Illustrated by Ellen Forney.
Hatchette Book Group. 2007.
ISBN 9780316013697
$8.99. Paperback. 288 pages.
Readers Annotation
Junior (Arnold Spirit) leaves the Spokane Indian reservation to attend an all-white high school. His hopes to rise above the poverty of the rez, but will his best friend ever forgive him?
Plot Summary
Junior, born with “grease” on the brain, draws because it is easier than words. He is small boy with big dreams. On his first day of high school he opens his geometry textbook only to discover that it had been his mothers. This enrages Junior, who throws the book and hits his teacher. The teacher, Mr. P. convinces Junior to take a chance and have hope for his life. Junior decides to leave the reservation school and go to the rich all white school called Reardan. This decisions sets off a chain of events at the reservation and at his new school. Members of the tribe think he is a traitor to his people. His best friend Rowdy hates him, and for the first time, Junior begins to have friends beyond his community. While Junior is enjoying his time at Reardan, his life on the rez is filled with sadness. At 14, Junior has been to 42 funerals. During his first year of high school, his grandmother is killed while walking by a drunk driver. Then his father’s best friend, Eugene is shot and killed. Finally, his big sister, Mary Ran Away (who ran away to marry), dies in a house fire. Junior nearly breaks down, he feels “helpless and stupid.” Even with all of the grief, Junior is still hopeful and hilarious. His drawing and writing help him overcome his deep grief. He even joins the Reardan basketball team, becoming a freshman starter on the varsity team. During a game with the rez team, Junior realizes that his former classmates on the Wellpinit Redskins team were in some distress. Some probably had not eaten, some had alcoholic parents, or parents in jail, and none of them were going to college. He sees the dichotomy of the two communities. Although his team wins because of his efforts, Junior realizes that he is no longer angry with his tribe. Instead, he becomes more determined to leave the reservation and attain his dreams of success.
Critical Evaluation
Sherman Alexie portrays the characters in this novel with great compassion and humor. He takes on the stereotypes of the Native American culture, and consequently informs the reader of both the truth and myths behind life on the reservation. His characterization of Junior is well rounded and superbly realized. Junior has no qualms about informing the reader that his is excellent at masturbation and cartooning, or that his best friend likes to beat people up. Junior’s perspective of life on and off the reservation is unsentimental. He wants to fit in both places, but he realizes that he must let go of his life on the reservation in order to attain his dreams. As Junior states in the novel, he feels like he is half Indian on the reservation, and half white at school. Either way, he is a lovable and believable character. The illustrations by Ellen Forney tell a story by themselves. Each cartoon depicts some aspect of Junior’s life: his hopes, dreams, and frustrations. The pencil illustrations, created to look taped into the journal, add much to the narration.
Information about the author
Sherman Alexie was born in October, 1966, on the Spokane Indian Reservation. This novel is based on his early life. This novel has won a number of awards including:
- 2007 National Book Award
- 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
- 2008 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Genre
Multicultural Fiction
Curriculum ties
English or social studies. This is a good book for multicultural studies.
Challenge Issues
Language, sexuality, alcohol abuse
Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-True-Diary-Part-Time-Indian/dp/0316013692/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258319587&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss Junior Spirits life and his disabilities.
2. Talk about Junior’s arrival at Reardan high school.
3. Talk about Junior’s grief and his success at his new school.
Reading Level/Age
Young Adult. Age 13 and up
Why I included this title
This book is included on the 2008 ALA Best Books for Young Adults.
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