The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie, 288 pages

Nothing like reading a book a year after the controversy has passed to see what all the hubbub was about. And yet, I still don't get it. I mean yeah, I'm a progressive young adult librarian so of course I'm going to support materials like this getting into the hands of teenagers. Still, I didn't find this book to be all that controversial, especially relative to other young adult stuff out there. The infamous masturbation passage is seriously half a page - and quite frankly, it's pretty hilarious.

However, soapbox aside, this was a truly great story. Arnold Spirit is a gawky yet very worldly fifteen year old living on a Spokane Indian reservation in Wellpinit, WA. He was born with water on the brain, loves to draw and is constantly bullied by everyone except his best friend Rowdy.

Arnold has seen his share of poverty and alcoholism living on the reservation. Interwoven throughout his diary are glimpses into how these two things have made life on a reservation seem desolate and hopeless. A white teacher from the reservation school approaches Arnold and practically begs him to go to the local rich white school in nearby Reardan so he has some hope of a future. Arnold decides to switch schools, at once becoming a reservation outcast and a Reardan new-kid superstar.

As his family life begins to crumble at home, Arnold revisits the impact alcoholism and poverty have on his surroundings - sometimes with humor and sometimes with serious reverence. In the end, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian becomes a testament to the heartbreak of poverty and the power of resilience.