Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie
Publisher: Little, Brown
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Number of Pages: 229 pages
Discovery of Book: Graduate Level Class Syllabus
Reading Level:
Awards: American Indian Literature Award, National Book Award, Horn Book/Boston Globe Book Award for Fiction and Poetry
Summary: Junior, an up and coming cartoonist lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation with his parents and sister. His whole world is filled with drunk , casinos, and trying to survive depression. Junior's teacher believes that he has a lot to offer the world and suggests that he try going to school at an all white school located many miles from his home. Junior's parents agree and he soon begins living the life of an Indian who is seen as a traitor amongst his people and a complete outsider amongst his new classmates.
Personal Connection: This fantastic story shows the true life of American Indians seen from a Native American's point of view. This is one of the first books I have ever read that has such insight into this culture. Junior's cartoons and story telling ability makes the story hilarious, yet eye-opening. I think this book shows how hard life truly is for Native Americans. They are told to never betray their tribe, yet if they stay on the reservation their only options of life are to work at the casino, become a drunk, and live an impoverished life. I love how Junior shows that you can get out of the place that holds you down most as you creat a better life for yourself.
Evaluation/Analysis: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a phenomenial read for a middle school student. It contains both words and pictures, which can be very appealing to non-readers. In terms of in class work, this novel could be used to show the aftermath of the United States efforts to rid Native Americans from their land. Students could look deeply at this story using a historical lense, seeing the outcome of the Indian Removal Act. Looking at the life of Junior and his tribe members, students should be able to begin to determine if the removal of indians was a time period that could be deemed a holocaust.
Author: Sherman Alexie
Publisher: Little, Brown
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Number of Pages: 229 pages
Discovery of Book: Graduate Level Class Syllabus
Reading Level:
Awards: American Indian Literature Award, National Book Award, Horn Book/Boston Globe Book Award for Fiction and Poetry
Summary: Junior, an up and coming cartoonist lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation with his parents and sister. His whole world is filled with drunk , casinos, and trying to survive depression. Junior's teacher believes that he has a lot to offer the world and suggests that he try going to school at an all white school located many miles from his home. Junior's parents agree and he soon begins living the life of an Indian who is seen as a traitor amongst his people and a complete outsider amongst his new classmates.
Personal Connection: This fantastic story shows the true life of American Indians seen from a Native American's point of view. This is one of the first books I have ever read that has such insight into this culture. Junior's cartoons and story telling ability makes the story hilarious, yet eye-opening. I think this book shows how hard life truly is for Native Americans. They are told to never betray their tribe, yet if they stay on the reservation their only options of life are to work at the casino, become a drunk, and live an impoverished life. I love how Junior shows that you can get out of the place that holds you down most as you creat a better life for yourself.
Evaluation/Analysis: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a phenomenial read for a middle school student. It contains both words and pictures, which can be very appealing to non-readers. In terms of in class work, this novel could be used to show the aftermath of the United States efforts to rid Native Americans from their land. Students could look deeply at this story using a historical lense, seeing the outcome of the Indian Removal Act. Looking at the life of Junior and his tribe members, students should be able to begin to determine if the removal of indians was a time period that could be deemed a holocaust.
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