agenericmirkwoodelf's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

3.5 round up! Important story, a few icks! 
I think this is a book that needs to exist. It’s a powerful story with a lot of charm and wit, yet it remains incredibly grounded throughout. It says a lot of things that need to be said, and being semi-autobiographical, every character feels real. 
That said, I do think it handles some issue poorly. Obviously, being autobiographical as it is, the author is free to discuss the protagonist’s issues however he likes. However, I felt like some of the other issues in the book were handled pretty poorly- particularly surrounding the character Penelope. I understand the POV character is an unabashedly thirsty teenage boy, and the narrative style is allowed to reflect that, but it felt absolutely wrong to read about-

 [Spoilers + TW] 


- how “incredibly sexy” this character was immediately after learning she struggled with ED.




That’s just my take, though! :)

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te_ss_i's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0


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littki's review

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emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0


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micaelamariem's review

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I did not know about the controversy around the author when I picked up this book so this review is solely about the book and not the author.
It was an okay read. Definitely quick and easy to read. I liked the exploration of what it means to be Native American and how the individual is always struggling with the community. There was some stuff that was uncomfortable—I can see why it’s a banned book—and some issues I wish were addressed better than they were, but overall it was an enjoyable read. 

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rhiannon814r's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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brookey8888's review

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funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


I appreciated this book, but I’m not the target audience. I just can’t stand teenage boy humor and this book is full of it(which is fine because that’s the target demographic). I did love the discussion about the cycles they face and talk about friendships and race. I think this is a good book for discussion and learning for kids. 

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nrogers_1030's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0


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directorpurry's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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sophietoes's review

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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taliatalksbooks's review

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by the one and only Sherman Alexie was a quick, one day read. When I picked this up, I didn’t expect to fly through it, but the comedic/casual tone for such serious topics really drew me in and propelled me forward. Though it’s not a long book, I think it handles really important and intricate topics through the lens’s of a child trying to better himself. Though some moments can be a little harsh, I think this is a great read for young adults, especially those who have limited to no knowledge about the issues that can plague life on native reservations, including poverty and addiction. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and I think you will, too, despite the language being a bit dated. 

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