MADreads

What is a part-time Indian?

July 20th, 2009 Mary K. - Central

Adults often enjoy novels that are written for the teen audience.  Case in point: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the first young adult novel by Sherman Alexie is a perfect example of a book written for a teen audience that will appeal to all ages.

In Absolutely True, the very intelligent Arnold “Junior” Spirit, is encouraged by a math teacher to leave the sub-par reservation school, where he has often been bullied by fellow students, for the high school in Reardon.  Reardon is 22 miles away from the reservation and the school has an Indian mascot and not-surprisingly, Junior is the only Indian student.

His story, told in the first person, is set in the different worlds of the reservation and the school.  Junior’s experiences in the school are varied; he makes some friends, joins the basketball team, and has his first girlfriend. While on the reservation he witnesses a lot of poverty and alcoholism, but also strong traditions and family ties.

I listened to this book, but did have some difficulties.  Alexie reads it himself and it took some time to get used to his accent.  I was able to see him accept the Odyssey Award at the recent American Library Associaton conference and he said that he used his “rez” voice for the recording.  So you may want to read instead of listen, especially since the print copy includes many charming sketches done by Ellen Forney.

Alexie uses some of his own experiences growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation and attending a white school to enrich the novel.  And his website (www.fallsapart.com) is well worth a look for further insight.  Happily for fans, he says that he is at work on a second book, about Arnold’s sophomore year, titled, The Magic and Tragic Year of My Broken Thumb.

Entry Filed under: Young Adult