The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Parents need to know that The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a National Book Award winner by Sherman Alexie. Alexie was accused of sexual harassment in 2018, 11 years after this book was first published; he doesn't deny the charges. Before that, the book was often banned for its mature content. It's a gritty look at the struggles of Junior, a teen living on a Native American reservation who decides to attend an all-White school. Junior mourns the deaths of many people close to him, all of whom die due to severe alcohol abuse. A woman is run over by a drunk driver, people are burned alive in a camper, a man is shot in the face by accident by his friend, and there's talk of his friend hanging himself in jail afterward. A suffering dog is shot and killed because the family can't afford to take it to the vet. There's a lot of fighting, too. Junior is often beat up. Characters swear frequently, using all of the usual suspects, though when one boy uses the "N" word as part of a racist joke, he gets punched in the face for it. Junior enjoys masturbation and looking at magazines with nude pictures. He also engages in bawdy talk with his friends and gets an erection while hugging a school counselor. There's lots of drinking in the story, but only by adults, and there's nothing glamorous about it. This book stands out for its unique voice in literature, for its brutal honesty -- it's based on Alexie's own experiences -- and for its poignancy. It explores the deep bonds of family, friends, and community and how they help people through even the toughest circumstances. It explores racism and how we break past the limitations placed upon us by a racist world, as well as grief, tolerance, and forgiveness. It's no wonder there are so many discussion guides on this book for school classrooms: There's lots to discuss. It's a shame that Alexie's harassment allegations have had to be added to the list.