Junior Spirit has problems. He was born with water on the brain or hydrocephalus. He almost died as an infant when they drained his brain. The resulting side effects are many with the most distinct being seizures. Thankfully, they occur less often as he ages.
Other problems are minor, but still major to a kid who would like to be invisible to bullies. Let’s see. He stutters and lisps plenty of times in the same sentence. His eyes are different sizes with one being far-sighted and the other near. Plus, he has 42 teeth, 10 more than regular kids, which gives him a distinct (talking with his mouth full) appearance.
To add to his health problems, Junior’s circumstances are bleak. His mother is an ex alcoholic, but his father still goes on benders. At least he is a happy drunk, his best friend Rowdy isn’t that lucky. Rowdy’s father is the mean kind who likes to take it out on the family. Junior and Rowdy happen to be founders of the exclusive Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club for various reasons.
Possibly the most debilitating problem for Junior is money. The family is poor. His father’s mother, his mother’s mother, and on and on from the time the white man settled America, have been poor. Not only his family, but Rowdy’s too. For that matter, the whole reservation is poor.
It is during Junior’s first day in Reservation High School that the water in his head boils over. See, he has looked forward to Geometry class for years. The idea of drawing shapes and deciphering problems is intriguing to his cartoonist mind. It is while receiving his textbook for the class it happens. He opens the book to see his mother’s name, her maiden name, on the inside cover. A name she has not used in 30 years!
Quiet Junior, gentle Junior, smart Junior has had it! The offending book is sent arcing to the front of the class where it meets Mr. P’s face. Junior Spirit has lost his.
Junior’s spirit quest begins the following week 22 miles away from his home. He has been accepted into the mostly white Reardan High School. Unfortunately, this places him at odds with the tribe. They begin referring to him as Apple—red on the outside, but white within.
Junior is going “off the rez” in this heart-wrenchingly delightful book by Sherman Alexie. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian will have teenage boys all over the country clamoring for more.
Note: Just a (Reading) Fool's point of view!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (copy)
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15 comments:
This book sounds really fun, I'm going to see if my library has a copy! Thanks!
Great review. I've been meaning to put this on my TBR list, now I will.
7 Village Idiarts - This is a book for teenage boys! There is a little about masterbation that a mother reading out loud might embarass those listening. I know I couldn't do read it to a class. *blush*
You can read it in one day, N Vasillis. :)
Nice review, Maggie. I really loved the book, too.
Thanks Andi! I want to read more but I need to get back to southern books. :)
Every review I read about this book makes it creep one more step up my TBR mountain. Pretty soon it's going to reach the top and I'll read it too!
Sounds a good read. Thanks for the Peacans they arrived today and look absolutely fantastic, will be sampling them later after dinner x
This sounds like a very good book. Excellent review!
Cool Jeane! You should go ahead and read it! It is very short. :)
Oh, I'm thrilled they arrived Katrina! Enjoy! :)
I rather enjoyed it April! Hey, I like the summer you! :)
LOL, thanks Maggie! Now if only I were TRULY on a beach somewhere... lol!
this sounds like an interesting book. Would girls be interested in it?
Girls will read anything they find interesting, Sage. They don't have to have a lead female character.
The story is wonderful, and if she is wise to the ways of boys and hormones, I see no reason she would not like it. The self gratification done by our hero is NOT the act, only comments on how great it can be. He says it is one of his favorite past-times in the middle and end of the book.
I think it is perfect for 12 - 14 year-olds. They can be nodding in agreement and will percieve as a joke.
I have this one on hold at the library. I hope it gets here soon. This just whets my appetite more.
Great, Just a Reading Fool! I think you will enjoy it!
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