Theme Of The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

The book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, has been banned in countless states, and started conversations across the country, among parents about whether it is appropriate for middle school students to read. The book has caused such an uproar due to the controversial topics discussed in it such as, sexuality, sex education, alcoholism, and explicit language; even though it is narrated by a 14 year old boy. The placement of the topics in the book are not in vain, but helps further, Junior, a Spokane Indian and the narrator of the story’s, point about what it is like to grow up, and what it means to be an Indian, living on a reservation in poverty. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” hasn’t only received negative reviews, but has been the

Sexuality is one of the main themes in the book, and discussed in many different ways. Many parents felt that the book was inappropriate because it talks about masturbation, looks at homosexuality in a positive way, and talks about teens having sex. However, these are real life things and to try to protect your child from knowing about them is impossible. Whether or not parents want their children to know about these things is irrelevant, because it is already in the media and their friends are probably already talking about it. The role of sexuality in the book should be looked at as a good thing because it takes a theme that can be very awkward and make it more light hearted and normalizes it. Reading the book can also lead to further conversations between parents and their child, allowing them to get accurate information and help them to form their own opinions. The way that Junior talks about these subjects is a realistic representation of how 14 year old boys are and shows how their mind works. The book discusses gays in a positive way which is unusual because there is