Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Hatchette Book Group, 2007. Print.
Annotation: Junior Spirit is different, even among his own. So when he dares to leave the rez to attend an all-white high school, he is faced with incredible resistance. His honest and open diary, complete with illustrations and explicit details of the joys and sorrows ofhis adventure, convinces those who read it why, against all odds, Junior had to leave in order to live.
Justification for Nomination:
Using Junior Spirit as a spokesperson for the young adult who must deal with issues of being a minority and those associated with coming of age, Alexie presents the reader with a novel that is both humorous and sad, entertaining and disturbing. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is honest and refreshing, with nothing held back. Alexie does not skirt stereotypical judgments. Instead he includes them to show the humanity and authenticity of his characters and to establish the credibility of the situations depicted as part of Junior’s culture. This is Junior’s diary told in a combination of pictures and written entries that detail his life and the changes that occur along the way. He talks to the reader about education, about sports, about sex and romance, about life and death, about alcoholism, about abuse, about poverty, about life and the resilience it requires to rise above obstacles. The candor of the story combined with the short chapters and visual components make this book a must-read.
Genres: Multicultural, Coming of Age, Realistic/"Edgy," Sports
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