Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie; illustrated by Ellen Forney
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown Books (2007)
ISBN: 0316013684 9780316013680 142876450X 9781428764507
Pages: 230
Characters: Arnold "Junior" Spirit,

4 bookmarks

Arnold, known on the reservation as Junior, was once happy on the Spokane reservation with his family. He yearns for a brighter future though and decides to move off the rez and go to the wealthy public school nearby. His family struggles to be able to afford to get him there and feed him lunch, but gladly makes the sacrifice. After starting at the public school, Junior becomes almost exhiled from the tribe. During the school year, his father's best friend, his grandmother, and his sister all die tragically. Junior joins the basketball team and twice has to face his former teammates from the reservation. Following his sister's and grandmother's deaths, Junior is once again accepted as part of the tribe.

During my undergraduate studies, I took a course in Native American religion. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian made me think back to this class and how Native Americans are perceived by whites and what Native Americans think about it. Alexie captured both sides of this perception quite well. This is a great book for young people to read. It briefly introduces them to a culture that they most likely will not experience otherwise. It also helps to show how important it is to feel like an accepted part of the community.

Whale Talk

Title: Whale Talk
Author: Christ Crutcher
Publisher: New York : Greenwillow Books (2001)
ISBN: 0688180191 9780688180195 0060293691 9780060293697
Pages: 220
Characters: T.J. ,

5 bookmarks

T.J. isn't your typical student. He's incredibly smart, bi-racial (Japanese-American and black), and adopted by white parents. He doesn't exactly fit in at his white school in suburban Washington state. After seeing a student with disabilities, Chris Coughlin, get picked on for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket and for being picked on and snubbed for not participating in sports, T.J. decides, with the help of teacher Mr. Simet, to start a swim team. For the swim team, T.J. gathers together the most unlikely group of boys, all social rejects with in the school. The boys and their coach quickly bond, and surprising everyone actually manage to swim well. While swimming, T.J. must deal with former football player Rich Marshall and current football player Mike Barbour harassing him at school. Which T.J's life at home collides with Rich Marshall's personal life, only trouble can ensue. What will happen when Marshall and T.J. finally have a confrontation?

I absolutely loved this book. The cast of characters on the swim team is great, ranging from one legged Mott, to former bodybuilder Tay-Roy, and mentally handicapped Coughlin. It's amazing to see how well the boys bond and stick together. It shows what the good side of high school sports can be- camaraderie, trust, and providing a support system. The ending did come as a bit of a surprise, but made a lot of sense within the context of T.J.'s home life and dealings with Marshall. Perfect book to show that not everyone is what they seem to be and that who you are in the community doesn't determine how you will act.