“And Indian boys weren’t supposed to dream like that. And white girls from small towns weren’t supposed to dream big either….We were supposed to be happy with our limitations. But there was no way Penelope and I were going to sit still. Nope, we both wanted to fly.” p. 112
Reader's Annotation
Fourteen-year-old Junior has left his reservation school to attend Reardan High. Not white like his new classmates, yet considered a traitor by his fellow tribe members, he doesn’t feel like he fits in anywhere. But possibly with humor and bravery, and his sketches and a couple new friends, he just might make it through freshman year...
About the Author
Just like Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington state, had severe childhood health issues, and attended Reardan High. In university, he planned to be a doctor, but soon realized that this path was not for him. A new direction came when by chance he came across a poetry workshop. After graduation, Alexie received a state and NEA poetry fellowships, and soon published two poetry collections. In his twenties, he began publishing short stories and novels. He’s also involved in film, music, comedy, and national discussion of cultural issues. Alexie lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two sons.
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age
12-14 years
Plot Summary
Junior is Arnold Spirit, Jr., a fourteen-year-old Native American boy who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington state. Since childhood he’s had hydrocephalus and seizures, in addition to a lisp, conditions which have all earned him much bullying from a few fellow tribe members. He enjoys reading, and loves drawing even more, and his funny and vivid sketches about situations both hilarious and tragic are interspersed throughout the novel. After his first day at Wellpinit High and some advice given to him by teacher Mr. P., he makes the difficult decision to transfer to Reardan High, a public school 20 miles away attended by white students, in an attempt to give himself a greater chance at a successful and hopeful future life. His best friend, Rowdy, a volatile boy who is abused by his father, is extremely upset by Junior’s decision, and cuts off contact with him. With trepidation, yet buoyed by the support of his parents, Junior begins to forge ahead through his freshman year at Reardan. Along the way, he meets new friends such as Gordy, the smartest person he’s ever met; Penelope, the most beautiful girl in the school; and Roger, a jock who at first challenges Junior, then reveals a caring nature. Challenging social situations at school are matched by tragedy on the reservation, and Junior must look for the strength within himself and the joy in life -- as well as discover the common bonds between people which transcend race and class -- in order to make it.
Critical Evaluation
Honesty, humor, and insight are the foundations of this novel. Junior tells his own story in the first person, and his character is by far the most vividly drawn. He openly shares with us his experiences and thoughts (in both words and sketches) on everything from high school to friends to family to Native American culture to white culture, and all that he encounters in this year of his life. He is observant, bold, introspective, and can see the funny aspects of even the most difficult of situations. Junior’s parents are not idealized, and Junior does not hide the fact that his dad is an alcoholic, but Junior's parents love him dearly and are ready to do – in as much as they have the means to -- what it takes to give him the best opportunities possible and support him. Junior’s grandmother does not make many appearances in the novel, yet her acceptance and forgiveness of others no matter their beliefs or acts, guides Junior. Through his friendships at Reardan High, Junior learns that many people are eager to connect with others and are quite generous if you give them a chance. We see the similarities that Alexie illustrates between Junior and each of Penelope, Gordy, and Roger; just as Junior comes to the life-changing realization that he is not only a Spokane Indian, but also a member of the “tribes” of “bookworms,” “cartoonists,” and “small-town kids,” we readers are reminded that we each belong in this world and are never really alone.
Booktalking Ideas
• Give an episode booktalk of Junior’s first day at Reardan High.
• Give a character booktalk as Penelope, including her thoughts about Junior.
• Give a character booktalk as Grandmother Spirit, giving advice on common tween concerns.
Curriculum Ideas
• Literature: Students study Alexie’s poetry, picking out themes and ideas common to this and the novel.
• Social Science: Students research the history and contemporary life of Native Americans in or near their area, also spending time on a reservation if possible.
• Language Arts: Students from a reservation middle school and a non-reservation middle school engage in a year-long penpal correspondence, via the Internet and/or other means.
Potential Challenge Issues & Defense
Some graphic language and violence:
• Become familiar with the book’s content in order to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
We read this book as a class assignment, but it is one of the most honestly and engagingly written novels I have ever read, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
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