Reviews

I don't have too many thoughts on this book, other than that I generally liked it but it didn't impact me as much as I thought it would. I was honestly a little bit bored around the middle of the book and kind of didn't notice when it started to end and then, well, the book was over. There wasn't much of a plot to the narrative, but since it is based on Alexie's own life, I can't exactly blame that. For what it was, I liked it.

Also, I really liked that it was set in Washington (though Eastern WA, which I'm less familiar with), so I knew some of the geography and culture mentioned. Whenever things are set in my home state, I get a little excited haha

craftingcnage's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I picked this up while in 'The Strand' in NYC, and had to start reading it while wandering around in the bookstore. While definitely a 'YA' novel, the storytelling is perfect mingling humor and pain and social commentary.

allysonschwartz01's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

kim_j_dare's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Arnold Spirit is one of my favorite 9th graders of all times. His best observation of the world--
"I used to think the world was broken down into tribes. By black and white. By Indian and white. But I know that isn't true. The world is only broken into two tribes: The people who are assholes and the people who are not." -Arnold Spirit, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

allisaw_carla's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

librarydoc's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Arnold Spirit, better known as Junior, knows what it means to struggle. Born with hydrocephalus (water on the brain), he was prone to seizures in childhood. He was bullied and targeted for his looks and disabilities. His home life wasn’t much better, living in abject poverty with an alcoholic father and an overworked mother.

Junior realized that remaining on the Spokane Indian reservation would result in more of the same...hunger, poverty, a dead-end job, and little or no education. So he makes a difficult decision that forces him to leave his lifelong best friend and all he knows behind. He transfers to the local white school over 20 miles away.

With no car, limited assistance from his family, and no money, Junior has to figure out how to not only get himself back adn forth to school, but also to practice for the basketball team for which he was unexpectedly chosen.

Junior faces great challenges in his life. He teaches us to respond to challenges with bravery, humor, and grit.

This book is a strange and wonderful mixture of narrative and verse poetry, along with cartoon illustrations. It deals with issues of racism, discrimination, bullying, and poverty with humor and finesse. Alexie doesn’t tiptoe around the issues, he deals with them head on. He also addresses common teen experiences such as masturbation, drug use, and alcohol.

gigilovescats's review against another edition

Go to review page

I just finished it for school (we started it in September) and I think that it’s a good book to read for school. I hope the other kids became more empathetic after it

More...