The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Bibliography: Alexie, S. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Illus. by Ellen Forney. Little, Brown & Company. ISBN: 978-0-316-01368-0

Plot Summary: Junior lives on a reservation in Spokane-he wants to be a cartoonist. To get a "better" education, Junior decides to attend a school outside the reservation. A mostly white school, Junior faces discrimination and racism, and struggles with his identity, not sure of where he belongs. Along the way, he makes friends and gains support from members of his community and finally comes to accept himself for who he is. Told in the first person (it is a diary!) Junior shares his experiences  with poverty and racism using a mix of humor and honesty.

Critical Analysis: Alexie uses simple language to tell Junior's story, as would be appropriate for Junior's age (14). Forney's artwork is charming and is representative of the mind of a 14 year old boy, showing Junior's emotions and struggles throughout his narrative. Alexie does a great job of demonstrating the challenges faced by native peoples. Junior's struggle with identity is authentic and encourages readers to reflect on their own identities as well as their biases. The use of humor helps to keep the reader interested and makes Junior feel more genuine.  When looking at the author for authenticity, I was unaware of the controversy surrounding his background and the "MeToo" movement.  Though readers should be aware of this and be sensitive to the issue, it shouldn't affect the usage of the book as a tool of cultural awareness and identity.

Reviews:

School Library Journal: "Alexie makes a natural leap into teen literature and the result is a novel that’s a mix of humor and gut-wrenching pain."

WordPress.com: "It's a remarkable piece of work, combining an exploration of these heavy issues with a fantastic main character...."

Awards:

National Book Award for Young People's Literature, 2007

American Indian Youth Literature Awards, 2008

American Indian Library Association Best Young Adult Book. 2008

Connections:

Use in a high school English class. After reading, have students create several diary entries from the perspective of a student who may be considered different. Be sure to encourage them to be respectful in their entries and not use stereotypes.

Use in a US history class with a unit on early Native Americans.  Have students discuss issues such as forced assimilation and reservation life and analyze how that still impacts native peoples today. 



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