The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in Reading with Style

Oct 26, 2011 Joanna rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, audiobooks, young-adult, rws-2011-fall

Everyone but me seems to love Sherman Alexie and to love this book. I enjoyed hearing the author read his own book. He has a nice voice and gives a good cadence to the text.

This is my second try with this author. At the recommendation of a classmate many years ago, I read Indian Killer, which is about as different from The Absolutely True Diary, but, while I can see the underlying strength of the author, the book didn't really move me.

Here again, the book didn't really do much for me. It was a s ...more

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Aug 04, 2013 Rachel N. rated it liked it

Junior is a freshman starting high school when he decides he wants to get a better education than he can get on the reservation so he begins going to school in Reardan, a town 22 miles away. Junior frequently ends up walking or hitchhiking to school because his parents don't have gas money. The story is interspersed with comics drawn by Junior. This is essentially the story of how Junior doesn't feel like he belongs anywhere, he is treated like a betrayer on the resrvation but he isn't white eit ...more

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Jan 14, 2015 Erin rated it liked it

3.5 stars. I'm clearly missing something — why all the fuss? I thought this was a well written, enjoyable YA novel with a really solid message. An excellent look at the modern plight of Native Americans condemned to poverty and alcoholism and depression and other shared melancholia experienced on underserved and largely ignored reservations. A serious book with an infusion of humor, thanks to Junior's wit and fresh eyes.

As I said, I really enjoyed it. But 5 stars? I just don't see it. ...more

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Sep 18, 2009 Jennifer AM rated it liked it

Fall Reading Challenge Task 10.6

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Jun 23, 2010 Erin (NY) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, ya, read-in-2013

I enjoyed this book. It is not quite a typical YA story. It was about a native american boy, but I feel like just about anyone can relate to it. It is very sad, but the voice that tells it makes it more ok. It is about a boy who decides to go to a school off of the reservations, and the ramifications that the decision has on his life and his community.

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Jan 18, 2008 Kathleen (itpdx) rated it it was amazing

I love Sherman Alexie! I have read many books that made me laugh and I have read many books that made me cry. But this is the first one I recall that had me trying to do both at the same time. Alexie gives us the specifics of growing up on the rez with the universality of the awkward kid trying to navigate adolescence. This is a real treat!

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