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

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is the faced paced, no holds barred, semi-autobiographical story about a year in the life of Arnold Spirit, Jr., better known as Junior.

Junior is 14 years old, a budding cartoonist, and at a crossroads in his life. Should he leave the reservation to attend the white school 22 miles away and maybe, just maybe, have a chance to get off the reservation and out of the extreme poverty, depression, and hopelessness that pervades his world? If he leaves he will get a better education and have a better chance at making something of his life. On the other hand, if he leaves he will betray his roots in the eyes of many on the rez, including his best friend, Rowdy. Diary follows Junior as he deals with first love, angry best friends, losing his Grandmother, family friend, and sister, becoming a basketball legend, alcoholism, poverty, and growing up and becoming a man.

I listened to this book on Playaway as I drove for work and hated getting out of my car! The recording is narrated by Alexie, himself and is roll on the floor hysterical in many places, while breathtakingly sad in others. Alexie manages to skillfully weave the hard truths about life on a reservation, poverty, alcoholism, teenage angst, love, lust, friendship, death, and life with the humor that only teenagers can see. What could have been a dark, dreary treatise on what is wrong with the Native American Community today becomes a swift, funny, and enjoyable ride through Junior's freshman year in school. Somehow Alexie manages to maintain Arnold's sense of hope regardless of the trials and tribulations he encounters. I suspect there is a lot more truth to this book than one might think, or that Alexie has admitted.

I would recommend this book for kids from about 7th grade on up. There are several instances of crude language, but one should expect that when it is told in the voice of a 14 year old. There are allusions to sex, child and spousal abuse, blatant alcohol abuse, drunk driving, death, accidents, poverty, hunger, and any variety of typical teen issues. The author doesn't pull any punches when discussing life on the rez. Students will understand how tough reservation life really is. Many of our students deal with many of the exact same issues and will be able to relate to Arnold with no problem. Sadly, they will know exactly what he is talking about. In respect to the issues that are dealt with and the course language, some of the more sensitive or younger kids might need to be steered away from this book, or at least warned. I can see boys and girls enjoying this book, but I think at risk boys might really be able to relate and enjoy the adventure. When doing a booktalk there would be no shortage of passages to read, because nearly every scene is a hook in itself. Here is one example.

It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you’re poor because you’re stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you’re stupid and ugly because you’re Indian. And because you’re Indian, you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Substitute any racial/ethnic minority for Indian and this passage becomes universal.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has earned a variety of awards. They are listed below.

2009 Peter Pan Award, Sweden
2009 Odyssey Award for audio version, produced by Recorded Books, LLC
2008 Washington Book Award - the Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award for middle grades and young adults
2008 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children’s Literature in Fiction
2008 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children
2008 Book Sense Book of the Year Children's Literature Honor Book
2008 Pacific Northwest Book Award
2008 American Indian Library Association American Indian Youth Literature Award
2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
2007 Los Angles Times Book Prize Finalist
Publishers Weekly 2007 Best Books of the Year - Children's Fiction
The New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2007
Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Books of 2007
National Parenting Publication Gold Winner 2007
Barnes & Noble 2007 Best for Teens
School Library Journal Best Books of 2007
Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Books of 2007 (pdf file)
Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of 2007
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Winner
Kansas City Star's Top 100 Books of the Year