The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
Okay, so I read a lot of books about teenagers and kids, but hey, I read what I pull out of the box!
This is a fun, funny book, completely with plenty of “drawings by the main character,” actually illustrations by Ellen Forney. But the main character, Junior, likes to draw, and her cartooning style suits his character well. Junior isn’t strong, handsome or buff, he’s a scrawny kid who nonetheless loves basketball, and plays with his best friend, who has all those attributes and a serious anger, too.
The book has plenty of dark, serious issues, but still manages to be fun, and the main character, with all his flaws, and screwed up circumstances in life, manages to keep a bouyancy about himself. He’s a Spokane Indian kid living on “the rez” and dealing with all the normal struggles a teenage boy goes through, but multiplied by about ten.
Dealing with the broken people, alcoholism, the broken hearts and fading dreams of those around him, and trying to make his way in the world outside the Rez, while still trying to stay part of his Rez community makes a story a lot of kids who have felt like an outsider will enjoy. Adults, too. Based on the author’s experiences growing up, it stays funny but has a strong and serious heart. A quick, fun read, but not fluff – read it if you can.