in Reardan. There are three students who are influential in Junior’s first year at Reardan; Penelope, Gordy, and Roger. He meets Penelope in homeroom on the first day, and believes she is the prettiest girls he has ever seen. Junior discovers that Penelope has an eating disorder, tries to be there for her, and they begin dating. Gordy is a student who comes to Junior’s aid in class and helps him defend the correct definition of petrified wood to the teacher. Junior approaches Gordy with the suggestion that they should be friends, and over time a great friendship develops. Roger is the student who was picking on Junior, and when Junior punched him he earned his respect. Over time they become friends, and Roger encourages Junior to try out for the basketball team. Junior is always self-conscious about money, but when he gets in bind Roger helps him out and Penelope even understands. Junior is pleasantly surprised that his lack of money doesn’t change his status, and that he has made true friends while attending Reardan.

Junior has several tragic events take place during his freshman year at Reardan, and most are the result of alcohol. His grandmother is killed by a drunk driver, his sister and her husband were too drunk to realize that their trailer was on fire, and his dad’s best friend is drunkenly killed by a friend. Junior does make the varsity basketball team, but this creates more agitation among residents of the reservation. The first game against Spokane, Junior is ridiculed and booed at, and ends up with stitches and a concussion. The second game results in an amazing victory for Junior and Reardan, but at the end of the game he realizes that he has broken the spirit of Spokane. After his grandmother’s wake though, the people on the reservation stop being mean to Junior and he even reconciles with Rowdy.

Sherman Alexie writes in a relatable, easy to understand way for young adult readers. His use of analogies and figurative language allow the audience to relate to Junior’s character and to understand how Junior is feeling during this transformative time in his life. Forney’s illustrations capture what Junior is feeling, and helps to create Junior’s creative outlet of his drawings and cartoons. Junior’s life resembles Alexie’s life in a few aspects, they both were born with hydrocephalus, lived in Spokane, had alcoholic fathers, and attended Reardan. Although there reasons for attending Reardan are different, Alexie needed to attain credits to attend college not because he threw a book. Both Junior and Alexie exemplify the characteristic of perseverance and striving to attain a better future. Although at times it was hard to read of Junior’s struggles and the impact that alcohol played in his life, it was truly amazing to read how he never gave up and continue to love his father even with his imperfections. Junior chose to see the best in people, and is great example for young adult readers.

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