The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true dairy of a part-time indian. NY: Little Brown. Junior is a Native American who lives on a reservation with his family. Everyone teases him at school except his best friend, Rowdy, who ends up hating him for leaving the school in the reservation for a better education in all white school. The all white school is located in the next town which is sometimes a problem for Junior. Sometimes he has to walk twenty-two miles school but that doesn't stop him from getting a better education. when Junior first starts his new school nobody likes him. It's not until he joins the basketball team and a popular girl befriends him that he is accepted. In the end Junior and Rowdy make up and become friends again. I think the death of his grandma and sister push Junior to try harder to get an education and be able to leave the reservation in the future. If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth is a book I would recommend students who liked Alexie's book. This book is great when teaching about different cultures. When I was reading this book I realized how living in reservations affects many Native Americans. I didn't know that alcoholism is a norm in reservations. Something I found really interesting was when Junior's teacher told him to get out. To go to another school. That he would find hope the farther he walk away from the sad, sad reservation. By telling him this, I think Mr. P. felt he helped one kid from the reservation.