The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Product Details
Web ID: 14388822Memorable story message.
This book was quite an appealing adventure to read. The main character still manages to do great things in his way, despite being an absolute loser who had to go through many different embarrassing things. Not only that but the main character (named Junior) was also born with many deficiencies, making him a bigger target for bullies. He goes through multiple little battles in this book, sometimes hitting rock bottom, but, in the end, he manages to get himself on top. What is super interesting about this book; is the way the main character gets himself on top while all odds are against him. At the beginning of the book, Junior (the main character) explains how he is an absolute loser and lists all his disabilities. Junior has broken parents and an alcoholic Dad. Junior’s dog got sick, and due to his parent’s lack of money, they had to take the dog out of its misery themselves with a shot of a gun. Junior lives in a poor Indian community, only having one friend, Rowdy, who has an abusive Dad, and always shows up to school with bruises all over his body. Due to Rowdy growing up in an abusive household and having bad anger issues, he sometimes hurts Junior too if he loses too much control. The part where this book goes down for Junior is when Junior decides he wants to go to Reardan (a wealthy school with no Indians, only whites). After Rowdy finds out about this, he gets super mad and eventually punches Junior in the face. After that, Junior goes to Reardan and is viewed by everyone as the weird transfer Indian. This is when Junior hits rock bottom. He pretty much has nothing from here. But, while Junior may not have any friends, girlfriends, popularity, or even respect, he still gives everything in an attempt to get himself a better life to live in, and eventually, succeeds. Not only does this book show how quickly things can change for somebody, but it also shows realistic scenarios. Many kids are just like Junior; disabled, poor, weak, and friendless. Yet, this book shows that it is never too late for kids like Junior to change their lives, and flip the script. No matter what position or circumstance you are ever under, as long as you continue to fight and strive, you will not be defeated. This book shows that defeat comes from you, not what happens around you. Now, quit pondering on whether reading this book is a bright idea or not, and go read it!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not for teenagers or younger. Bad language/content
Not sure how this book won awards or reached the bestseller list. It has no value. Has foul language and speaks of cleavage, shoplifting, retards. So disappointing. Definitely not for anyone under 16 years.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Very powerful account of life on the reservation.
Alexie shares his very personal experiences as a fourteen-year old boy on the reservation. Raised by two loving parents, he and his sister were two of the lucky ones. Most children on the reservation are abused in some way by their alcoholic parents. Beaten, hungry, often left to raise themselves. To survive, they hang with the wrong crowd and sometimes end up dead. Alexie was relentlessly bullied due to water on the brain that he suffered at birth. The name calling, playground fights, the boy gangs that went out of their way to look for him made him very cautious when it came to spending time anywhere. Pow Wows were fun with a friend but would he become a target? Every day was a struggle and honestly, even his best friend, known as Rowdy, sometimes gave him a beat-down. What an odd friendship that was. What struck me about this book is how accurate the storytelling is. As you may recall, my son’s last job in Seattle was for one of the tribes on the reservation, and what my son detailed to me in the way of rampant drug use, abuse, run ins with CPS and the like. All accurate. The tribes have an abundance of money and provide a lot of much needed services. My son drove me through an area full of heath care offices, mental health resources, and the like, but in all honesty they offer it but don’t push it. If someone is in need of help, it’s on them to reach out for it and everyone else turns a blind eye to whatever is going on, even a kid who hasn’t eaten for days. Hearing these stories from my son made me so angry. It’s no wonder he had to leave such a toxic place. Alexie was tired of it all. He knew that he’d die if he stayed on the reservation so he convinced his parents to let him go to a school off site. This was a huge deal because everyone on the res felt that he abandoned them. His friend Rowdy took this especially hard even though Alexie begged him to come with him. Going to a predominately white school had its own problems but the teachers seemed to see past the Indian right into the person Alexie was. Alexie was smart. Brain damaged or not, he had something. His teachers saw it and some made it their goal to make something of him. As you know from his accomplishments, Alexie is a highly regarded writer. I listened to part of this on audio and it was quite riveting. I highly recommend it. There is a lot to pick apart. We will be discussing this for book club this month.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Garbage
Am over sexualized unrealistic and disgusting book. I wish I had never heard of it.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Super Entertaining!
I highly recommend this book, not only to teenage boys but to everyone. It's hilarious and vulnerable at the same time. I tend to reach for books that have a female lead so it was out of my norm and I loved it. The main character was very lovable and gave a very realistic voice of how teenage boys think. The plot was very episodic, much like real life (Obviously! Hence the name ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY). It reminded me of the movie Napoleon Dynamite, how it's one event after the next with amazing character development. I passed it on to a loved one!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Will take you on a roller coaster of emotions!
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a narrative novel written by Sherman Alexie, with touches of art illustrated by Ellen Forney. This story/diary is written from the perspective of a young Native American student and suggests and informs what a young Native American boy might go through in terms of family, social life, and friendship. This book is also very undemanding in terms of reading experience considering it is the diary of a young high school boy. In the beginning of the book, Junior starts off as an insecure boy who is struggling with depression and relies on his best friend Rowdy for protection. Juniors grades are excellent and he enjoys drawing and playing basketball; however, he isn’t completely confident in himself and believes he could never have as much potential as a privileged person would. As the book continues, Junior becomes more independent and confident in his skills once he decides he can’t live the way he’s living anymore. This book would be helpful in influencing any young individuals who feel insecure or lost in terms of what they could achieve. Furthermore, although Junior goes to school, plays sports, likes to draw, and has friends, that doesn’t mean his life is perfect and he has no reason to complain. Moreover, Some of Juniors family members and the Spokane people tend to be alcoholics, this means it’s not common for Junior to find himself in a funeral every now and then. Because of this Junior often struggles with fluctuations in his mental health and family issues that many readers wouldn’t understand until they read this novel. Additionally, at first Juniors only friend was Rowdy, once Junior moves to a new school, he finds himself making more friends. Although Junior made new friends he found himself in a stressful situation. Once Junior moved to a new school, his best, and only friend felt betrayed, used and heartbroken. Considering Rowdy is a pretty aggressive person that lives in a horrible home so he does not take Juniors' decisions lightly. This is one of Junior’s main issues throughout the story that I felt kept me most indulged while reading the book. Additionally, not only does Junior struggle with friends and family, but he also struggles to feel accepted once he moves to a new school. Junior's new school “Reardan”, is a school full of “white privileged students who are rich and entitled.” Once he moves to his new school, he almost immediately starts to experience racial injustice and loneliness. Overall many individuals would relate to Junior, even if it was one aspect. Because of this, the story “The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a novel that will make many individuals feel that they are not alone with their problems. Something I feel is important to mention is how easy this book is to read and understand. Just because the book is not difficult to read does not mean there is lack of creativity in the story. The quality and style of this story's illustrations perfectly matches how Junior is feeling in the story, since Junior is supposed to be the one writing a diary, and expressing himself through his sketches. Furthermore, not only is the story unchallenging to understand, but the story also includes Juniors experience from an artistic perspective. This story reminds me much of the diary of the wimpy kid series except the story is for more mature readers and is not just funny but takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. The book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is merely just another nice book. Although the book accurately represents the life of a young Native American boy, I feel like the book could better represent Native American tribes as a whole. I feel like this book makes people feel that Native American tribes are more violent than other communities. Overall this book was enjoyable to read, relatable, informational, sorrowful, and exciting.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
This book is a roller coaster of emotions!
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a narrative novel written by Sherman Alexie, with touches of art illustrated by Ellen Forney. This story/diary is written from the perspective of a young Native American student and suggests and informs what a young Native American boy might go through in terms of family, social life, and friendship. This book is also very undemanding in terms of reading experience considering it is the diary of a young high school boy. In the beginning of the book, Junior starts off as an insecure boy who is struggling with depression and relies on his best friend Rowdy for protection. Juniors grades are excellent and he enjoys drawing and playing basketball; however, he isn’t completely confident in himself and believes he could never have as much potential as a privileged person would. As the book continues, Junior becomes more independent and confident in his skills once he decides he can’t live the way he’s living anymore. This book would be helpful in influencing any young individuals who feel insecure or lost in terms of what they could achieve. Furthermore, although Junior goes to school, plays sports, likes to draw, and has friends, that doesn’t mean his life is perfect and he has no reason to complain. Moreover, Some of Juniors family members and the Spokane people tend to be alcoholics, this means it’s not common for Junior to find himself in a funeral every now and then. Because of this Junior often struggles with fluctuations in his mental health and family issues that many readers wouldn’t understand until they read this novel. Additionally, at first Juniors only friend was Rowdy, once Junior moves to a new school, he finds himself making more friends. Although Junior made new friends he found himself in a stressful situation. Once Junior moved to a new school, his best, and only friend felt betrayed, used and heartbroken. Considering Rowdy is a pretty aggressive person that lives in a horrible home so he does not take Juniors' decisions lightly. This is one of Junior’s main issues throughout the story that I felt kept me most indulged while reading the book. Additionally, not only does Junior struggle with friends and family, but he also struggles to feel accepted once he moves to a new school. Junior's new school “Reardan”, is a school full of “white privileged students who are rich and entitled.” Once he moves to his new school, he almost immediately starts to experience racial injustice and loneliness. Overall many individuals would relate to Junior, even if it was one aspect. Because of this, the story “The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a novel that will make many individuals feel that they are not alone with their problems. Something I feel is important to mention is how easy this book is to read and understand. Just because the book is not difficult to read does not mean there is lack of creativity in the story. The quality and style of this story's illustrations perfectly matches how Junior is feeling in the story, since Junior is supposed to be the one writing a diary, and expressing himself through his sketches. Furthermore, not only is the story unchallenging to understand, but the story also includes Juniors experience from an artistic perspective. This story reminds me much of the diary of the wimpy kid series except the story is for more mature readers and is not just funny but takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. The book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is merely just another nice book. Although the book accurately represents the life of a young Native American boy, I feel like the book could better represent Native American tribes as a whole. I feel like this book makes people feel that Native American tribes are more violent than other communities. Overall this book was enjoyable to read, relatable, informational, sorrowful, and exciting.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Breath of Fresh Air!
When Junior, a native born with too much fluid on his head, learned that his entire culture was death, racism, and mob fights, he decided to run away from it. He was struck with violence and depression at a young age, and it was the only thing he knew had to do at a young age. So when Junior took the bold move to leave his reservation and go to a school, he learned his identity, and where he belonged. In a novel with a bunch of fun and fantasies (and some explicit chapters too), we learn the emotional roller coaster that Junior faces through his sister's dilemma, growing poverty, racist comments, tribal disapproval, and his own condition that he can’t seem to accept. Junior, a boy with too much grease on his head, has society throw turmoils on him. He can’t get the treatment and health therapy he needs due to his families’ lack of money, and is put in the worst possible place for his own growth. The bullying deteriorates his mental health and shatters when his only friend gives him the cold shoulder. Determined to find a new opportunity, Junior leaves his sacred reservation and turns to a neighboring all-white school where the only other Indian there is the own dang mascot. Through the adventure of bullying, girls, and racist stereotypes, Junior finds himself happier than his journey on the rez, empathizing with the coach and throwing away his pain through playing ball on the court. He rebounds his life in his adventure to find and truly accept himself in mutuality with school beauty Penelope, best friend and rival Rowdy, and school jock Roger. He learns to be accepted by them all before he faces it one on one against his tribe, who claimed Junior as a traitor and nothing else. His bravery to be the first to escape demonstrated a change in his lifestyle as he started to become more confident in himself, and it really showed me a lot about how finding your place and being yourself can really make a difference. With it’s hilarious comedy and simple writing, this book does not have the same problem like many others where perception of it is impossible. Each chapter is a new adventure; whether it’s about friendship, sisters, or [redacted], it kept my retention high up. Of course, the vulgar language makes the book have an age appropriate problem that will anger a Karen mob, but that doesn’t dissuade from how entertaining and emotional the book actually is. The audience is definitely suited for a high school population, though I can find anyone would love a great laugh in this. Through real life applications, Alexie completely abandons the use of genre preference and the book can attract in any reader. For example, I’m a huge fantasy fan, loving those imaginary worlds you can create. Yet this book, which doesn’t seem to fit in one genre, hooked me and many other readers just like a fish. Just don’t give this one to kids. That ability to connect is what makes it the winner as the National Book Award Winner. A New York Times Best Seller, Alexie did well in writing a book that can make anyone laugh. Whenever you’re tired of reading long and hard novels like Time Machine by H.G Wells, or War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, opening The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian serves as a refresher that will clean up diluted thoughts about society and philosophy and entertain you with some fun fiction. Junior’s adventure teaches us about humility and that finding your identity is an important part of becoming life. It also taught us that arousal was best done with “thumbs”. Not quite sure if I enjoy that, but I do know that the book entertained me as it will to you if you decide to open the book and take a read.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com