The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

By

Robin Sjogren

                            

Arnold Spirit Jr.

Also known as “Junior” Born with water on the brain Parents who had dreams and talents

but stayed on the reservation and get drunk

Has an older sister, Mary A grandmother who is wise, kind,

and tolerant Lives on a reservation Poor Best Friend: Rowdy Likes to draw cartoons Likes Basketball

Arnold chooses to attend Reardon School

THE HARD STUFF It is a long way to get

there and sometimes he has to walk.

His best friend, Rowdy, is mad at him.

He is the only indian at the school.

He is poor and can’t have what the other kids have.

Most of the kids on the reservation hate him because he transferred to Reardon.

THE GOOD STUFF They have good

teachers. Penelope, his girlfriend Played basketball and

played well, even beat his old team.

Made new friends like Gordon and Roger

Did well in school Didn’t have to fight

Arnold’s life struggles with alcohol and death

Dad is an alcoholic Dad’s best friend, Eugene, is killed in a

7-Eleven parking lot by a friend who was too drunk to remember pulling the trigger

Grandmother was hit and killed by a drunk driver while walking home.

Sister, Mary, died in a fire, while she was passed out drunk in bed after a party.

                                           

Arnold’s Realization

That he is a Spokane indian but also a part of many different tribes and that it is okay.

The tribe of cartoonists The tribe of teenage boys The tribe of small town kids The tribe of poverty The tribe of beloved sons The tribe of funeral-goers

                                 

My Reflection

I really enjoyed reading, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. While reading I thought about the way I grew up compared to Arnold and what struggles he had to endure. Struggles that I can’t imagine. I see Arnold as a very strong person who fought against the things that he felt were wrong on the reservation (alcohol, fighting, poverty, and poor education). I cannot begin to truly understand the struggles of life on the reservation, but I now have a better understanding of why life is so difficult and feel empathy for the native americans who live on the reservation and all the turmoil that they endure.