Luke Gilbert--We're All Full-Time Arnolds

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Sherman Alexie's Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a wonderfully engaging piece for readers of all ages. Alexie's use of clever literary devices and playing with tropes, as well as it's deep storytelling, make it an entertaining read for the more "experienced" reader while also staying very appropriate and approachable for the younger crowd. Alexie almost brings one back to their own adolescence with a natural tone that captures the voice of our (well, most of our) inner 14 year old with talks about boners and breasts, but also managing to reach the reader in ways beyond humor and nostalgia. Diary hits all the nails on the head: crushes, puberty, and home life, with a healthy dash of Culture Shock thrown into the mix.

Alexie's choice of using Arnold's in-story drawings is a very bold and interesting one that ultimately helps to bolster the narrative. We're being told this story from an extremely creative, extremely awkward teenaged boy who has trouble talking to people and fitting in, so the fact that we get a visual representation of how he sees the world works well with how we're told he sees it. The fact that the drawings are more "cartoony", rather than realistic (at points) leaves the reader with a much more genuine feel about their authenticity and importance. The fact that in some cases, you have to read them to know what's going on is a very brave one. You can't pick and pluck here, you have to read the whole diary if you want to see and hear the world like it really is; just like Arnold has to be all of who he is.

The best part is that, whether or not you're Indian (or any ethnicity for that matter!) Diary still manages to touch a part of your adolescence. Growing up I, and a lot of other people, faced problems like poverty and being made fun of in school. Almost everyone feels like a loser, or like they don't belong. So whether you're a part-time anything, I think we're all full-time Arnolds.

Teaching this in the classroom would be an absolute blast. It'd be great for younger students, who might be going through a lot of what's going on in the book, for reasons that are more obvvious. But even older high-schoolers would get a kick out of it. So much of what goes on in this book is life rather than a specific part of it. So while, yes, it's a story about a kid growing up in two worlds and finding himself at peace with neither, it's so much more about drama and identity and expression and just dealing with everyone around you.

I liked this book a lot. I might go back and re-read it...

After Hunger Games.

Comments

  1. Ms LopezAugust 30, 2016 at 8:24 PM

    I like what you said about how the drawings are crucial to the story and enhance the idea behind the narrative - that we're reading a boy's diary and seeing the world through his eyes. I agree, the drawings really do add to the story and add a whole layer to the character that we otherwise wouldn't get. There are moments, like with that Ted guy where he shows up at Grandma's funeral, where you get a view of this guy with the drawing and it just makes the whole situation funnier.

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  2. StephanieDawkinsAugust 31, 2016 at 7:19 AM

    I love the fact that you stated that the diary hits the nail on the head when discussing crushes, puberty, home life, and a dash of culture. Adolescents including myself do struggle with each of those points through this time in their lives. I know I did for sure. I also agree that the drawings are crucial to story and letting the readers know exactly what is going on in his day to day life and/or in his mind. I especially love your title and I completely agree that we are all full time Arnolds.

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