The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Alexie Sherman
Sherman, A. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part time Indian. New York: Little Brown.
ISBN: 142876450X
Plot
Arnold Spirit is a young person growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Life there is hard. People are poor, alcoholism is rampant and death often comes at too early an age. Arnold was born with a condition he calls "water on the brain" which makes him susceptible to head injuries. Arnold becomes disenchanted with the quality of education he is receiving on the rez. Encouraged by a white teacher, he makes a bold decision to attend high school in town. He is looked at as a traitor by his people. His best friend Rowdy won't talk to him. People shun him. At the white high school, he is treated as an outsider. He is between two worlds. Arnold makes a couple new friends and goes out for the basketball team. The big game is against his old high school from the rez with their star player, Rowdy. When Arnold beats Rowdy for a lay-up, Rowdy whacks him in the back of the head, where he is most vulnerable! There is more sadness for Arnold as his sister dies in a fire and his grandmother is killed by a drunk driver. Arnold struggles to come to terms with the contradictory nature of his life.
Critical Evaluation
For all it's sadness, this is a delightful coming of age story. The character of Arnold is funny and thoughtful. His feelings are conveyed through his drawings and his narrative. One of the ironic things about this book is that, in order to find and express his true self, Arnold must leave his tribal home. To remain on the rez, would be to capitulate before a dead-end future. This is an excellent story for tweens. The humor is typical of the age group, yet there is depth and sorrow in the choices Arnold must make to preserve himself. This book is based on the author's life.
Readers Annotation
This is the wonderful story of a poor boy named Arnold growing up on an Indian Reservation who chooses to better his life. Death and danger surround him on the reservation, but what will happen when he ventures out into the white world to attend their high school? Arnold will find a new set of problems when he makes the bold decision to seek an education of the rez. Will his life improve or will this be the biggest mistake he has ever made?
About the Author
Born in 1966, Sherman Alexi grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He was born hydrocephalic and had surgery on his brain at 3. He was an avid reader as a child. He attended Washington State University. His first book of poems was published when he was 23. He continued to write poetry and short stories throughout his 20's. He published his first novel, Reservation Blues, in 1995. He has branched out to screen writing, film making and stand up comedy. He has received numerous awards for his poetry, novels and films, including the 2007 National Book Award for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two sons.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Humor
Curriculum Ties: Language Arts, Social Studies
Booktalk Ideas: Friendship, betrayal, making tough choices
Reading Level: Grade 6+
Interest Level: Grade 7+
Challenge Issues: Violence, sex, language. The events portrayed in this story represent a realistic view of the experience of reservation Indians. Those who wish to challenge this book may find themselves also trying to defend the treatment of Native Americans. I would defend this book on that basis. It is also a National Book Award winner.
This book is included because it is a wonderfully told coming of age story.
