The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Summary and book reviews of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, plus links to an excerpt from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and a biography of Sherman Alexie.

National Book Awards, 2007 In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

BookBrowse

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is quirky and funny and captivating in its improbability because it comes straight from the author's own life - miraculously, wonderfully, improbably, Junior possesses an internal strength untrammeled by the insults of others and piercing in its illumination of sociological faultlines.  (Reviewed by Amy Reading).

Full Review (967 words).

Media Reviews

The New York Times - Bruce Barcott Working in the voice of a 14-year-old forces Alexie to strip everything down to action and emotion, so that reading becomes more like listening to your smart, funny best friend recount his day while waiting after school for a ride home.   VOYA This first young adult novel by the acclaimed Indian writer whose adult fiction is used in many high school classrooms is based on Alexie's own memoir.   Booklist Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here.   Publishers Weekly Jazzy syntax and Forney's witty cartoons examining Indian versus White attire and behavior transmute despair into dark humor; Alexie's no-holds-barred jokes have the effect of throwing the seriousness of his themes into high relief. Ages 14+   Kirkus Reviews Junior's keen cartoons sprinkle the pages as his fluid narration deftly mingles raw feeling with funny, sardonic insight.   Library Journal Starred Review. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries. Grade 7-10

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by julian
funny but immature
It was a great book ,but it was written like it was for younger people, like 5th graders. The rating of maturity content to writing style didn't make sense, 8th grade maturity to 5th grade writing level.

Rated of 5 by Grandma Patty
15 year old loves Sherman Alexie's Books
The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian was a birthday gift to my grandson. I was amazed that he began reading the book the day he received it. He couldn't put it down. We have now collected more of Alexie's books for him. Our only wish is...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Nick
Funny, True, and a book for Mature teens.
The book was great, the longest I have ever read. It was an extremely funny book. And a book with the voice of an actually Indian teenager.

Rated of 5 by Dilzina
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie has done an excellent job capturing the experiences and emotions of an adolescent Native American boy struggling with his identity. He brings a sense of closeness with the character making you actually like the Indian, almost...   Read More

Rated of 5 by DJAY
Good, but so SEXUAL!!
I can't believe how many sexual and curse words there are in this book!!! Good for older teens only!

Rated of 5 by rain
Raw, honest--CRAZY funny
Note: geared towards older teens, and teen-at-heart adults. Not for children under eleven. Or for adults older than eighty-nine (wouldn't want get a heart-attack 'cus you're laughing so hard...) Have you ever been a Native American? Yeah, me...   Read More

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