The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

I absolutely loved this book because it showed what a Native American child experiences in school. I find Native American history to be interesting. I have taken two Native history classes, and children who are on reservations grow up with physical and alcohol abuse. Throughout Alexie Sherman’s book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold (the protagonist, AKA Junior) goes through the ups and downs of life. My favorite part is when his teacher shows up to his house after Arnold hit him with a book in the nose. The protagonists’ teacher explains to him how he needs to leave the reservation, so he can make something of himself. The teacher doesn’t want Arnold to end up like the rest of the indigenous people on the reservation, drunk and broke.

I didn’t like how the school treated Junior when he first showed up to the school. The teachers were distant and the students were nasty towards him. The saddest part was when Junior’s grandma and sister die. The two people who were encouraging and supported Junior passed away unexpectedly by a drunk driver and a fire.

I heard this book is banned in Idaho and I completely disagree with the ban because this is the raw literature we need in classes. I always remembered reading boring books in class, and I could never connect with them. This book, I connected with because I have experienced bullying and discrimination because of race. I felt for the protagonist. These types of books raise awareness and emotion in a student to stand of for what is right. To see discrimination, go on every day in the halls is one thing, but to read about someone’s experience is another; however, I feel both are equal in importance.