The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007)The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Ill by Ellen Forney. New York, NY. Little Brown and Co.
A humorous fiction novel about a fourteen year old boy named "Junior" who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior convinces his parents to let him go to a "white" school that is miles from his home.  He wanted a better life after being bullied and beat up by other kids on the Reservation because of a disability that he was born with.  His best friend "Rowdy" from the reservation and some of the family consider him a trader, felt as if he was ashamed of his heritage so they disowned him.  He misses his friend Rowdy and tries to convince him to go to the school with him but he refuses.  Junior is an exceptional artist and writer who wants to break free of poverty and go to college.  He does not want to become just another poor statistic.  This book is a story of making a better life and the struggles it takes to accomplish it, for examples his grandmother and sister both died in the story.  He walks and runs each day for miles to the new school because he does not have adequate transportation.  He plays basketball and is pretty good at it, even enough to later attain scholarships. This story describes a life of sadness, poverty, abuse of children, and unfit parents.  He gives tales of teachers and a new friend who believed in him and convince him of a better way of life.  This book uses comedy and  cartoon illustration throughout to help tell the story.  I felt that some of the comments were a little vulgar and descriptive for young readers.  He uses harsh words such as "poor because you are stupid and ugly" to describe his race.  Additional books by this New York Times-Bestselling author Sherman Alexie are Lone Ranger and Tonto, Fistfight to Heaven and  Reservation Blues.