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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Unpopular opinion time: I thought this one was ok, but it wasn't great.
Absolutely True... is a journey through the defensive humor of one Arnold "Junior" Spirit as he navigates poverty, racism, family and societal alcoholism, and loss in his first year at a majority-white high school. These are serious topics, and I'm glad to see a book that addresses them so bluntly as this. However, if the goal was to bring awareness to these issues, then the tight first-person focus on Junior detracts from that end, and if the goal was simply to tell a good story, then I found it lacking.
I'm biased on both of these conclusions. For the first, I read Lakota Woman earlier this year, so I've already seen a more thorough treatment of social issues on and off reservations. For the second, YA typically doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me. There are some exceptions, but juvenile humor isn't one of them. I wasn't interested in the inner thoughts of teenage boys when I was in highschool, and I'm not interested now.
That's not to say it's without merit. This book serves a great jumping off point for discussion, not only of topics previously mentioned, but also of Junior's choice in coping mechanisms (humor and cartoons). In summary, perfectly suitable to its target audience with discussion.
Absolutely True... is a journey through the defensive humor of one Arnold "Junior" Spirit as he navigates poverty, racism, family and societal alcoholism, and loss in his first year at a majority-white high school. These are serious topics, and I'm glad to see a book that addresses them so bluntly as this. However, if the goal was to bring awareness to these issues, then the tight first-person focus on Junior detracts from that end, and if the goal was simply to tell a good story, then I found it lacking.
I'm biased on both of these conclusions. For the first, I read Lakota Woman earlier this year, so I've already seen a more thorough treatment of social issues on and off reservations. For the second, YA typically doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me. There are some exceptions, but juvenile humor isn't one of them. I wasn't interested in the inner thoughts of teenage boys when I was in highschool, and I'm not interested now.
That's not to say it's without merit. This book serves a great jumping off point for discussion, not only of topics previously mentioned, but also of Junior's choice in coping mechanisms (humor and cartoons). In summary, perfectly suitable to its target audience with discussion.
This story details the difficult life of a young adult, living in a despondent community of learned helplessness. Although the plot describes a situation that few kids will ever experience, Sherman Alexie strikes a chord with the reader – by clearly illuminating the trials and tribulations of Arnold Spirit. The story is told in first person, through Arnold’s eyes, and this style allows the reader to identify with Arnold’s struggles, most of which are universal to many pre-teen boys. Bullies, sports, comic books and best friends – Alexie covers all these subjects and more with an endearing knack for simple storytelling.
After speaking with my husband, who grew up in Washington State, on another small “white” school with a reservation nearby, he agreed on the authenticity and remarkable accuracy of Alexie’s novel. Many Native American children growing up on reservations do have to deal with a daily life of depression, alcoholism and limited chance of escaping the Rez in adulthood. Arnold’s humor throughout the book keeps a dark coming-of-age story fairly lighthearted, and his enduring tenacity and inner drive hold up a perfect character example of how to face adversity.
After speaking with my husband, who grew up in Washington State, on another small “white” school with a reservation nearby, he agreed on the authenticity and remarkable accuracy of Alexie’s novel. Many Native American children growing up on reservations do have to deal with a daily life of depression, alcoholism and limited chance of escaping the Rez in adulthood. Arnold’s humor throughout the book keeps a dark coming-of-age story fairly lighthearted, and his enduring tenacity and inner drive hold up a perfect character example of how to face adversity.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Heartbreaking, funny, and an overall incredibly impactful read. An excellent YA targeted book everyone should read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very good for YA. - I like the stream of consciousness style of writing, and how the book never apologizes for itself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Alcohol, Classism
Why had I never heard of this book before? It was required reading for one of my college English classes and I must say I am a little upset we couldn't go more into the details of it. Junior is so amazing and perfectly captures life of a "part-time Indian" while discovering that he's truly "Indian" for staying true to himself.
I've matured since the last time that I read this book. (and it doesn't help that this time around, it was assigned reading rather than for leisure). But I actually finished this time! Yay.
While this was assigned reading (weird assigned reading for sure. What am I, in 7th grade?) I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty hilarious but it opened my eyes to a lot of uglier elements of Native American culture.
Previously, I thought Native Americans as only an ancient race, merely a novelty to stare at. But this book humanized them. It wasn't all about the booze and how terrible it was to live on reservations (although there certainly was a lot of that) but Arnold and Alexie managed to just make Native Americans in general more relatable to the general populace. Not a separate population altogether.
Speaking of Arnold.
It is narrated by a 14 year old freshman, Native American boy named Arnold Spirit. Not only was he born with a handful of deficiencies as a child, he is also one of the weirdest boys on the reservation. He draws cartoons for fun (as depicted in the book) and uses these to keep seeing the world as half full. In a short time, he is convinced by his hermit-of-a-sister's former teacher that he needs to get off of the reservation. So he does. He begins to go to school at the white high school in the next town. In doing so, he ostracizes himself from his native american community as well as alienates his former best friend. But he learns a lot in doing so as well and the story chronicles his many adventures and down moments at this high school, torn between being who he is and whom people expect him to be.
The writing was juvy. As it kinda should have been. I didn't understand it when I was...16. But I get now that the voice is meant to better help the reader relate to Arnold and his POV. So I was happy with the general message and hilarity of the story but in all seriousness, it was quite an eye opening experience.
_____________________________________
Alright...never finished. But for the sake of you know...goals....READ.
I wasn't a big fan of the narrator, though, the part that I did read. He was actually pretty depressing and although initially, I thought I would relate to him, I found it hard to do so. Aww well.
People really seem to like this book, though so I'm probably just a minority on this one.
While this was assigned reading (weird assigned reading for sure. What am I, in 7th grade?) I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty hilarious but it opened my eyes to a lot of uglier elements of Native American culture.
Previously, I thought Native Americans as only an ancient race, merely a novelty to stare at. But this book humanized them. It wasn't all about the booze and how terrible it was to live on reservations (although there certainly was a lot of that) but Arnold and Alexie managed to just make Native Americans in general more relatable to the general populace. Not a separate population altogether.
Speaking of Arnold.
It is narrated by a 14 year old freshman, Native American boy named Arnold Spirit. Not only was he born with a handful of deficiencies as a child, he is also one of the weirdest boys on the reservation. He draws cartoons for fun (as depicted in the book) and uses these to keep seeing the world as half full. In a short time, he is convinced by his hermit-of-a-sister's former teacher that he needs to get off of the reservation. So he does. He begins to go to school at the white high school in the next town. In doing so, he ostracizes himself from his native american community as well as alienates his former best friend. But he learns a lot in doing so as well and the story chronicles his many adventures and down moments at this high school, torn between being who he is and whom people expect him to be.
The writing was juvy. As it kinda should have been. I didn't understand it when I was...16. But I get now that the voice is meant to better help the reader relate to Arnold and his POV. So I was happy with the general message and hilarity of the story but in all seriousness, it was quite an eye opening experience.
_____________________________________
Alright...never finished. But for the sake of you know...goals....READ.
I wasn't a big fan of the narrator, though, the part that I did read. He was actually pretty depressing and although initially, I thought I would relate to him, I found it hard to do so. Aww well.
People really seem to like this book, though so I'm probably just a minority on this one.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated