The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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I was supposed to read this book about a year ago--it was one of the selections in my book club, but I wasn't going to be able to attend that meeting so I ended up not reading this book. Then, I needed something to read on my phone during National Library week (or whatever) and this book had come up as being the most challenged book in libraries. Well, I love a good controversy, so I finally got around to reading this. And, here is my question...what is supposed to be so controversial about this book. According to the ALA, it is: Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying” Anti-family? Really? If anything, this book is incredibly pro-family! Junior's parents are not perfect, but they are the best they can be and they love Junior and Junior loves him,. I'm not sure how that qualifies as being anti-family. Cultural insensitivity? This is one of the most culturally sensitive books I have ever read. And, yes there are some scenes of drugs/alcohol/smoking, a few f-bombs here and there, and a description of what Junior does in his alone time (I'll give you a hint--it's the same thing almost every single 14 year old boy on the planet does). However, none of that is presented in a gratuitous way. It's Junior's life and this book would not be true with a white-washed version of his life. Look, I'm not going to go any further arguing the so-called "reasons" for challenging this book--it just makes me too upset. I'll get off my soap box now.... Obviously, I loved this book. Junior was a fantastic character and I fell a little bit in love with him (and then went head over heels for him in the scene where he's interviewed by local media). The depictions of life on the reservation are hard to read, but I believe that they are realistic. I know life is hard on the reservations, and Alexie does not shy away from that. Yet, at the same time, he does not fall into self-pity. What I found unexpected was how Alexie contrasts Juniors reservation world and his "white" world. In short, neither world is perfect, but neither world is doomed. People are people and everyone has their own value and their own struggles. I don't know if I was expected for own group to come out ahead of the other in some way, but I am very glad that didn't happen. I truly feel that this is an important book for young people to read. Yes, it examines the struggles of modern Native Americans but, more importantly, it is about finding your own place in the world. And to all those people who try and challenge this book....don't worry, when my children are older, they won't be checking this book out of the library. I'm going to buy them their own copies.

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Being a 14-year-old boy, being different is one of the most challenging things to do. No one wants to be looked at differently or seen as an outsider. Many people don't realize how much courage it takes to be different and to do something you believe in. Arnold Spirit, a poor Indian boy, goes on a journey where discrimination poverty and hardship is constantly apparent. When his tribe has given up all hope, he decides to take matters into his own hands and goes to a new wealthy school filled with Caucasian children. This is almost unheard of as poor Indian boy and his actions begin to stir up commotion throughout the reservation where he lives. His dreams and goals are supported, but not always understood by his dysfunctional family and befriend. His best friend rowdy and him have a longtime bond and deep friendship, which causes them to greatly influence each other under circumstances and events that do not always favor their friendship. This book is funny, relatable, and will keep you reading until the very end. Arnold’s courage and bravery really inspires me to take new risks in life. I recommend this book to kids at the ages of through 14-18.

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Being a part of an Inuit Alaskan tribe is a truly unique thing. I am immersed in a whole different culture full of folktales passed down from generation to generation as well as different ways of life then now. When I saw that this book was among the many choices on my required reading list, I knew this was a must read. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie tells of a young boy born into poverty along with being born with "fluid of the brain". He has an over-sized head, hands, and feet; he also suffers from poor eyesight, seizures, lisps and stutters. Having these problems cause him to struggle in school, along with being bullied harshly. A week into school, being so fed up with his situation, he decides to move into an all white school. There he is further bullying and he has either two choices: to let himself continue to be mistreated by his peers or to stand up for himself to discover a new self-reliant part of him. I really enjoyed this book and felt that past the Native American connection I have, I could relate to the characters situation. I myself have people who don't like me, but seeing Arnold's situation made me realized how blessed I am. I felt this book was well written and was an entertaining page turner.

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One of the best coming of age books! It made me laugh, cry and makes you really appreciate the value of family and friendship! I had the opportunity to attend Mr. Alexie event on March 12th, I left not disappointed!

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Sherman Alexie cleverly and humorously intertwines friendship, family relationships, and the inherent joys and hardships of humanity along with those of a modern Native American experience. Amidst adverse living and educational conditions, the main character has also been marked by congenital disease, making him an easy target of ridicule. His dreams and goals are supported in different ways--but not necessarily understood--by his dysfunctional family and best friend, who is somewhat of a social pariah himself amongst a community defined by alcoholism, poverty, ignorance, and mundaneness. The boys longtime bond and deep friendship cause them to greatly influence each other amidst circumstances and events that do not always favor or nurture their friendship. This story is memorable and fantastic not only for its honesty and humor, but because of how the main character realizes and exhibits strong and excellent values that emerge from his existential and day-to-day struggles.

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I read this book to see if it was right for my nephew (freshly 13) and found that it is right for everyone I know. It's beautiful, smart and funny and relays tragedy, humor, and resilience. Much laughing and crying and warmth. Alexie's voice is sure and true and he doesn't talk down to us for a minute. I love this book.

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I read this for a children's literature class after reading some of the more famus novels like "Little Women" and "The Golden Compass". Like his poetry and adult prose, Alexie's young adult novel is refreshing with laugh out loud quality. And the mixed genre of cartooning with prose makes it fun for all ages.

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One of the best books I've read all year -- whether for Y-A audiences or adult. It made me laugh, cry, and think big thoughts. What more could you ask from a book? Perfect for book clubs too.

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This book is very honest about teenage boyhood, life as a Native American, tension between races, and much more. Sherman Alexie doesn't try to sugar-coat his characters but portrays them each as flawed individuals trying to figure out what the hell is going on their life right now. It is an amazing piece of work. It is full of light-hearted stories mixed in with raw and powerful emotions. Even though it is a young adult book, it is one of my favorite books to date.

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A funny and revealingly honest book that gives hope (look! this boy overcame his circumstances, fears, etc. to live his life fully!) at the same time it fiercely crushes it (wow, are people really still so racist these days? ugh. And it's god-awful how rampant alcoholism is in the Native population but not at all surprising given the total loss of their lands and culture in return for internment camps and casinos). My pet peeve, as always, is that any book--let alone a NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER BY A WELL-RESPECTED AUTHOR/ARTIST--had four significant typos pop out a me unbidden. Hey, here's an idea: how about the editors, proof-readers, publishers, et al respect the trees that died so we could read their books and respect the expectations of readers by actually producing error-free works? All in favor, say 'Aye!'

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Sherman Alexie's wonderful novel is just one more example of young adult fiction kicking the a** out of most adult fiction these days. This is the story of Junior, who decides to leave the Rez and his only friend, Rowdy, to attend an all white school 22 miles away. Junior is encouraged to make this decision by his white math teacher (after Junior has thrown a 30-year old geometry book at his head and been suspended from school) and this scene below is just one of many reasons I thought this book rocked: Mr. P was crying. I couldn't believe it. I'd never seen a sober adult cry. "But not you," Mr. P said. "You can't give up. You won't give up. You threw that book in my face beause somewhere inside you refuse to give up." I didn't know what he was talking about. Or maybe I just didn't want to know. Jeez, it was a lot of pressure to put on a kid. I was carrying the burden of my race, you know? I was going to get a bad back from it. "If you stay on this rez," Mr. P. said, "they're going to kill you. I"m going to kill you. We're all going to kill you. You can't fight us forever." "I don't want to fight anybody," I said. "You've been fighting since you were born," he said. "You fought off the brain surgery. You fought off those seizures. You fought off all the drunks and drug addicts. You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope." I was starting to understand. He was a math teacher. I had to add my hope to somebody else's hope. I had to multiply hope by hope. "Where is hope?" I asked. "Who has hope?" "Son," Mr. P. said. "Youre going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation." So Junior goes off to school in Reardon and finds new opportunities (and new ways to feel alienated) but also loses his best friend, Rowdy. The story, narrated by Junior, is alternately funny, touching, and heart breaking and the illustrations (Junior is a cartoonist and the novel is filled with his visual commentary) work to intensify that mix. Read this book. Laugh. Cry. Be angry. But just read this book!

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The minute I picked up The Absolutely True Diary...I knew I was going to finish it that day. I was happily drawn into Junior/Arnold's world of humor, sadness, drive, and youthful pursuits. Sherman writes with such clarity that it is impossible not to feel what his characters feel and identify with their struggles, even if it has been years since you were or teen or if you have never experienced being an outsider in an insider world. I highly recommend this book for everyone, not just young adults.

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Sherman Alexie at his finest. A wry funny sad tale of how being even a good kid is hard on or off the rez, particularly if you're from the rez, poor, alone, and people insist on dying on you.

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I "read" this book via the recorded version, and I have to say that Sherman Alexie has a way with words. The story itself is endearing, sad and happy simultaneously. The language ties you to the characters, to the 'Rez', to Junior's plight. But it was Alexie's voice, his tone and expression, that caught me. He has a way of making the story come alive - maybe because it means so much to him, is so much a part of who he is. Excellent read, even more excellent if you can hear Alexie speak in some capacity!

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Sherman Alexie makes you laugh and breaks your heart. This book is not just for kids. I'm mom to two teen-age boys and this book helped me remember some of my own feelings during those critical busting out years and it helped me see my own boys in a different way. Must read!

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A wonderful book that provides readers of all ages with a view into the life of a young, talented Native American who is sorting through the meaning and strength of his heritage in contemporary America.

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I'll admit--I put off reading THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN for well over a year in favor of more "exciting" books and boy, what a mistake I made! Told from the perspective of thirteen year old Arnold Spirit, an intelligent, observant, sarcastic Indian born with encephalitis and a love of cartooning, Sherman Alexie takes with as he moves away from a circumscribed, oppressive life on the Spokane reservation towards a more promising future by attending an all-white school thirty miles away. Never one to get bogged down in sentiment or self-pity, Mr. Alexie refuses to present Arnold's friends and family as one-dimensional stereotypes, nor is the world beyond "rez" borders portrayed as the Great White Hope. Arnold's family has problems, to be sure: an alcoholic father, an enabling, codependent mother, a near shut-in older sister; but their love for each other is evident through their words and actions. And despite the ostracism and ridicule heaped upon him by former friends and other tribe members, Arnold reacts with biting wit rather than total despair. This has to be one of the best books I've ever read in my life, so I hope everyone gives it a try.

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I loved this compelling story of a teenager that seemed so real to me that I hated for the story to end. I loved this book and I hope everyone gets a chance to read it.

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I laughed. I cried. I was amazed, once again, by Sherman Alexie's biting wit and ability to capture completely the voice of his protagonist. Junior's story is base in part on Alexie's own childhood. The heartbreak in the book is well-balanced by Junior's fabulously funny cartoons and realistic adolescent sarcasm. This is a truly GREAT book.

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Sherman Alexie's Junior is one of the best characters to come out of teen literature in the past decade.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book by the excellent author, Sherman Alexie. In this book the author manages to be both honest and hopeful about life on the Rez, and he captures the world of an adolescent boy perfectly. As I've always maintained that my alter-ego is a 14 year old Navajo boy - this story completely spoke to me. I loved the cartoons, too. It may be billed as a young-adult novel, but anybody who can't relate to this book, has forgotten what it's like to be in high school, dealing with a home life that one can't explain and trying to keep track of friends that may have been left behind - all human challenges and a great read for any human being.

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I really enjoyed every chapter of this book. it is really hilarious and couldn't stop reading it.