The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

With a title like that, who wouldn’t want to read this book? I was attracted by the title of this juvenile book by Sherman Alexie. I had read several books by this author, but they were very painful to read. This one is very funny, but bittersweet more often than not. It describes one year in the life of a Spokane Indian who lives on a reservation. He is very excited to start high school and discover a new subject, geometry. However, when he finally receives his textbook, he sees his mother’s maiden name written on the inside front cover. He throws the book at his teacher and gets suspended. His victim, Mr. P (who sometimes forgets to come to school), urges him to go to Reardan high school, the white high school outside of the rez. What was I doing at Reardan, whose mascot was an Indian, thereby making me the only other Indian in town? His best friend rejects him. He is considered a traitor by his fellow Spokane tribal members. He is the only one who dares to hope, when everybody else has lost hope. Against all odds, he becomes a popular boy in his high school, because he is dating the most popular girl in high school and becomes a star on the basketball team. Despite all his success, he is constantly reminded of the fate of his people: three people who are important to him die, all because of the booze.

I’m fourteen years old and I’ve been to forty-two funerals.

That’s really the biggest difference between Indians and white people.

(...)

And you know what the worst part is? The unhappy part? About 90 percent of the deaths have been because of alcohol.

The drawings by Ellen Forney are amazing, and really complement the novel.

Comments

[Nuku_Hiva95]

OK, il est sur ma liste.