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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. NY:

Little Brown

Media Type: Hardcover book

This book has 230 pages not counting the extra material.

Summary:

Arnold (Junior) is a young Indian boy who lives in a very poor reservation called Wellpinit. From the moment he was born he faced many difficulties including brain surgery. His life was not easy for he was always picked on by other members of the tribe. He did have a friend named Rowdy who protected him. One day in geometry class Arnold gets furious about the fact that the book he's using was his mother's book 30 years ago. He throws the book and hits the teacher breaking his nose. This was a turning point in the story because the teacher goes and talks to him a few days later and tries to apologize to Arnold for all the things that he has done to Indians. He gives him advise to get out of the reservation otherwise he will die there. The next day Arnold convinces his parents to take him to the all white school 22 miles away from the reservation. The transition was not easy. His tribe saw him as a traitor, including his best friend Rowdy, and the new school had never had an Indian before. During this time Junior encounters the deaths of Eugene, his grandmother and his sister. Sadly they all trace back to alcoholism. In the end he reconciles with his friend Rowdy, after his friend realizes that Junior is a "nomad" Indian. Arnold decides that maybe he belongs to many tribes and refers to himself as multi-tribal.

Response:
This book was great. It gave me a better understanding of what life is like in an Indian reservation, and it was not a pretty picture. I felt so bad for Arnold (Junior) and all the things he had to endure. I also felt joy when things started to look better for him. Then again grief when he lost the people he loved to alcohol. This book just makes you feel so many different emotions.

Connection to textbook:
Chapter 6- First person point of view is a literary element found in this novel.
Chapter 10- The genre of this books is realistic fiction.

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