The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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

Published in 2007 by Little, Brown and Company

230 pages

Warning: This novel contains sexual references, language and violence.

Genre: Self and Body Image, Friends and Society, Death, Family

Alexie tells the story of Junior, a young man growing up on a distressed Indian reservation. Junior attends a run down school and is determined to make something better of himself. Despite mocking and ridicule from fellow tribe members, Junior leaves the reservation to attend a white school. There he finds trouble, but soon finds a place on the basketball team. Yet, his friends from the reservation will not let him forget the choice he has made.

This is a good book; it is not my favorite of the books I have read, but I did enjoy it. The main character is witty and friendly; I felt invited to read the book because of him. What makes this book even more entertaining are the sporadic cartoons, drawings from Junior, who is a budding cartoon artist. I enjoyed the novel also because Junior experiences loss that people of any race will and do feel, and we see how this unites him with his white school mates, and barriers this breaks down.

My favorite line of the novel is the very last line, but I can't give it away! Without that short five word line, the novel would not be the same. It speaks volumes.