The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN: Sherman Alexie: Little, Brown & Co.: Young Adult: 230 pgs.

Arnold Spirit, Jr., born with water on the brain, has lived his entire life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He loves drawing cartoons and imagining what life would be like if he and the ones he loves would get a break in this world. After he is encouraged by his teacher to leave the reservation, he begins going to school in Reardan. He is then seen as a traitor to those still on the rez. Junior comes of age as he perseveres in his new school and deals with the deaths of three people close to him.

This novel is a story about race and determination to make your life better. Junior, persists in doing what he thinks is best as he leaves the rez and tries to make a place for himself in the world.