The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian Analysis

Alexie, Sherman, and Ellen Forney. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. N.p.: Little, Brown, 2007. Print.
Lexile: 600
Target Age:
1. Ages 12-17 https://www.lexile.com/fab/results/?keyword=The+absolutely+true+diary+of+a+part+time+indian
2. Grades 7-10 http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/absolutely-true-diary-part-time-indian#cart/cleanup
3. Ages 14+ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian
4. Ages 18+ and Grades 12+ (Personal Recommendation)
Genre: young adult fiction, strong ethnic themes, and humor

I would not use this novel in my class at all. I believe the book contains too much inappropriate content. For example, Junior’s pride in his masturbation skills on page

“It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you're poor because you're stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you're stupid and ugly because you're Indian. And because you're Indian you start believing you're destined to be poor. It's an ugly circle and there's nothing you can do about it” (13).
• The placement of this quote early on in the novel serves to set the tone Junior has with his situation in Life. Junior starts the book angry about his station in life, but he decides to settle since he sees no way out. This quote tells the reader exactly how Junior feels about being poor.
2. “I think Rowdy might be the most important person in my life. Maybe more important than my family. Can your best friend be more important than your family” (24).
• Before we know much about Junior’s family, we get this quote. This quote serves to give characterization for Rowdy and his and Junior’s friendship. Rowdy is the one person that fights for Junior and he loves Junior with no strings attached.
3. “’This is a great thing,’ he said. ‘You’re so brave. You’re a warrior’”

However, for me the most memorable moment in the novel is the last exceptional quote I included. Junior is putting everything together and this scene speaks truth into more than just Junior’s story. This scene was memorable for two reasons. First, this scene allows the reader of non-white heritage to celebrate their ethnicity. Junior knows that he is Indian and he is now okay with this fact. This scene shows someone from a minority realizing that they are a certain ethnicity, but they are more than their heritage. I feel that this scene can be used to encourage students to see themselves as more than an ethnicity, while still celebrating their heritage. Secondly, this quote is memorable because it celebrates the individual as a whole. People are so much more than one facet of their life. This rang true with my experience. I was known for one club that I was part of, and that was all people saw me as. On the inside I was dying for someone to realize that I was more than the club I was in. This scene does that for the reader. Whether or not one shares traits with the protagonist, they can say they are a part of a tribe important to them. The scene celebrates people for who they are, and that is a true