The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

I am 27 and I loved this book! I would tear up and then burst out with laughter. The drawings add to the charm of the book. I would gladly let my young teenager read this. It is real issues that we can all relate to. Absolutely exceeded my expecations!

Sherman is a premier Native writer at the top of his game. It just proves how far the mainstream is from Native contemporary life and issues to see how he is reviewed, but his talent with words is undeniable.

Julia Del.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Realistic Fiction Review

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is quite a memorable book. The main character and narrator Arnold Spirit Jr. explained what was going on in his life with such raw honesty and crude humor I couldn't help smiling at every page. Arnold introduced himself at the beginning of the book with such a matter-of-fact tone about his medical problems and his situation living on an Indian reservation it sent me, and surely everyone else who will read this book into hysterics. Arnold's medical issues just made every problem and dilemma he faced even funnier, because he explains how fatal every thing that could happen to him is, and how much worse it could get. Arnold is the "zero" (as he refers to himself) on the reservation causing him to get beat up and called names all the time, it's a harsh reality, but somehow Sherman Alexie lightens up the story with a small, but hysterical cartoon of the situation. The entire book is in first person, so you read everything Arnold is thinking, and those thoughts are what everyone would only think and never dare say aloud, throughout the book there are little things like, "Oh yeah, did I mention, us Indians love to talk dirty," which really gets the idea across of what Arnold thinks of himself and where he comes from. Sherman Alexie definitely gave Arnold Spirit a very strong voice, which not many authors have been able to accomplish. The cartoons throughout the book make it as authentic as it is, the book has a unique plot, with a unique character and very unique doodles throughout that express exactly what Arnold is feeling, and his confusion, hoping to discover how he will ever get out of the reservation and how he will handle the white kids. Reading the blurb I expected the book to be the least bit depressing, because Arnold is in a very difficult situation trying to figure out what to do, to please both his family and white school, feeling like a traitor, but somehow Sherman Alexie manages to leave the reader feeling hopeful, to keep on going despite the obstacles we face.

I can see why this book has been winning awards. It is very creative and clever and Mr. Alexie is a very good writer. Except for the more mature language, I think it could have been a middle-grade novel (instead of young adult), because it seems almost more geered to a younger audience. But it is a good read and I am certain that whatever audience finds it will be grateful for Sherman Alexie's creation.

There is a scene early on about his dog that struck me as I read it as profound and gutsy writing. The truth of it registered in my solar plexus. I kept waiting to be touched like that again but the book seemed to take more of a comic approach after that. Perhaps that's a good thing.

Good books are often challenging and provoke wonderful - if not always easy - conversations. This one certainly fit that bill and gave me a chance to talk to my son about topics that are sometimes hard to bring up. (Poverty, racism, privilege, sexuality, etc.)

I've been a fan of Sherman Alexie for several years, so was very excited when he wrote a YA book just before my son was ready for it. I read it first as I usually do, and decided to hold it back a year and let him read it at the end of 7th grade when he was developmentally ready for it. (Different for each child.) But before he read it we talked about the language and situations depicted. (Criticized by some reviewers.) It was a good chance to talk about how we could read a book and be impacted by it, learn from it, enjoy it, get swept up in it, even be changed by it - but know that it is not okay to behave like characters in it.

If you are, or know, a teen who enjoyed this book but are looking for a more challenging reading level, Alexie's "Flight" might be a good next step.