Books The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Great Book for Teens
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.

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Rating: - Not Child Friendly!!!!
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!

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Rating: - the many disadvantages
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.

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Rating: - Fascinating!!
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.