The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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

Arnold Spirit Jr., or “Junior”, as most call him, lives with his family and other Spokane Indians on the reservation.  Born with hydrocephalic, Junior describes what life is like with an awkward appearance and stutter or lisp when he speaks.  At 14 years old, Junior knows life on the reservation has no future.  He describes all Indians as poor and alcoholics.  That’s when Junior decides he wants hope and a future.  He announces to his parents he would like to transfer schools.  He would like to attend the all white school, Reardan High, that is over 20 miles away and off of the “rez”.  Although Junior knows this news will not come well to his tribe, especially his one and only best friend Rowdy, he has the courage to follow through.  Junior has a rough transition leaving his reservation school and entering the mostly white world.  He never knows if his father will have enough gas money to pick him up, or if he will be walking the 22 miles home.  Junior discovers he is a pretty good basketball player and makes the team.  He also gains a girlfriend and learns he is actually a pretty smart guy.  His two worlds collide at a basketball game, when his school beats his reservation school and fellow Spokane Indians.  Junior knows what his reservation friends go through every day and feels guilty for winning.  As if life as an Indian isn’t depressing enough, Junior experiences his grandmothers death, his father’s best friend being shot, and his own sister dying in a trailer fire because she was too drunk to get out.  In the end, Junior’s long time best friend offers him a word of encouragement.  He reminds Junior that their people, at one time, were nomads, and now Junior is the only one who is caring that tradition on.  The material and story line in this novel is very depressing, but readers find themselves laughing out loud at the humor Alexie brings through Junior’s first person story-telling and hilarious cartoon sketches.  Many layers of discussion can bring light to several issues that Junior himself faces or what he witnesses.  It is always powerful to be reminded of different backgrounds and struggles in cultures.  A lesson reading guide can be found here:  https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/absolutely-true-diary-part-time-indian-storia-teaching-guide/  and will guide a literature circle with reading focus questions, vocabulary, and comprehension and extension activities for readers to connect with.