The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Here is a banned book that I loved so much that the minute I finished it I immediately read it again.

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Sherman Alexie. It tells the story of Arnold Spirit Jr., a teenage boy who grows up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington state. It is the painful story of living on a reservation told by Junior, who struggles to find his path. Junior’s observations about generational poverty, addiction, and self-loathing, along with the cartoons he draws are gut-wrenching. His courage and humor make him a true hero whether he realizes it or not.

The novel explores identity, race, poverty, and the struggles faced by Native Americans. It addresses cultural assimilation, discrimination, and the challenges of straddling two worlds.