I purchased a book in the bookstore recently. It is called "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Just by reading a little while in the bookstore, I thought it was going to be lighthearted and funny. However, I could not put it down once I started reading it. When I closed it for the final time yesterday, I felt so heavy-hearted. There are times when you laugh and times when you cry. It is one of the most beautifully and sensitively written books I have ever read and I am an English major. I have read a whole lot of books in my lifetime. The book is about a young teenage boy growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He decides to break away from the difficult life living on the rez and decides to attend the white school on the outside, trying to escape the poverty and difficulties of living on the rez in order to survive and preserve his identity. It is based on Alexie's real life experiences as a young teen. Even though this book is directed towards young adults, I would like to encourage everyone to read this book. It is one that will stay with you long after you close the book.

This is an amazing coming of age novel that also encompasses a young man straddling two cultures and triumphing.

Truly a wonderful book. I initially picked it up because I thought I could use it in my 6th grade classroom, after reading it I found the language was much more advanced and not appropriate for 11 year olds, but I fell in love with this book. A must read for any age!

Arnold Spirit is a freshman at a high school on the Spokane Indian reservation in northwest Washington. All his life he's been picked on because he looks strange: his head is large because he was born with hydrocephalus, he has seizures, too many teeth and he wears thick glasses. But Arnold is very smart, and he likes drawing. When a teacher counsels him to find hope in the form of attending a white high school off the reservation, Arnold makes a bold move toward a future he didn't think was possible.

Through Arnold's eyes we see the problems faced by many on modern Indian reservations: alcoholism, poverty, lack of opportunity and despair. Yet, we also find acceptance of the shortcomings among those we call family and a way to follow your dreams without denigrating those you leave behind.

Arnold's story is for anyone who chooses to follow a different path than the one clearly laid out before him. Issues of race, friendship, love and community should provide great discussion for mother-daughter book club members.

I bought the books and it was in excellent condition. I would buy again and the fast shipping. thanks.

I'll admit -- I put off reading THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN for well over a year, in favor of more "exciting" books. Boy, what a mistake I made!

Told from the perspective of thirteen-year-old Arnold Spirit, an intelligent, observant, sarcastic Indian born with encephalitis and a love of cartooning, Sherman Alexie takes us along with him as he moves away from a circumscribed, oppressive life on the Spokane reservation towards a more promising future by attending an all-white school thirty miles away.

Never one to get bogged down in sentiment or self-pity, Mr. Alexie refuses to present Arnold's friends and family as one-dimensional stereotypes, nor is the world beyond "rez" borders portrayed as the Great White Hope. Arnold's family has problems, to be sure: an alcoholic father, an enabling, codependent mother; a near shut-in older sister. But their love for each other is evident through their words and actions. And despite the ostracism and ridicule heaped upon him by former friends and other tribe members, Arnold reacts with biting wit rather than total despair.

This has to be one of the best books I've ever read in my life, so I hope everyone gives it a try.

Reviewed by: Cat

Everyone else is right. This is a fantastic book. I teach a college class in Young Adult literature and this is is one of the best I have read. The strength is the authenticity of the voice of the narrator and honest, brash, and funny way that the author communicates what life for American Indians is like. The only think I have a problem with is the tired idea of everything coming to a head in the "big game." Sometimes it's a beauty contest or a science fair, but it seems as if there has to be something like that to bring the plot to a head. Adults might feel a bit uncomfortable with the frank way that masturbation is dealt with and some of the language, but I don't think the teenage boys who this book is aimed at will.

Arnold "Junior" Spirit, decides to take his future into his own hands and transfer to a white high school about half an hour from his home on the Rez. This smart articulate teen talks about his life, just the way it is, warts and all. He brings some of the realities about life in Indian Country to the world at large and puts it together with all the insanity that goes with being a teenager. Wonderful book!

I am 27 and I loved this book! I would tear up and then burst out with laughter. The drawings add to the charm of the book. I would gladly let my young teenager read this. It is real issues that we can all relate to. Absolutely exceeded my expecations!

Sherman is a premier Native writer at the top of his game. It just proves how far the mainstream is from Native contemporary life and issues to see how he is reviewed, but his talent with words is undeniable.

Julia Del.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Realistic Fiction Review

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is quite a memorable book. The main character and narrator Arnold Spirit Jr. explained what was going on in his life with such raw honesty and crude humor I couldn't help smiling at every page. Arnold introduced himself at the beginning of the book with such a matter-of-fact tone about his medical problems and his situation living on an Indian reservation it sent me, and surely everyone else who will read this book into hysterics. Arnold's medical issues just made every problem and dilemma he faced even funnier, because he explains how fatal every thing that could happen to him is, and how much worse it could get. Arnold is the "zero" (as he refers to himself) on the reservation causing him to get beat up and called names all the time, it's a harsh reality, but somehow Sherman Alexie lightens up the story with a small, but hysterical cartoon of the situation. The entire book is in first person, so you read everything Arnold is thinking, and those thoughts are what everyone would only think and never dare say aloud, throughout the book there are little things like, "Oh yeah, did I mention, us Indians love to talk dirty," which really gets the idea across of what Arnold thinks of himself and where he comes from. Sherman Alexie definitely gave Arnold Spirit a very strong voice, which not many authors have been able to accomplish. The cartoons throughout the book make it as authentic as it is, the book has a unique plot, with a unique character and very unique doodles throughout that express exactly what Arnold is feeling, and his confusion, hoping to discover how he will ever get out of the reservation and how he will handle the white kids. Reading the blurb I expected the book to be the least bit depressing, because Arnold is in a very difficult situation trying to figure out what to do, to please both his family and white school, feeling like a traitor, but somehow Sherman Alexie manages to leave the reader feeling hopeful, to keep on going despite the obstacles we face.

I can see why this book has been winning awards. It is very creative and clever and Mr. Alexie is a very good writer. Except for the more mature language, I think it could have been a middle-grade novel (instead of young adult), because it seems almost more geered to a younger audience. But it is a good read and I am certain that whatever audience finds it will be grateful for Sherman Alexie's creation.

There is a scene early on about his dog that struck me as I read it as profound and gutsy writing. The truth of it registered in my solar plexus. I kept waiting to be touched like that again but the book seemed to take more of a comic approach after that. Perhaps that's a good thing.

Good books are often challenging and provoke wonderful - if not always easy - conversations. This one certainly fit that bill and gave me a chance to talk to my son about topics that are sometimes hard to bring up. (Poverty, racism, privilege, sexuality, etc.)

I've been a fan of Sherman Alexie for several years, so was very excited when he wrote a YA book just before my son was ready for it. I read it first as I usually do, and decided to hold it back a year and let him read it at the end of 7th grade when he was developmentally ready for it. (Different for each child.) But before he read it we talked about the language and situations depicted. (Criticized by some reviewers.) It was a good chance to talk about how we could read a book and be impacted by it, learn from it, enjoy it, get swept up in it, even be changed by it - but know that it is not okay to behave like characters in it.

If you are, or know, a teen who enjoyed this book but are looking for a more challenging reading level, Alexie's "Flight" might be a good next step.

This was a really great book. Reminiscent of JD Salinger, John Knowles, SE Hinton... Great stuff. If I were I teenager again, I think I would read this over and over.

I am very upset this book is being recommended for children-I bought it for my son because of the "glowing reviews". I read it after he did and was appalled to find the "f"word in the book and lots of talk of masturbating!!! I will throw it in the trash just to be sure no other child gets his hands on it!

How many disadvantages can one person overcome? Junior, the narrator of this book, overcomes several disabilities at birth, and then must overcome the physical manifestations of those disabilities (oversize head, lisp, stutter, etc.) for the rest of his life. On top of that he faces the disadvantages that come with being a member of the Spokane Indian tribe: poverty, endemic alcoholism, and general hopelessness.

But Junior is a determined and very smart kid. Taking the advice of one of his teachers at the reservation school, Junior decides to attend the white school 22 miles away. Here he overcomes the disadvantages of prejudice at his new school and the fact that many people on the reservation, including his erstwhile best friend, consider him a traitor.

The story of overcoming so many disadvantages could easily become trite. But not in the hands of Sherman Alexie. In this semiautobiographical novel, Alexie gives his narrator such an engaging voice (not to mention Ellen Forney's drawings) that there is nothing trite about this book. This story rings true no matter what culture you come from, or what your personal disadvantages may be.

A very interesting and inspirational story. The sheer candidness and humor with which the author has handled such a delicate subject, leaves the readers in great awe. Great humor and pun broaden the appeal of this book but at the same time don't dampen the irony and the seriousness of the issues brought to light in this fascinating tale of a young Indian boy.

I couldn't put it down. The characters were so compelling and full of depth, and every line was so well written. The cartoons were hilarious too. I can't believe how much I laughed in this book full of tragic moments. It's one of those triumph-over-adversity books, but in such a unique voice and with very important messages about life, for teens and adults. Possibly one of my favorite all-time books.
One of my favorite aspects was the Indian perspective on non-Indians. I think it's important for white Americans to hear this voice, especially those who think they know something about Indians. Be sure to read this book even if just for the entertainment value.

It only took me one day to read Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. When this happens, it's because the book is so good and engrossing I don't want to put it down. This book is heartbreaking and joyful and hopeful! It's the story of Junior, a Spokane Indian, that transfers from his reservation high school to an all-white high school in a nearby town. He receives grief from both sides but ends up finding the hope he has always wanted and needed. Junior goes through a lot of life-changing events during his first year at the new school. By the end of the story, he has come full circle. He's able to embrace both his past and his present while looking towards the future. It's an amazing ride! It's a bittersweet look at the life of a boy stuck between doing what he wants and doing what is expected. I highly recommend this book for all ages, young and old!

Sherman Alexie is the best as witting things that are heartbreakingly-funny-and-true, or maybe its funny because it is true. Its a wonderful young adult book that I'm sure in on its way to being banned in maybe high school libraries for being too graphic and probably too true. I think a lot of young adults will relate to the story and if they don't directly maybe they'll spend some time thinking how everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. This s a particularly good story for anyone dealing with or who has dealt with an alcoholic family or parent.

Sherman Alexie's first young adult book will seem very familiar to many young and especially older readers. Those of us who are familiar with J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, Stephen King's "The Body" (made into the film Stand By Me), and also Sherman Alexie's own The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, will hear voices from all of those works converge in the protagonist of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold Spirit. Arnold Spirit is a contemporary and Native American poltergeist of Holden Caulfield, and the overall tone and worldview of this book is quite different from The Catcher in the Rye.

Stylistically, the book has a hackneyed feel. It really does seem like something Salinger may have written. The main difference is that, in the end, The Catcher in the Rye is not hopeful. Salinger writes a dark comedy/satire and leaves the reader with a darker sense of humor and a sharper sense of cynicism. Alexie is far more interested in making tragedy a part of life. Another reviewer here found the amount of dead bodies surrounding one Indian boy's life to be unrealistic and unbelievable. I wish that were true. I wish Native American communities weren't decimated by alcoholism and poverty, but it's simply and completely true.

But wait, this isn't a completely sad book; it's actually filled with hope. It dares the reader to consider a boy's coming of age from a non-white perspective. It makes the reader ponder how men are built in the United States: What does it mean to become a man for a Native American boy, for a black boy, for an Asian boy, for a Latino boy? I admit that I don't know those stories, but now perhaps I am beginning to understand at least one of them - what it might be like for a Native American boy growing up in crushing poverty, tucked away on a reservation.

Often, this kind of writing is called "multicultural," but I find that moniker to be somewhat dismissive and arrogant. This is an American story, written for and about the current generation of iPod-wielding American teenagers. I understand that the thematic similarity to past writers might irk some readers, but The Catcher in the Rye is due to be updated. Bars are becoming smokeless, teenagers rarely wear hats and ties on weekdays, and when is the last time you saw a real, live working pay phone? The props and settings of The Catcher in the Rye are outdated and almost alien.

Alexie updates the props of the coming-of-age story, so that his readers don't become uncomfortable and disoriented. But Alexie also changes the focus of the coming-of-age story. Boys don't have to grow up to be their fathers. Freudian pressures don't affect everyone necessarily. Sometimes, a boy will strike out on his own, and even though it's dangerous and bad things will happen to him, there will also be funny and joyful things.

The ordeal of contemporary teen life fits well with Alexie's voice and writing style. The writing has edge and whimsy, playfulness and moments of sustained clarity. While I still think The Catcher in the Rye is readable today, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a good alternative to a recurring narrative.

I was looking for a good book for my almost 13 yr old who is an avid reader and reads on an extremely high level. Unfortunately, most of the books on his reading level are not on his maturity level. In reading the reviews of this book, I thought I had found a good one for him. Not so much. The book includes much rougher language than expected. There are also some very crude joking situations. In flipping through the book, there was something inappropriate on almost every page I came to. I wished I had read more excerpts before ordering.

This book is well written, with interesting believable characters. If a child wonders what it would be like to be "different" in a community, this book would give him a good introduction. The protagonist in this book is confronting insecurities in himself and in his Navtive American community. For young people who wonder what it is like to live with differences, this book would be a good introduction. The author has a good grasp of what it is like to be different. I would recommend this book.

With "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," Sherman Alexie proves himself to be as gifted an author of young adult fiction as he is an author of fiction for older adults. This is a touching and funny novel that teenagers and adults alike will cherish. Junior, a 14-year-old budding comic artist growing up on the Spokane reservation, narrates a year in his life as he ventures off the rez to attend a mostly white high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Though treated at first like an outsider, he stands up for himself and becomes a star basketball player, which earns him the affection of his classmates and a place in the "popular" crowd.

Meanwhile, he is torn between his love for his tribe and the awareness that his future depends upon escaping the reservation. Junior humorously describes his awkward, geeky childhood. Born with "water on the brain," Junior's childhood was full of periodic seizures. Add to this his skinniness, big hands and feet, thick glasses (the only kind available on the rez), a stutter AND a lisp, all of which branded him as a target for relentless bullying. Only Rowdy, his best friend and protector, seemed to understand him. Once he makes the unprecedented decision to attend Reardon, though, even Rowdy abandons him and labels him a traitor to his people.

Despite the ongoing tragedy he endures--most of it resulting from the poverty and alcoholism that plague the reservation--Junior discovers a deep well of inner strength that helps him persevere. Junior's (and Alexie's) sensitivity and humor shine through even the most heartbreaking passages. His self-deprecating cartoons (drawn by Ellen Forney) are also hilarious.

Many elements of the novel are autobiographical; Alexie himself was born with "water on the brain" and was not expected to survive the operation he had at six months. Like Junior, he left the reservation high school after discovering his mother's name written in a textbook (which was obviously horribly outdated) and attended Reardon, where he excelled at basketball. With "The Absolutely True Diary," he branches out from his previous poetry and adult fiction with wonderful results.

another accomplished adult fiction writer taking a shot at a teen (YA) book. but this time around, it's semi-autobiographical, as sherman alexie has tons in common with the teenage narrator of this book.

so, it's the story of a smart and talented native american kid growing up on a reservation in washington state. his family loves him, but are massively screwed up. his only real friend has major anger issues and solves any problem with his fists. everyone, including adults, pick on him constantly. then, at the urging of a weird old white teacher, the narrator (arnold "junior" spirit) transfers to an all-white school in a nearby farming town. he says he's the second indian in the school, because the mascot is an indian. and, while the story covers some of the years prior to his high school transfer, it's really about this one year in his life, the repercussions both on and off the reservation.

the white kids are portrayed a little too nice, in my opinion. but, otherwise, the feelings of not fitting in, of trying to wrestle with that "affinity" issue, is not only universal to teenagers, it is -- imho -- the top-priority of youth culture these days (as i'll argue in the book i'm writing right now). as a result, junior's issues apply to every teenager (at least in america, and likely well beyond).

many of the young adult books i've read recently are good books, but would be difficult for me to recommend to an actual teenager. this one is a glorious exception: i heartily recommend this book for teenagers. it's fun and revealing. sure, it has great insight into the life of native americans (particularly reservation life). but that's really not the point. i also think it's a fun and insightful read for parents and youth workers, because it speaks to this in-between, universal outcast sense that so many teenagers live with.

Considering Sherman Alexie's new book for group discussion brought out many outstanding features of the book. There are significant issues that delve to the basics of each of our own self-identity. These are issues that loom large for teens, and indeed Sherman has developed this in terms of a teen life, clearly drawn on real-life experiences. Though many of us did not grow up with the glaring disparities of Indian reservation life, the issues brought out speak to everyone who has experienced the trauma of high-school cliques and their heartless consequences on everyone concerned. This book is valuable for group discussions, especially in a heterogenous group with different reading skill levels, different world views, different life experience, racial/ethnic disparities, economic chasms, or clashes among neighboring cliques. In short, this book will bring to focus the difficulties we live with in today's interconnected world. Highly recommended for those who want to think about and improve the world, and not recommended for those look for a little light entertainment.

My mom bought "The Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian" for me and at first, I thought that since a bunch of adults chose this book for the National Book Award, it would be boring. As I began reading the book though, I really understood why it had won the award. The book is about a 14 year old boy, who lives on an Indian Reservation near Spokane, Washington. The story follows him through his experiance of trying to find his place in the world. The boy had been bullied his entire life because of a disability but he stayed strong because he had a dream to leave the reservation and live his life to it's fullest. Going off to a seemingly all white school, he just finds more trouble with the reservation men. In the end though, he becomes an inspiration to almost everyone at his small reservation in Washington. I absolutely recommend this book to teenagers because I found that I could very much relate to his life. At the ages of 13, 14, 15, and 16, you are just trying to see how you as a person fit into the world which is exactly what "The Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian" is about!

Fantastic 5 star story, by Sherman Alexie. At first before I started reading this book I had doubts that I would even finish. But once I got started I litterally could not put the book down. I can honestly say page to page I enjoyed every minute of it. The drawings in the story added spice to the great humor portrayed in this story and really added life to the book. Instantly you fall in love with all of the characters, and wonder how they are going to make it through the entire book. I highly reccomend this book to anyone over the age of fifteen, cause there is some content that might not be suitable for childrens under the age of fifteen.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a truly inspiring tale of hope and perseverance that is perfect for both its young adult audience and older readers as well. High School freshman Arnold Spirit faces death, discrimination and poverty with wit and humor (not to mention some wonderful illustrations) along the way. I loved how the book dealt with some tough topics in a light way that was still enjoyable, though it definitely pulled at my heart strings. Sherman Alexie is a brilliant author and is adept at portraying the human condition in all its terrible glory.

Have you ever recommended a book that you haven't yet read? Well, that's what I'm about to do. Don't get me wrong: I've read most of the published reviews of this book. I have some sense of what it's about. But every so often, perhaps once in a blue moon, an author comes along that seems to speak truth to wisdom without having to ram it down my throat. Sherman Alexie is such an author. I read and taught "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" some years ago and on the merit of this poignant artistic achievement alone I dare to tell you to read this young adult novel too, whether you are a young adult or not. Alexie is one of the few American Indian writers who can get past the pathos to laugh at himself, the circumstances of his people, and their socio-cultural predicament. And by laugh I don't mean belittle but to see the humor in one's situation in life regardless of whether it is imposed or self-sought. For this reason, Alexie is uplifting; he understands the human condition better than most younger writers, in my estimation. He also knows how to tell a good story without preaching and without sticking to some political agenda. He is therefore not politically correct but his writing correctly places itself in the heart and mind of the American Indian, I also believe. If you are a teacher and you're looking for outstanding literature (multicultural or not), consider this: how often do you come across a book by a Jewish American that doesn't mention the Shoah, or Holocaust? How often do you read a book by an African American author that doesn't dwell on race? How often do you read a book by an Asian American author that doesn't talk about being fresh off the boat? How often do you read a book by a Latino author that doesn't mention illegal immigrants or fieldworkers? Of course, if you're a discerning reader, your answer might be "often enough." Or maybe you find these titles in short supply. Alexie manages to talk about being a reservation kid without being fixated on the history that brought his ancestors there. And yet his writing is not a cop out; it's not a story that avoids the hard truth or the nasty historical fact. But it gets beyond all this to touch on what it means to be a poor kid in unusually difficult circumstances. Alexie deserves to be read because he writes about what matters most, whether you're a rez kid or a kid on the streets of meantown. If this YAL novel is half as good as his previous two novels, you won't be disappointed. And if you're a teacher, you now have a title to add to the "not-easy-to-label" shelf of quality multicultural literature.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie is not written like a diary. Instead Alexie tells the story through the main character Arnold (Junior). Arnold is an Indian who decided to attend a white school. Alexie does a fantastic job showing adolescent culture. Everything from dating to bulimia is discussed. This book is great if you want to laugh while experiencing the joy of adolescents. The cartoons that Arnold draws are also hilarious. This book is quite entertaining and worth a read.

Sherman Alexie perfectly captures the scattered mind of your typical fourteen-year-old boy, possibly this is so perfect seeing the main characters life story is not too far off from Alexie's biography. Alexie's realism brings light to all the dark places using his master of wit and wisdom. Reading this book you will not know whether you should be laughing or crying, all you will know is just how magnificently captivating each page seems to read. Filled with funny illustrations, and great introspective quotes, this book is a gift of enlightenment to anyone that takes the time to read it.

"My Sister is running away to to get lost, but I am running away because I want to find something." (Alexie 46)

This book is not only limited to the adolescent reader, but can be enjoyed by all ages! Come get lost with Junior and you are sure to come out a wiser person in the end!

This book is about Arnold (Junior), a Native-American growing up on an Indian Reservation. He has a lot of problems but he has to figure out how to overcome these obstacles in search of himself. Overall this book is a great read! I had to read it for a YA literature class, and it kept me entertained. Alexie is witty and humorous and the drawings bring to life what he is talking about in the writing. There are some inappropriate language and gestures but the book is great! Definitely worth the time and money!

I too will skip the standard book review of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I will just say that Alexie's book filled for me my deepest biblioyearning. It's both breathtakingly well written -- in the first person, my favorite flavor -- and an incredibly fun read, like a really insightful stand-up's shtick. This would be a natural for the nonreading YA after he's finished Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and he would never know what hit him. Recommend to everyone and their parents.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is one of those books that everyone should read: boy/girl, teen/adult, strong reader/reluctant reader, and native/non-native. In fact, I am trying to figure out where I can get the funding to buy one of these books for every student and teacher in my high school so that we can all read it at the same time and carry on some meaning discussions about the issues this book brings forth.

Reluctant readers love this book because of the short chapters and illustrations. Native kids at my school say that they can relate to it because lots of times they feel like part-time Indians, too! Everyone appreciates it for its honesty and the revelations about life on the reservation, especially the horrors of alcoholism. Yet, with all the seriousness of the subject matter, there still is a lot to enjoy and laugh about while reading it.

In the weird coincidence department, I read this book immediately after reading another book about Native American teenagers:Eagle Blue: A Team, a Tribe, and a High School Basketball Season in Arctic Alaska Both books talk about problems in the Native populations with alcohol and intrusions on Native lands by others, while serving up wonderful information and descriptions about the game of basketball. I highly recommend both of the books and enjoyed reading them so close together in time.

I'll skip the book report; many of the other reviewers have done a fine job summarizing both the theme and the plot. I'll just say that, if you haven't read Sherman Alexie, you're missing out on some of the best contemporary American literature around--adult or young adult. With "Diary," Alexie is at the top of his game. This joins the ranks of "Ten Little Indians" and "Smoke Signals," two books that have made Alexie one of my favorites to read. There aren't many writers that can have you laughing out loud while your heart is breaking the way he does. My adult friends have all read and enjoyed this book. Now I can't wait to give it to the 15-year olds in my life. Thank you Sherman Alexie.

When I read this book I was a little uneasy. Typically I am not a fan of male YA writers. I'm sure this is because I am a woman and have little insider knowledge of being a teenaged boy. As a YA librarian, however, I could not overlook this book after hearing so much praise. I am so glad I didn't. It is truly an amazing book. I fell in love with Junior from the start and by the end was in love with Alexie.

Having grown up in Oklahoma I am somewhat familiar with Native American culture. In fact it was so much a part of my upbringing, although I am only a fraction Native American myself, that I often found it to be boring. It fascinated me that some people, particularly where I live now in New England, are so obsessed with it. This book gave me an entirely new perspective. Reservation life? That is just not something that was familiar in Eastern Oklahoma. Maybe because the whole state is a bit of a reservation. It shocked me to read of the prejudice Junior encountered. THat may sound naive, but it is a fact. And all his other issues? Junior is my hero. I think her would be a hero to any teenaged boy as well. He is so real. Not a YA stereotype that every boy wishes he was, but the awkward loser that ALL teenagers really are.

I immediately started reading Sherman's other books and am adding 'Flight' to my library as well. It is also a great book for teens, though published for adults. It is my opinion that neither book should be overlooked by anyone over the age of 14.

I bought this for my daughter, but I grabbed it as soon as we walked in the house. Read it in one night because I couldn't put it down. It is so well written with such honesty that you ache for the characters.

There are a few books that, once I've read them, I try and get all my friends to read; "A Fine Balance" and "Revolutionary Road" have been two of them. "Part-Time Indian" will be the new one I try and get them interested in.

This is one of the most enjoyable Young Adult books I've read in a while. This book is funny, well-illustrated (thanks to Ellen Forney's great drawings) and deeply sad. The sadness of the book manages to be sad without weighing the book down. Through it all, Junior manages to navigate his way through life on "the rez" and what it means to be Indian in a white world.

I wish that the character of Arnold's sister was developed more. We never get to meet her, we only know her through Arnold's descriptions. Bu the underdeveloped sister is the only part of the book that I felt was a misstep, but it doesn't lose a star in its rating for that.

I'd never read Sherman Alexie before now, and from what I read of is bio, many of the characteristics of the main character are familiar to his own experience in high school, right down to the name of the neighboring town. This is key to the book coming across as so real. I hope we get to hear from Arnold again one day, but nevertheless I look forward to Alexie writing some more YA fiction.

I had reservations (no pun intended) about this National Book Award-winning novel--would it be littered with politically-correct Romanticism, preying on the emotions with descriptions of oppressed "Native American" life? In one respect, at least, Alexie proved my fears wrong, never once using any term but "Indian." I mean, how many white people go around calling themselves Anglo-Saxons?

Arnie Spirit is a rez boy with no future. Booze is killing everyone around him, by inches and by big bangs. He's smart, but what does that matter in a place where nobody pays attention to dreams? That's why Arnie decides to switch schools, to leave the rez. The choice transforms him from an invisible nobody to a persecuted "apple": red on the outside, pure white underneath.

Alexie's voice snapped, crackled and popped off the page--you can hear the whole book, a comfortable conversation on the sofa. Only problem is, as Arnie puts it, "That's one more thing people don't know about Indians: we love to talk dirty." There should have been a disclaimer. Maybe Alexie thinks he's just writing realistically, just getting down on the reader's level, but I say, why encourage teenage boys to talk that way? It's not an asset.

I know teens who never talk like Arnie, and teens who do. Those who do are the most likely to enjoy a book with rough language. They are also the least likely to ever pick up a novel. Where language is rough, 99% of the time the home is rough. The encouragment these kids need from fictional heros is not the encouragment to talk dirty.

Alexie's message may be get out of the ghetto, but the way he uses language points readers right back in.

Though the story is engaging and alive, it's bogged down by so much language that I'd never willingly recommend it to any of my patrons. Why don't people write and honor books the whole family can relish? The talent is out there.

This is the first-person narration a gifted 14-year-old Spokane Indian who is advised by a teacher in the shambles of the Wellpinit reservation school to transfer to the nearest public school in Reardan, WA. The reality of life on the reservation is poverty, hunger, alcoholism and the death and violence that attends those conditions. Junior Spirit has his wits and the love of his family to keep him upright though the realities he encounters on and off the reservation--many of them absolutely heartbreaking--are a challenge alongside the usual teenage issues. He tells his story with the humor and timing of a stand-up comedian mixed with occasional cries of anger and despair. He's a cartoonist who also articulates his feelings and world through drawings that accompany the text.

An adult fan of Sherman Alexie's adult level fiction, I was curious about THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN even though I haven't read young adult books since 7th grade. It took me a moment to get into the YA groove--it is immediate, voice driven, frank, episodic and the prose is very clean--but I got a lot out of this. Alexie's adult fiction informed, entertained and dazzled with its literary style. It was this book, though, that truly made me angry on top of informed and entertained. It isn't right that kids like Junior--or any living being--should deal with the hopelessness and poverty legislated on the reservation.

Filled with Alexi's trademark beautiful and straightforward prose, Part-Time Indian tells the story of Arnold, a Spokane Indian trying to better his life beyond the confines of his race and his circumstance. This is a moving story filled with wonderful storytelling moments and thrilling scenes. While I finished the book wanting more, which is a good thing, although I also felt that some of the most interesting aspects of Arnold's character (dealing with his disability, his physical "difference" from kids in his new school, his determination to get beyond the rez, his being an artist, etc.) were dropped in favor of a tidier conclusion. In the end, the book leaves us centering on his relationship to his best friend, his ability to move on and at the same time leave the reservation behind. However effective the symbolism, I wanted more in the way of Arnold's coming of age. This is a gratifying read, in part because there are such beautiful moments, but I prefer books in which the character details affect the narrative more powerfully. Arnold is a fascinating character, and I felt that he was reduced, simplified by the end's tidy message. This may be knit-picking, but although I love Ellen Forney, I thought the "voice" of the cartoons was not exactly in sync with that of the main character. The cartoons are very clever and they add to the humor in this otherwise very funny book, but they felt like they were authored by someone other than Arnold.

The quality of imagination combined with "off-the-wall" dark humor is just not in this latest by Sherman Alexie. Alexie chewed more than he bit off.

I first became acquainted with the works of Sherman Alexie through his The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and its film adaptation Smoke Signals. I'm a longtime student of First Nations authors and musicians, and enjoyed his biting writing style and look at life on reservations, so when I saw that he'd published a young adult novel, I rushed out to read it.

Junior has a lot of things going against him; born hydrocephalic, he suffers from seizures, bad eyesight, and has been branded a geek by the rest of the tribal school. He frequently is picked on and beat up, but he seeks escape through his cartoons and his only friend, Rowdy.

Rowdy and Junior's relationship leaves much to be desired; Rowdy is terminally angry and physically and verbally abusive towards everyone, including Junior. Junior decides to try and escape his destiny as yet another rez Indian who gave up on his dreams to become another poor alcoholic, and transfers to the all-white Rearden high school twenty miles away. Rowdy is furious, and the two part ways violently.

Junior finds his life turned upside-down as the only Indian at Rearden, leading to inevitable discrimination and a unique way of resolving social matters Indian-style that earns him respect. He tries out for the school basketball team, which drives a further wedge between his new life and his old life on the rez, especially when Rearden plays against his old tribal team. There are also several family tragedies that Junior faces during the school year. Junior also has several experiences dabbling in romance and sexual attraction (or at least some tried and true ways of relieving sexual tension; the book contains several graphic (and funny) descriptions of sexually-themed acts).

The included illustrations by Ellen Forney bring to life Junior's apt descriptions (as well as some clever interpretations of Alexie's prose, including my favorite illustration of "all butt-kicking bruises look like Texas").

Overall, this was a whip-smart, biting look at growing up poor, geeky, and a minority, but Junior doesn't let any of these factors stand in his way. He has no tolerance for self-pity, and instead chooses to fight for respect and acceptance in the hopes that he can make something of himself. I hope to see more of Junior in the coming years.

I loved this book. I thought the main character was relateable, and through the story while he learns, the reader learns with him. The book will keep you laughing (and in my case, crying a bit too).

I enjoyed this novel. Although sometimes it seems like the writer is just throwing a pity party for himself, it is a good read and I would recommend it. The story does a good job of making the reader want to cry about the sad parts, but laugh about the funny parts.

Junior lives on an Indian reservation in Spokane. He's had it rough since he can remember. His numerous medical problems make him an easy target to be picked on. But his drawings and best friend help him. That is until one day when an event turns his life around. He decides he wants to better himself and the way to do this is to leave the rez and attend the white school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being label an 'apple'--white in the inside, red outside--he goes to the school even if this means he might lose his best friend. But along the way, Junior learns that even though this journey is tough, he finds a strength in him that he never knew existed.

This book is amazing. You can't help but love Junior as he struggles to better himself. Junior is one of the most endearing, funny, characters who's strong determination to over come the odds against him make the reader not help but love him.

The scene during the basketball game where the tribal leaders turn their back on him was very touching. Still Junior refuses to back down and shows the others that yes, he might be small and have medical problems, but he is someone. I also like how he shows his parents. Though his father does have a drinking problem, he stills loves Junior.

This coming of age novel is a must read.

This book captivated me right away. My wife got it for christmas and read it, putting it in the giveaway pile when she was done. I picked it up and was engrossed from the moment I finished the flap copy, so I snatched it for myself before she had a chance to pass it along. Books have to be really good to get me to spend time reading, so I only read a few books a year. But this one was no chore, it's thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

A difficult subject matter is made fun and humorous here, something I can appreciate in an author. So often serious subjects are communicated in such a depressing manner, it's refreshing to be able to enjoy a book on a challenging topic. Much about teen-age life is explored here and there's a lot to identify with. Everyone's felt like an outcast in some way or another, albeit not as egregiously as this book's character. Regardless, we were all teens once and I'm happy for this book to help me laugh about it, and gain some perspective for those who had a much harder time than I.

Many reviews of this book allude to "The Catcher in the Rye", and in a sense there's some similarity, but this book's character is much more genuine and real. Holden Caufield obsessed over calling everyone a phony when all he ever did was lie to people. Conversely, the protagonist in the part time indian is honest and profound--fully exposed, without being full of himself. This makes for a more compelling story, told in a much more accessible style. Plus it has fun illustrations, something I haven't enjoyed this thoroughly since "Breakfast of Champions."

I highly recommend this book for teens, and for the teens in all of us. It helps bring perspective on our collective schooling experience, and affords a vivid glimpse at a very different life in another culture.

For a book that covers such depressing subject matter, this book was really funny. There's an interesting opening line for you, but it's true!This premier Young Adult offering by celebrated novelist and essayist Sherman Alexie is, I've heard, partly autobiographical.

Arnold Spirit, more commonly called Junior, has lived on the Spokane Rez (reservation) all his life -- just like all those around him. He was born with water on the brain, and would be subject to a lot of teasing, if his best friend wasn't one of the Rez's top bullies, Rowdy. However, Arnold is quite good at basketball, and even better at school. Which is why it is so tempting when one of the teachers at his school suggests he transfer to the primarily white school, Reardan, 22 miles away.

Thus Junior becomes a "part-time Indian," spending part of his days in the white world of Reardan, where he gets on surprisingly well after a rough start, and his evenings and weekends on the Rez, where things are becoming increasingly depressing. But the real test will come when Junior's Reardan basketball team must play his old team -- and Junior is the star player.

This novel covers so many weighty issues -- like those of racial heritage, treatment of Indians, and conditions on their reservations. There's some emotionally heavy stuff here, such as Junior coming to terms with his identity, his "betrayal" of his best friend by transferring to Reardan, being at odds with both his fellow Indians and the white community, the highly symbolic basketball face-off, drinking problems, and even death.

However, as mentioned, this novel is also laugh-out-loud funny, as Junior brings his supreme sense of irony, and slightly dark sense of humor to the table. He jokes that since Reardan's mascot is an Indian, he, Junior, is now the only other Indian in town, for instance. Without quoting, it is impossible to give the full idea of his humor, and, sadly, I don't have a copy of the book handy. You see, it is so darn popular, that all copies of it are checked out of the library.

As race-centric as this novel is (and I think that is important -- why not have a little understanding of another kind of life?), I don't think it lacks that ever-important universal appeal. Feeling like the odd man out in one's freshman year is hardly limited to Native Americans in white schools. Balancing the life you have with the life you want to make for yourself isn't either. And certainly the crushes and friendships of Junior will ring true for many a teenage reject.

Before I let this one go, I must mention the illustrations/cartoons. Junior is a budding artist, and "his" cartoons are brilliant. Rarely do they serve to simply illustrate the action. They are part of the action, and really emphasize the diary feel of the novel. Also, they are often hilarious. The cartoons alone are worth the investment.

I think this book could be sold to a reluctant reader (Hey, it has pictures! And lots of short sentences!), but it still has a lot of intellectual heft. After all, it did get a National Book Award. It is a mature book, with mentions of death, drinking, and, yes, masturbation. However the details never come off as simply purient. Poignant and funny, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is great for male readers 13-16, although adult and female readers should really like it as well.

Can the words "powerful" and "brilliant" be over used? Sherman Alexie's voice is loud and clear as he weaves a story of personal survival in two worlds. Can Junior be Indian and successful while remaining on the rez? Or, in choosing a white school must he abandon the very culture that is so much a part of his self-identity?
This book is for everyone who has felt disempowered and for anyone who believes in hope. Either way, your being will be rocked to the soul.
Jim Potter, author, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I've Learned, Tales I've Told