Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Peach’s Picks Rating


Title:
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (audio book, unabridged)

Author:
Sherman Alexie

Narrator:
Sherman Alexie

Illustrator:
None

ISBN:
978-1436124904

Publisher:
Recorded Books

Copyright:
2008

Length:
5 hours
5 compact discs

Plot Summary:
The protagonist of the book, Arnold Spirit, known as Junior . . .(but then again every boy on the reservation is also named Junior) is a teenage boy who is a Native American Indian living on a reservation (referred to as the rez) in the state of Washington. Junior realizes that he wants more to life than the rez can offer. He also understands that the rez holds him back, giving him little hope of becoming anything more than an out-of-work, poverty-stricken alcoholic. He decides to attend high school in a wealthy white area far from the rez where he knows he has the opportunity to receive a quality education. He tries to convince his best friend Rowdy to join him, but is unsuccessful. Junior’s experiences are both heartbreaking and life-affirming as he is trapped between two worlds, and becomes more rejected by the rez than by the white students he meets. At his new high school he falls in love with a beautiful girl, becomes the unexpected hero of the basketball team, and receives the education he desires. Back at the rez, life is falling apart. He loses more and more friends and family to alcoholism and alcohol-related accidents.

Critical Evaluation:
Sherman Alexie is the perfect choice to narrate his own book. He has the ideal voice to bring Junior to life for the listener. His voice is well-modulated and easy to understand, expressing emotions and tensions. Altogether, the audio book is an excellent rendition of an excellent book. The story is extremely dark and hopeless during the first CD, then the listener finds themselves laughing out loud at Junior’s tales and tribulations. When listening to the CD, the listener misses the cartoons that are an integral part of the book, adding insight to the narration, however listening to the audio book offers the opportunity to hear the author relate the story. This audio book won the Odyssey Award (2009) and the book was awarded the National Book Award Winner, Young People's Literature (2007). On the surface the story seems hopeless and depressing, yet it offers an authentic voice of a minority teen boy who pulls himself out of poverty and achieves his goals even though he loses lifetime friendships on the journey.

Reader’s Annotation:
Arnold Spirit, known as Junior, was born on an Indian reservation in Washington state. He was hydrocephalic at birth, not expected to live, and when he did live he was expected to be severely retarded. But he is not retarded and has grown into a goofy-looking teen full of hilarious insights about friends, school, the reservation, and life.

Author Information:
Born 1966
Defines himself as a Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Indian
Grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington
Lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and two sons
Born hydrocephalic and was not expected to live
He had a brain operation when he was 6 months old and was expected to be retarded
He is not retarded, but suffers from seizures
Alexie learned to read by the time he was 3-years-old and read The Grapes of Wrath when he was 5-years-old
He attended Rearden High school situated off the reservation where he believed he would receive a better education than at the high school on the reservation
He was an excellent student and a basketball player
Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian is a novel, but it reflects his life
He attended Gonzaga University and Washington State University
While in college he planned to be a doctor, but changed his mind after attending a poetry workshop
Had a problem with alcohol during his college years, but has been sober since 1989
Graduated from Washington State with a BA in American Studies
Received the Washington State Arts Commission Poetry Fellowship (1991) and National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship (1992)
His works have received numerous awards
Alexie’s work includes novels, poetry, and screenplays
He also performs as a stand-up comic

Genre:
Contemporary, realistic fiction - multicultural

Curriculum Ties:
Use in literature classes

Booktalking Ideas:
Arnold Spirit (aka Junior), a Native American growing up on a reservation, gets beat up over and over again. The reservation is filled with people who have little hope for the future, but not Junior. He’s determined get a good education, win the love of a white girl, and become a basketball star.

Junior, a Native American growing up on a reservation in Washington has lost more friends and relatives to alcoholism and alcohol-related accidents in one year than his friends at the white high school have lost in a lifetime. Still, he manages to keep his focus and wry sense of humor.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
Ages 14-18

Additional Books by Author:
War Dances
Face
Flight
Ten Little Indians

Challenge Issues:
Sexual situation, language, violence, bullying
Deal with challenge by having a challenge policy in place, selection policy in place (ALA policies). Meet with library administration if necessary. Provide positive review(s) from professional publications.

Why this work is included in Peach’s Picks:
The book received a starred review in The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, received the National Book Award Winner / Young People's Literature (2007), and the audio book received an Odyssey Award (2009) . Five peaches are awarded for being a fascinating story that makes the reader laugh out loud even when they are crying. If you are listening to it while driving, watch out! You might continue driving the ­­five hours it takes to hear the story.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-True-Diary-Part-Time-Indian/dp/1436124905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272928478&sr=8-1-spell

References:
Alexie, S. (2010). “biography”. Shermanalexie.com. Retrieved April 28, 2010, from http://www.fallsapart.com/biography.html