The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/F3QMxf4yySA

A Native American teenage boy named Arnold Spirit Jr. lives in an Indian reservation. The reservation is a place of poverty and his parents are alcoholics. To make things worse, he suffers from seizures and is constantly being picked on and beaten up by everyone. But with Rowdy, his best friend in the picture, both look at each other for strength through rough encounters. Throughout the story he loses his grandmother (struck and killed by a drunk driver), sister (due to drinking and a fire), and two of his dad's friends (one hung himself in jail because he shot and killed the other when they were both drunk). But despite all the tragedies and against all odds, he is determined to get out of the reservation and get a better education by attending an all white High School called Reardan.

This book is a well written story from the point of view of a Native American teenage boy. This is an amazing, great read that is both funny and tragic. This book sends out a positive message when Arnold makes the independent choice and is determined to better himself by overcoming poverty. This is a book recommended for 7th grade and up. Other books by the same author include, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Reservation Blues, Indian Killer, War Dances, The Toughest Indian in the World, Under Boy, and Flight.