The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Summary:

Meet Junior, a resident of the Spokane Indian Reservation, who has big hopes and dreams. When his teacher tells him everyone on the reservation has given up and has no hope, Junior realizes he has to get out of there! But he's a poor Indian kid with a father that binge drinks and disappears, a sister that hides out in the basement all day, and a best friend that is routinely beaten by his alcoholic father. How can he find hope and cling to it? The answer comes in the form of Reardon, a mostly white school about 20 miles from the rez. Attending Reardon is something no one on the rez has ever done before, and Junior will pay many prices for going there. But, he just may find himself and his true place in the world if he does. 

Find out if Junior's dreams are realized and eventually achieved when you pick up The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie today!

Personal Reflections:

Of all the young adult books I've read, I think this could easily be among my favorites. It is funny and witty, course but with an element of softness inside. The characters are very real - ones every kid can relate to - with real emotions, problems, and intentions. The comic-strip-like artwork adds an element of humor while relaying some of the character's deepest desires. I chose this book for a student book club I started with my middle schoolers. The consensus among them was that it is definitely worth reading. For me, I found it to be a very deep representation of society today, with all of its discrimination, fear of dreaming, and tragedy. The book didn't seem to be just about a goofy looking Indian kid. It was more about the imperfections of society and the importance of keeping hope alive. Truly a beautiful story.