This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Shortform has the world's best summaries of books you should be reading.
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What are the best Native American YA books? Is The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian one of them?
Native American YA books exist in all genres. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a YA book that tells the story of a teenage boy, Junior, who leaves his reservation to attend a school that can give him better opportunities.
Keep reading to find out more about on of the top award-winning Native American YA books, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
Native American YA Books: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Set in 2006, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semi-autobiographical novel by Sherman Alexie. Although based on the author’s childhood, True Diary is a work of fiction and is considered one of the best Native American YA books.
14-year-old Junior (Arnold Spirit, Jr.) lives in Wellpinit, Washington, a small town on the Spokane Indian Reservation, known to residents as “the rez.” Junior describes the rez as “located approximately one million miles north of Important and two billion miles west of Happy.” Junior’s unique narration helps makes it one of the best Native American YA books.
Junior was born with too much cerebrospinal fluid in his brain, and the consequent brain damage has resulted in numerous complications, including:
- Nearsighted vision in one eye and farsighted in the other
- Seizures
- A stutter and lisp
- 42 teeth (most people have 32)
- A huge skull
Due to Junior’s physical challenges and speech impediment, people on the reservation regularly beat him up and refer to him as a “retard.”
Junior’s Suspension
Native American YA books like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian can help discuss what people like Junior experience. On the first day of his Freshman year of high school, Junior’s so excited about learning geometry that he opens his textbook to kiss it. As he leans in, he sees “Agnes Adams” written on the inside cover. Agnes Adams is Junior’s mom.
With horror, Junior realizes that the book he’s holding is at least thirty years old. To him, the fact that his tribe is so poor that students have to use the same books their parents did is the “saddest thing in the world.” He feels his hopes for the class, and for his life, evaporate.
Without really understanding why, he suddenly hurls the textbook across the room, hitting his teacher in the face and breaking his nose. Consequently, Junior’s suspended, the first time he’s ever gotten into trouble at school.
Junior doesn’t realize it at the time, but this moment of anger signals his refusal to accept the poverty, alcoholism, and poor education that his fellow Spokanes take for granted. The teacher whose nose Junior has broken is angry with Junior, but he also understands, better than Junior does, the feelings behind Junior’s anger. He advises Junior to leave the reservation, and Junior decides to transfer to Reardan, the rich, redneck, racist farm town where the white kids go to school.
Through Junior’s story, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian touches on the themes of racism, identity and belonging, the importance of dreams, poverty, alcoholism, and friendship.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has a special place amongst Native American YA books, and is frequently read by young adults.
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best summary of Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian summary :
- How Junior gets split between two worlds when he goes to a mostly white school
- How Junior overcomes being an outsider to being part of welcoming social circles
- The tragedies of alcoholism and poverty that leave Junior with renewed strength
