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




1. Bibliography:
Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Ill. Ellen Forney. Little, Brown and Company. New York: 2007. ISBN: 9780316013680

2. Plot Summary:
Junior lives on a Spokane Indian Reservation. He makes a decision to go to school off the reservation. Going to school off the reservation, he is made to feel as a traitor with his best friend and his Native American community. This is a snapshot for one year of his life and how he became strong to become the person he is today.

3. Characters:
Junior is the protagonist. He finds himself in conflicts with his family, friends, community, and himself. He finds the strength to leave and better himself in ways he knows how to do it.
Rowdy is the antagonist. He starts off as Junior’s best friend, but that soon changes. He becomes the enemy towards Junior on the court, and in his community. Even though he is in conflict with Junior, he is also his biggest support and strength.

4. Setting:
There are two settings. Each one represents a side that Junior is having conflicts with. The first one is the reservation. This is where his roots are planted. The author brings out specific cultural symbols to support the Native American way of life. The Pow Wow dances, and attire for these sacred traditions. Even though during the grandmother’s funeral the Pow Wow dress is not hers, the author talks about the beading, colors, and weight of the dress. Another way he shows the culture is the heavy ways the people drink. Drinking is one of the main causes of deaths of Native Americans. When his dad’s best friend, and grandmother have a connection to their deaths with alcohol. The author explains through his eyes how detrimental it is for his tribe. The second on is in Reardan high school. This represents where he wants to go with in his life and how he will get there. The author shows Junior having a difficult time fitting in with people that do not live on the reservation. Penelope’s father shows prejudice against Junior, not only because he is a Native American but a male too. He threatens him if he touched his daughter.

5. Illustrations:
The illustrations are drawn like cartoon animations. Each single drawing is a symbolism for what is happening in the story at the time. These symbols are strong feelings and representations of key concepts from the main character. The comic strip graphics tell a story with in the story. The humor from the author is showing how the character tries to deal with hardships with laughter.

6. Theme:
Identifying oneself as a part of one culture or the other. The author shows this theme by separating the setting; Reardan, and the reservation. This causes Junior to show how lost he feels, and becomes. The author then has the antagonist Rowdy guide Junior into finding himself throughout the story.

7. Cultural Markers:
There are several stereotypes that must be placed in this story. In order for the author to convey the characters feelings, and how he overcomes them. Junior learns that not all white people have hate towards Native Americans. Roger shows that he is a nice guy and befriends Junior. The authenticity is the story is present to be real life. He shows this by taking real people and events and connecting them to a fictional character. There are no source notes, or author’s notes in the book. There is an interview section with the illustrator. She talks about the process in creating her illustrations for this book. The minority characters are not shown as equals in the story, but is shown that a lot of Native Americans have too much pride to better themselves. It is not until one character takes a risk and betters themselves by leaving schools. This action makes a wave that others want the same thing. There are no non-English words in this story. This story can resonate to several young adults in many situations. This story defiantly stands on its own.

8. Connections Teacher and Library Corner:
The students will create a book trailer or movie trailer for this book. The students will need to be in groups of 2-4. Each group will come up with a skit, or ideas to present the many themes in the story, summary of the book, and the main characters. Each video will be presented in class and graded by their peers and teacher.

9. You Tube:
There is not an official book trailer, but there are some great book trailers mad by high school students.  



Here are some videos that Mr. Alexie read, talk, and discuss about his work. 



10. Review Excerpts:
"A Native American equivalent of Angela's Ashes." Publishers Weekly

"Realistic and fantastical and funny and tragic-all at the same time." VOYA

"The line between dramatic monologue, verse novel, and stand up comedy gets unequivocally-and hilariously and triumphantly-bent in this novel." Horn Book

"Nimbly blends sharp with unapologetic emotion....fluid narration deftly mingles raw feelings with funny, sardonic insight.” Kirkus Reviews, 

"Breathtakingly honest, funny, profane, sad....will stay with readers." KLIATT

11. Children’s Review:
“This story is about an Indian teenager named Junior (also named) Arnold Spirit who met a lot of tragedies and obstacles. This book taught me an important lesson: “Life Is Not Perfect”. Some parts in the story were sad and some parts happened so sudden that I wished that I could make changes to it. Also, Junior in the story was really brave, braver than anyone I met before. If I was him, I would never go to that all-white school and I would never join the basketball team. Even if I transferred to the all-white school, I wouldn’t have the courage to meet my one and only friend Rowdy, and I wouldn’t have the guts to talk to my crush Penelope. His persistence determined me that everyone could cross the border and do the same thing that he did.” Joanne

“I really enjoyed this book about a kid who had a tough life. It gives you inspiration. It does have some rude-humor, so maybe I would recommend 11plus years of age.” Bacon Bitzz

12. Awards and Recognitions:
2008 National Book Award Winner

13. Book Suggestions by Sherman Alexie
Thunder Boy Jr. ISBN: 9780316013727
Smoke Signals ISBN: 9780786883929

Other Books
The Girl who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble ISBN: 9780689716966
The Call of the Wild by Jack London ISBN: 9781512395822

14. Official Websites:
Check out what Mr. Alexie is up to now days on his website.

15. Rating:
I give this book 5 stars. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. This book is honest in so many ways. Any young adult can relate with the character, and the hardship he went through. The humor the author puts to deal with some of the things that happen in his life are honest, funny, and sad at the same time. 

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