The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Sherman, A. (200). The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Company

Appropriate grade levels:

9-12. The content of this book is inappropriate for middle school. The main character is in high school and the reading level is very appropriate for high school independent reading which is why I think this novel is best for high school students. I think adults would also enjoy this book as it is fabulously written and touching.

Summary:

Arnold "Junior" Spirit is an intelligent, artistic young 9th grader who lives in a depressing world on an Indian Reservation. After losing his temper at the poor quality of education on "the rez" and getting suspended from high school Arnold's teacher encourages him to leave the reservation to go to high school in the small, white town 22 miles away. This novel follows Arnold's trials in hilarious accompaniment often using pictures to both laugh at and show the severity of his situation. Arnold faces the death of many loved ones, racism, alcoholism, child abuse, and being isolated and ostracized by one's own people as well as normal teenage problems. Arnold wants a girlfriend, wants to be popular, doesn't want to be beat up, and wants to be successful in high school and fulfill his dream of going to college. His determination and wit make for an interesting journey for the reader. A MUST READ for adults and teens.

Classroom Use:

- Independent reading or as a choice in literature circles (with parent approval/notification.)

- Writing connection: students could research and write letters to organizations that help children deal with child abuse or alcoholism.

- Writing connection: Yearbook- students could create a "yearbook" for the main characters in the novel (Rowdy, Arnold, Penelope, Coach, Gordy, and Roger) drawing a picture of each and then doing a short write up of their accomplishments and highlights in high school.

- Reading strategies: Making connections, summarizing, and making predictions. Reciprocal Teaching method of predicting, asking questions, clarifying, and discussing predictions would work perfectly with this novel.

- Literature analysis: Discuss use of pictures to illustrate a point. Discuss how pictures add to the words and could not be simply described in words. Can look at some graphic novels for comparison purposes.

Reader’s Response:

This book first struck me as a little over the top. The potty talk, the discussion of masturbation, and facing the horrors that reservation kids face daily was difficult. The humor in the novel does an excellent job of balancing this out and things although difficult, really do work out for Junior. This is one of those novels that will get under your skin and make you think weeks or months after you read it. Alexie's colorful descriptions both visually and with words put this book in a class of it's own both in uniqueness and quality.

Multicultural literature is an under-appreciated, under-used necessity in the classroom according to Tomlinson et. al. (2010). This novel not only depicts life on the reservation, a cultural surprise to most people, but bridges gaps between other cultures of people in our society and around the world. Many people from different backgrounds will identify with Arnold's poverty, a culture in which child abuse and alcoholism is the norm, and a place where death and depression abound.

Arnold's honesty and aha moments will make the reader think. Arnold falls in love with a white girl and while researching his chances of a white girl agreeing to go out with an Indian, he comes to the conclusion that everyone loves white girls and that makes him feel racist. When talking to the coach about how "scared" he feels before a big game, the coach differentiates between "scared" and "nervous" in a way that readers will have their own aha moment. "Nervous means you want to play and scared means you don't" (181).

Alexie's ability to make awful situations funny make this book so endearing. Arnold's imaginative responses to the question "Am I Poor" will make the reader laugh out loud. "Pore? Do I have pores?" or "Look" while he runs away (128.) Arnold's picture of the "invisible mountain gorilla scientist" to describe how lonely he feels has a similar effect.

Although this book is funny (ok, hilarious!) it is realistically sad as well. At the end of the book Arnold is just simply depressed at the state of his people. He feels like they are getting killed off by alcohol and have no hope. And he's right. His ability to maintain hope and find ways to overcome his intense struggle make for a spectacular story. And of course, laughter is the icing on the cake of this wonderfully written novel.