a. Bibliographic data
Alexie, Sherman. 2009. THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN. New York: Hachette Book Group. ISBN 0316013692
b. Brief plot summary
Written as the journal of fourteen year old, Arnold Spirit, this story follows a Spokane Indian boy who decides to withdraw from high school on his reservation and enroll in a public school in a neighboring white town. Readers are taken along on his journey as Arnold, or Junior as he is also called, deals with prejudice, acceptance, love and loss. As the school year comes to an end and summer begins, Arnold finally comes to terms with himself and with life.
c. Critical analysis
When reading this story, the audience is not drawn in to a specific culture, but rather experiences what it is like for Arnold, a Spokane Indian, to adapt to an environment full of “white” people and trying to find acceptance among a different culture. Because of this delicate situation, negatives terms such as “chief, Tonto, and Squaw boy” are used to describe Arnold’s harsh treatment upon starting school at Reardon.
This is not to say the story lacks in cultural references to life of the Spokane reservation, or rez as Arnold calls it. Author Sherman Alexie does a fine job describing the rez setting, especially when it comes to nature. The Spokane characters in the story are seen through the eyes of a fourteen year old boy so, although at times it may seem the descriptions seem harsh and judgmental, the feelings are authentic to a teenage boy dealing with the issues of family and friends.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian carries an overarching theme of hope as the story unfolds. Whether the characters are the white students at Reardon, the “poor Indians” or the “even poorer white people”, many of the characters are searching for hope. As Arnold’s dairy comes to a close, the reader can tell that he has indeed found hope for his future.
The sketches used throughout the story depict the different people that are relevant to Arnold’s life. Characters such as his family and friend, Rowdy, are shown having dark hair and strong features. The friends Arnold makes while attending Reardon, are all white children and are shown with light hair and softer facial features. A very thought provoking and interesting sketch is provided on page 57, in which Arnold draws himself as half white, half Indian. The physical differences of the two cultures are most evident in this illustration.
d. Reviews/Awards
• From Booklist: “Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here.”
• From SLJ: “The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney's simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney's illustrations. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.”
e. Connections
• Due to some of the content in this book, I would not suggest that it be used as a group discussion piece. I believe that some of the situations may be embarrassing for students to discuss in front of peers.
• Students who enjoyed the format of this book may appreciate these other novels written if the form of diaries or journals:
o The Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell
o The Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton
o Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
o Monster by Walter Dean Myers
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