The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

This novel is such a refreshing alternative to what we have read in the past. Betsey Brown is a good read also, but it is a little difficult to understand some of the wording. I particularly enjoy the realistic day by day and incident by incident account of the day and life of Junior, the main character and the people he encounters..
I can not say that I remember reading a book written by an American Indian about an American Indian. However, I can relate to some of the stereotypical view points Junior brings out in his diary. On page 56 Junior states, “Reardan was the opposite of the rez. It was the opposite of my family. It was the opposite of me. I didn’t deserve to be there. I knew it; all of the kids knew it. Indians don’t deserve shit.” Junior just tells it like it is. For most minorities this precept rings true.
What I love about Junior is that he believes that he does not belong on the “rez.” He knows he is not like the other Indian on the reservation. He does not want to get drunk, fight, and remain in that rut for the rest of his life. Even though he thinks he will not fit in at the all white school he is willing to give it a try. His desire to break free from failure is stronger than his fear of racism. We see this same trend in the story of Betsey Brown only with a little twist. Betsey’s mother and father are middle class and live in an environment of professional people.
Although we are not told how Rowdy turns out, we can safely assume that he continues in the path that has been craved out for American Indians. Although Junior believes in Rowdy he does not believe in himself. The humor the two of them uses to deal with hurts, disappointment, and grief is typical among teens. The logic they make of all the negatives is a bit questionable for their age. I must admit, though, that poverty and hardships does forces a kid to grow up quick
This novel is an absolute delight to read even with the curse words and sexual content. Alexie helps us to realize that adolescence is adolescence no matter what race, greed, or color you happen to be born with. We all go though those moments of doubt, fear, challenge, and anxiety.