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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie is set on an Indian Reservation in
Washington State. The narrator, Junior, is an aspiring cartoonist who
manages to find humor in the world around him, even though the odds have
been against him since birth. As a result of his medical problems, he is
ridiculed and beat up by everyone else on the rez, except for his best
friend, Rowdy. One of Junior's teachers urges him to transfer from the
run-down and outdated reservation school to the primarily white high
school twenty-two miles away, where he will get a better education.
Although Junior wants to leave the rez, he feels torn between his loyalty
to his family and heritage and his desire to break the cycle of poverty
and alcoholism that is an ingrained part of reservation life. As
he struggles to fit in at his new school, he also feels alienated from
his tribe and even from his best friend because they think that he is a
traitor for leaving them.
Sherman Alexie's novel gives readers a look into the life of a teenage
boy growing up on a reservation and reveals the pain and tragedy that his
likable character endures with determination and humor. The author does
not attempt to hide the harsh reality that his characters must face on a
daily basis. The book also includes Junior's illustrations and comics
that compliment the text.
While the setting may be unfamiliar, Junior is relatable and funny.
Many people could identify with theme of being an outsider and trying to
fit in to a group. Junior has to deal with common teen issues,
including: family problems, bullying, trying out for a sports team,
fighting with his best friend, and having a crush. Readers can also gain
respect for Native American culture and recognize some of the social
problems that have developed because of centuries of injustice. The
novel does not ask for pity, but rather for understanding, and succeeds
in both educating and entertaining the reader.
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