Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Lydia!!

Junior was born with water on the brain, causing him to have a huge head, terrible eyesight (and hideous old man glasses), 10 extra teeth, a stutter and at least two seizures a week. Growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation, what Junior describes as his “epic” appearance, made him the bullies’ favorite target and left him with only one friend, Rowdy, ironically, the biggest bully of them all.

Stuck in a world of poverty and alcoholism he’s afraid he’ll never escape, Junior snaps when he opens his textbook to find his mothers name. That afternoon, the teacher he hit in the face with a book shows up at this house with a broken nose. Rather than beat or yell at Junior, however, the teacher tells him he’s forgiven and that he has to leave the reservation before he gives up like everybody else.

Thus begins Junior’s life as a part-time Indian, living on the reservation with the Indians, but going to school off the reservation with the white kids. The story follows Junior through his freshmen year of high school and all the year entails, including sports, prom and dating, but also confronts the larger issues of racism, poverty, alcoholism and loyalty. The pages are decorated with Junior’s doodles which add depth to his character and lighten the often heavy mood of the text.

Sherman Alexie created a must-read with this book, raising important issues and simultaneously leaving readers laughing out loud.

--Lydia

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