Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Arnold Spirit is an Indian living on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington state. Born with hydrocephalus (water on the brain), Arnold has his share of struggles and becomes the brunt of jokes at the reservation school. His friend Rowdy (aptly named)acts as his protector. Arnold spends a lot of time recording his experiences in drawings which are scattered effectively through the book. When a teacher at the reservation school tells Arnold that he should want more, Arnold decides to enroll in the school in a nearby town off the reservation. Here he is surrounded by white students. Expecting to become an outcast as much as he was on the reservation, he is strangely accepted here. But, his friend Rowdy considers him a traitor as do other members of his community. The novel creates a complex picture of life on the reservation complete with alcoholism and the endless problems created by the disease. Family loyalty and eventually the loyalty of friendship prevail, however, as Arnold moves toward a better future than is his heritage. An enjoyable book with a wonderful message, but crude language in spots may make some middle school readers uncomfortable.

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