The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian
Lexile Level: 600L
(ages 12-17)
The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie is a story about teenager named Arnold Spirit Jr or Junior. Junior lives on an Indian reservation and he wants better for himself, so he transfers to an all-white school, Reardan, outside the reservation. The Indians on the reservation including his best friend Rowdy all turn their backs on Junior. Junior is faced with identity issues and feels like he does not fit in. At Reardan, Junior ends up dating a popular girl, and becomes a great basketball player. Junior struggles with letting his peers know that he is poor, and often makes excuses for not being able to pay for things, like “I forgot my wallet”. At the reservation he misses his best friend. He also experiences a lot of losses in his life. His grandmother dies, his sister, and his dad’s best friend. He also struggles with his family’s alcoholism. He does have a positive outlook with his humor and cartoon drawings.
The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie is a story about teenager named Arnold Spirit Jr or Junior. Junior lives on an Indian reservation and he wants better for himself, so he transfers to an all-white school, Reardan, outside the reservation. The Indians on the reservation including his best friend Rowdy all turn their backs on Junior. Junior is faced with identity issues and feels like he does not fit in. At Reardan, Junior ends up dating a popular girl, and becomes a great basketball player. Junior struggles with letting his peers know that he is poor, and often makes excuses for not being able to pay for things, like “I forgot my wallet”. At the reservation he misses his best friend. He also experiences a lot of losses in his life. His grandmother dies, his sister, and his dad’s best friend. He also struggles with his family’s alcoholism. He does have a positive outlook with his humor and cartoon drawings.
Is this a good story?
I think this is a great story! This story takes serious issues and the main character coops with those by drawing cartoons and taking a humorous look at these thigs. I think middle school students will instantly connect with the main character.
Did the characters seem real? Did the character’s personalities and the reasons for their actions match?
I think this is a great story! This story takes serious issues and the main character coops with those by drawing cartoons and taking a humorous look at these thigs. I think middle school students will instantly connect with the main character.
Did the characters seem real? Did the character’s personalities and the reasons for their actions match?
I think the characters seemed
realistic. The book is in Junior’s perspective and the way that this book is
written really sounds like a teenage boy talking. The words he uses and how he
talks is very realistic. His personality matched his actions. He was a very
persistent character so when he tried out for basketball he did not give up.
Another example is when he tried to date Penelope he made it happen.
Did the language
throughout the book sound natural? When I read the book aloud did the character’s
sound like people actually talking?
The language throughout the book was so well done. As I was reading the book it sounds liked kids talking in high school. For example here’s a conversation between Junior and Rowdy(Junior’s best friend from the reservation) this conversation is about Junior switching schools:
“You’ll never do it,” he said. “You’re too scared.”
“I’m going,” I said
“No way, you’re a wuss.”
“I’m doing it.”
In this exchange you can picture this type of conversation happening between two teenage males.
The language throughout the book was so well done. As I was reading the book it sounds liked kids talking in high school. For example here’s a conversation between Junior and Rowdy(Junior’s best friend from the reservation) this conversation is about Junior switching schools:
“You’ll never do it,” he said. “You’re too scared.”
“I’m going,” I said
“No way, you’re a wuss.”
“I’m doing it.”
In this exchange you can picture this type of conversation happening between two teenage males.
Is the setting
authentic?
I think the setting is accurate to what Indian reservations are like. There is a lot of alcoholism, and the schools are not the best in the reservation. The author also includes the setting of the of the all-white school, and shows how these two settings differ.
The author includes similes throughout the book an example of this is, “I stood there red and mute like a stop sign”. (Alexie 66). The author also includes hyperboles such as, “AND THE GYM EXPLODED”. (Alexie 193). Alexie uses onomatopoeia in his book too such as, “Bang! Rowdy punched me” (52). All of these literally elements are constantly seen through the text.
The cartoons that Junior draws are included in the book they are filled with humor. The cartoons are created by Ellen Forney. These cartoons go along with the story; they add more dialogue or character description.
For a mini lesson I would do container with a lid for this book. I would have students bring in five items that represent the Junior on the reservation, and five items that represent Junior at Reardan. These items can cross over, but students should bring ten items total. This assignment will be done after the book is read. After the students bring in the items students will present the items in their groups of 5 people and have a discussion why those items were chosen. Then the class will begin a whole group discussion on what items were seen most in each group.
Citation:
Alexie, S. Forney, E. (illustrator). 2007. The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown and Company
I think the setting is accurate to what Indian reservations are like. There is a lot of alcoholism, and the schools are not the best in the reservation. The author also includes the setting of the of the all-white school, and shows how these two settings differ.
The author includes similes throughout the book an example of this is, “I stood there red and mute like a stop sign”. (Alexie 66). The author also includes hyperboles such as, “AND THE GYM EXPLODED”. (Alexie 193). Alexie uses onomatopoeia in his book too such as, “Bang! Rowdy punched me” (52). All of these literally elements are constantly seen through the text.
The cartoons that Junior draws are included in the book they are filled with humor. The cartoons are created by Ellen Forney. These cartoons go along with the story; they add more dialogue or character description.
For a mini lesson I would do container with a lid for this book. I would have students bring in five items that represent the Junior on the reservation, and five items that represent Junior at Reardan. These items can cross over, but students should bring ten items total. This assignment will be done after the book is read. After the students bring in the items students will present the items in their groups of 5 people and have a discussion why those items were chosen. Then the class will begin a whole group discussion on what items were seen most in each group.
Citation:
Alexie, S. Forney, E. (illustrator). 2007. The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown and Company
I really liked your summary of the book, it had a lot of details to it. I agree when you said you liked the illustrations. They really helped me visualize what Junior was thinking and seeing, as well as funny for us to look at.
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