Absolutely Great- Andreana Atkins

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a great adolescent novel that really delves deep into many issues that adolescents face today! From the juvenile language, to the drawings that emphasized the reading experience, I enjoyed reading and making connections to my personal experiences with the issues raised.

Alexie does a great job connecting to the young adult audience by introducing topics of racism, poverty, masturbation, school and family. He even deals with the emotions that come with feeling "out of place" or alienated and uncomfortable; a topic that many adolescents can empathize and relate to. Alexie also focuses on hope, another world beyond the current and dreams of a better future. Not only is this novel written well and relatable, it is the perfect example of a Bildungsroman in the most unique form. The dramatic narrative is what makes this novel humorus in that it resonates with a universal audience. It is educational for all races and showcases an honest representation of a fourteen-year-old boy.

In teaching this book to middle schoolers, preferably 7th grade and above, I would honestly be afraid to read the book in its entirety, but would definitely make sure that the students understand the main conflict/idea. Some of the language may still be a little too explicit for my particular taste in teaching, but I would love to incorporate the symbolic struggle that Junior had to face to reconcile his roots and learn to build a life outside of his reservation.

Comments

  1. KeyCSeptember 11, 2017 at 4:05 PM

    I agree with being uncomfortable with reading the book to its entirety because there are moments in the book to where my thoughts were WOW lol, but overall it does showcase the real deal that I would imagine a teenager like Arnold would go through.

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