Reviews - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

5.64k reviews for:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

4.02 AVERAGE

sambink's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful 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: Yes

ethanrstories's review against another edition

2.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

eek1640's review against another edition

4.0

Absolutely hilarious and a wonderful story!

shannon_rose6897's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

loviskakan's review against another edition

2.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

bakedbread1's review against another edition

5.0

This is my third time reading this book. The first time was in middle school and I devoured it in one sitting. All these years later, it still holds up.

Junior is so authentic! I can’t help but fall in love with him and his journey. His friends and family were mine; his fears were mine. While this book made me laugh, it was also filled with unbelievable tragedy. But it was believable and didn’t feel overdone. I felt so much for Junior and wanted to just hug him, but how he navigated everything thrown at him was so well done. Realistic. Inspiring.

I love Junior and Rowdy’s friendship. They’re just so “boy” but it works. I love them and wish I could read more about them. But the book ended perfectly.

The story itself is not perfect, though. On this read I felt like there were some discrepancies that took me out of the story just a little. But honestly I don’t care. This is a book I will be coming back to again and again.

juntakinte1968's review against another edition

4.0

It's a perfect YA book because it captures a theme so many young people go through: the conflict of wanting to go out into the word in a new way vs. staying at home and continuing on a tradition you know. Junior is like Luke Skywalker at the beginning of Star Wars: living in isolation, but aware of the greater opportunity that lies for him away from his home. And as a writer, Sherman Alexie wrestles with that well, including an amazing section where a mentor challenges the hero to endeavor to do better.

I have just two minor complaints. One is that at times it is mawkish, especially in how it deals with discussions of death. The other is that like many novels which essentially double as memoir, the structuring of the stories at times aren't strong as a narrative or a piece of Creative Nonfiction. The sections that are best are the explanations of the basketball season and his games against his old school. However at the end, the moments regarding his girlfriend, nerdy friend, and old teacher are lost and I think could've been revisited.

Still, it packs a whollop. It is funny. Timely for a multicultural world where young people have to straddle the line between communities. And it is immensely quotable.

I just don't get why this book is often targeted for banning from libraries and schools. There are a few jokes that teenage boys would love (and relate to) and that could help teenage girls understand them. Trying to take this off of reading lists or bookshelves is just a bunch of malarky.