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Books : The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Rating: 
- Pretty good!
I enjoyed this novel. Although sometimes it seems like the writer is just throwing a pity party for himself, it is a good read and I would recommend it. The story does a good job of making the reader want to cry about the sad parts, but laugh about the funny parts.
Rating:
- Amazing book
Junior lives on an Indian reservation in Spokane. He's had it rough since he can remember. His numerous medical problems make him an easy target to be picked on. But his drawings and best friend help him. That is until one day when an event turns his life around. He decides he wants to better himself and the way to do this is to leave the rez and attend the white school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being label an 'apple'--white in the inside, red outside--he goes to the school even if this means he might lose his best friend. But along the way, Junior learns that even though this journey is tough, he finds a strength in him that he never knew existed.
This book is amazing. You can't help but love Junior as he struggles to better himself. Junior is one of the most endearing, funny, characters who's strong determination to over come the odds against him make the reader not help but love him.
The scene during the basketball game where the tribal leaders turn their back on him was very touching. Still Junior refuses to back down and shows the others that yes, he might be small and have medical problems, but he is someone. I also like how he shows his parents. Though his father does have a drinking problem, he stills loves Junior.
This coming of age novel is a must read.
Rating: - Captivating and Humorous, surprisingly funny for a serious topic.
This book captivated me right away. My wife got it for christmas and read it, putting it in the giveaway pile when she was done. I picked it up and was engrossed from the moment I finished the flap copy, so I snatched it for myself before she had a chance to pass it along. Books have to be really good to get me to spend time reading, so I only read a few books a year. But this one was no chore, it's thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
A difficult subject matter is made fun and humorous here, something I can appreciate in an author. So often serious subjects are communicated in such a depressing manner, it's refreshing to be able to enjoy a book on a challenging topic. Much about teen-age life is explored here and there's a lot to identify with. Everyone's felt like an outcast in some way or another, albeit not as egregiously as this book's character. Regardless, we were all teens once and I'm happy for this book to help me laugh about it, and gain some perspective for those who had a much harder time than I.
Many reviews of this book allude to "The Catcher in the Rye", and in a sense there's some similarity, but this book's character is much more genuine and real. Holden Caufield obsessed over calling everyone a phony when all he ever did was lie to people. Conversely, the protagonist in the part time indian is honest and profound--fully exposed, without being full of himself. This makes for a more compelling story, told in a much more accessible style. Plus it has fun illustrations, something I haven't enjoyed this thoroughly since "Breakfast of Champions."
I highly recommend this book for teens, and for the teens in all of us. It helps bring perspective on our collective schooling experience, and affords a vivid glimpse at a very different life in another culture.
Rating: - Absolutely, Truly Great
For a book that covers such depressing subject matter, this book was really funny. There's an interesting opening line for you, but it's true!This premier Young Adult offering by celebrated novelist and essayist Sherman Alexie is, I've heard, partly autobiographical.
Arnold Spirit, more commonly called Junior, has lived on the Spokane Rez (reservation) all his life -- just like all those around him. He was born with water on the brain, and would be subject to a lot of teasing, if his best friend wasn't one of the Rez's top bullies, Rowdy. However, Arnold is quite good at basketball, and even better at school. Which is why it is so tempting when one of the teachers at his school suggests he transfer to the primarily white school, Reardan, 22 miles away.
Thus Junior becomes a "part-time Indian," spending part of his days in the white world of Reardan, where he gets on surprisingly well after a rough start, and his evenings and weekends on the Rez, where things are becoming increasingly depressing. But the real test will come when Junior's Reardan basketball team must play his old team -- and Junior is the star player.
This novel covers so many weighty issues -- like those of racial heritage, treatment of Indians, and conditions on their reservations. There's some emotionally heavy stuff here, such as Junior coming to terms with his identity, his "betrayal" of his best friend by transferring to Reardan, being at odds with both his fellow Indians and the white community, the highly symbolic basketball face-off, drinking problems, and even death.
However, as mentioned, this novel is also laugh-out-loud funny, as Junior brings his supreme sense of irony, and slightly dark sense of humor to the table. He jokes that since Reardan's mascot is an Indian, he, Junior, is now the only other Indian in town, for instance. Without quoting, it is impossible to give the full idea of his humor, and, sadly, I don't have a copy of the book handy. You see, it is so darn popular, that all copies of it are checked out of the library.
As race-centric as this novel is (and I think that is important -- why not have a little understanding of another kind of life?), I don't think it lacks that ever-important universal appeal. Feeling like the odd man out in one's freshman year is hardly limited to Native Americans in white schools. Balancing the life you have with the life you want to make for yourself isn't either. And certainly the crushes and friendships of Junior will ring true for many a teenage reject.
Before I let this one go, I must mention the illustrations/cartoons. Junior is a budding artist, and "his" cartoons are brilliant. Rarely do they serve to simply illustrate the action. They are part of the action, and really emphasize the diary feel of the novel. Also, they are often hilarious. The cartoons alone are worth the investment.
I think this book could be sold to a reluctant reader (Hey, it has pictures! And lots of short sentences!), but it still has a lot of intellectual heft. After all, it did get a National Book Award. It is a mature book, with mentions of death, drinking, and, yes, masturbation. However the details never come off as simply purient. Poignant and funny, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is great for male readers 13-16, although adult and female readers should really like it as well.
Rating: - Rocked to the Soul
Can the words "powerful" and "brilliant" be over used? Sherman Alexie's voice is loud and clear as he weaves a story of personal survival in two worlds. Can Junior be Indian and successful while remaining on the rez? Or, in choosing a white school must he abandon the very culture that is so much a part of his self-identity?
This book is for everyone who has felt disempowered and for anyone who believes in hope. Either way, your being will be rocked to the soul.
Jim Potter, author, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I've Learned, Tales I've Told
- Pretty good!I enjoyed this novel. Although sometimes it seems like the writer is just throwing a pity party for himself, it is a good read and I would recommend it. The story does a good job of making the reader want to cry about the sad parts, but laugh about the funny parts.
Rating:
- Amazing bookJunior lives on an Indian reservation in Spokane. He's had it rough since he can remember. His numerous medical problems make him an easy target to be picked on. But his drawings and best friend help him. That is until one day when an event turns his life around. He decides he wants to better himself and the way to do this is to leave the rez and attend the white school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being label an 'apple'--white in the inside, red outside--he goes to the school even if this means he might lose his best friend. But along the way, Junior learns that even though this journey is tough, he finds a strength in him that he never knew existed.
This book is amazing. You can't help but love Junior as he struggles to better himself. Junior is one of the most endearing, funny, characters who's strong determination to over come the odds against him make the reader not help but love him.
The scene during the basketball game where the tribal leaders turn their back on him was very touching. Still Junior refuses to back down and shows the others that yes, he might be small and have medical problems, but he is someone. I also like how he shows his parents. Though his father does have a drinking problem, he stills loves Junior.
This coming of age novel is a must read.
Rating:
- Captivating and Humorous, surprisingly funny for a serious topic.This book captivated me right away. My wife got it for christmas and read it, putting it in the giveaway pile when she was done. I picked it up and was engrossed from the moment I finished the flap copy, so I snatched it for myself before she had a chance to pass it along. Books have to be really good to get me to spend time reading, so I only read a few books a year. But this one was no chore, it's thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
A difficult subject matter is made fun and humorous here, something I can appreciate in an author. So often serious subjects are communicated in such a depressing manner, it's refreshing to be able to enjoy a book on a challenging topic. Much about teen-age life is explored here and there's a lot to identify with. Everyone's felt like an outcast in some way or another, albeit not as egregiously as this book's character. Regardless, we were all teens once and I'm happy for this book to help me laugh about it, and gain some perspective for those who had a much harder time than I.
Many reviews of this book allude to "The Catcher in the Rye", and in a sense there's some similarity, but this book's character is much more genuine and real. Holden Caufield obsessed over calling everyone a phony when all he ever did was lie to people. Conversely, the protagonist in the part time indian is honest and profound--fully exposed, without being full of himself. This makes for a more compelling story, told in a much more accessible style. Plus it has fun illustrations, something I haven't enjoyed this thoroughly since "Breakfast of Champions."
I highly recommend this book for teens, and for the teens in all of us. It helps bring perspective on our collective schooling experience, and affords a vivid glimpse at a very different life in another culture.
Rating:
- Absolutely, Truly GreatFor a book that covers such depressing subject matter, this book was really funny. There's an interesting opening line for you, but it's true!This premier Young Adult offering by celebrated novelist and essayist Sherman Alexie is, I've heard, partly autobiographical.
Arnold Spirit, more commonly called Junior, has lived on the Spokane Rez (reservation) all his life -- just like all those around him. He was born with water on the brain, and would be subject to a lot of teasing, if his best friend wasn't one of the Rez's top bullies, Rowdy. However, Arnold is quite good at basketball, and even better at school. Which is why it is so tempting when one of the teachers at his school suggests he transfer to the primarily white school, Reardan, 22 miles away.
Thus Junior becomes a "part-time Indian," spending part of his days in the white world of Reardan, where he gets on surprisingly well after a rough start, and his evenings and weekends on the Rez, where things are becoming increasingly depressing. But the real test will come when Junior's Reardan basketball team must play his old team -- and Junior is the star player.
This novel covers so many weighty issues -- like those of racial heritage, treatment of Indians, and conditions on their reservations. There's some emotionally heavy stuff here, such as Junior coming to terms with his identity, his "betrayal" of his best friend by transferring to Reardan, being at odds with both his fellow Indians and the white community, the highly symbolic basketball face-off, drinking problems, and even death.
However, as mentioned, this novel is also laugh-out-loud funny, as Junior brings his supreme sense of irony, and slightly dark sense of humor to the table. He jokes that since Reardan's mascot is an Indian, he, Junior, is now the only other Indian in town, for instance. Without quoting, it is impossible to give the full idea of his humor, and, sadly, I don't have a copy of the book handy. You see, it is so darn popular, that all copies of it are checked out of the library.
As race-centric as this novel is (and I think that is important -- why not have a little understanding of another kind of life?), I don't think it lacks that ever-important universal appeal. Feeling like the odd man out in one's freshman year is hardly limited to Native Americans in white schools. Balancing the life you have with the life you want to make for yourself isn't either. And certainly the crushes and friendships of Junior will ring true for many a teenage reject.
Before I let this one go, I must mention the illustrations/cartoons. Junior is a budding artist, and "his" cartoons are brilliant. Rarely do they serve to simply illustrate the action. They are part of the action, and really emphasize the diary feel of the novel. Also, they are often hilarious. The cartoons alone are worth the investment.
I think this book could be sold to a reluctant reader (Hey, it has pictures! And lots of short sentences!), but it still has a lot of intellectual heft. After all, it did get a National Book Award. It is a mature book, with mentions of death, drinking, and, yes, masturbation. However the details never come off as simply purient. Poignant and funny, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is great for male readers 13-16, although adult and female readers should really like it as well.
Rating:
- Rocked to the SoulCan the words "powerful" and "brilliant" be over used? Sherman Alexie's voice is loud and clear as he weaves a story of personal survival in two worlds. Can Junior be Indian and successful while remaining on the rez? Or, in choosing a white school must he abandon the very culture that is so much a part of his self-identity?
This book is for everyone who has felt disempowered and for anyone who believes in hope. Either way, your being will be rocked to the soul.
Jim Potter, author, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I've Learned, Tales I've Told
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