This novel perfectly fits the general mold of what a young adult novel should be. The Absolutley True Diary of a Part-Time Indian tells the story of Arnold “Junior” Spirit and his process of growing up during his freshman year of high school. The story is very realistic since the story is semi-autobiographical. The first person perspective and added cartoons drawn by the main character allow the reader to truly be in Arnold’s head and understand what he is experiencing.
This text deals with so many aspects of adolescence it would be seemingly impossible to categorize this as anything other than YA. Some of the most important themes Alexie addresses in this novel are the realizations of difference in class, defferent ethnic backgrounds, the feeling of being an outcast or an outsider, questioning authority, making one’s own decisions, and understanding relationships with other people. These are all central themes in YA texts, and we have discussed these extensively in our other readings throughout this course.
This novel has a huge appeal to young adult readers, largely because it deals with very tough adolescent issues through humor that allows the book to be hilarious while simultaneously carrying a profound message about growing up and becoming an individual. Any reader can identify with at least a few aspects of what Arnold is going through. This text could be especially appealing to YA readers of minority groups. Alexie stated in one interview “I'm really hoping it reaches a lot of native kids certainly, but also poor kids of any variety who feel trapped by circumstance, by culture, by low expectations, I'm hoping it helps get them out" (source: James Meillis, "Interview with Sherman Alexie," 2007, Conversations with Sherman Alexie, 183).
There is also an underlying discussion of the relationship between Indians and Anglo Americans. A lot of history is alluded to, especially with the discussion of Indians and their obsession with alcohol and their lack of ability to become something from being forced onto reservations. Alexie says he writes “colonial literature,” which tells a story of a group colonized by a dominant power or culture and the consequences of that colonization, immediate or long term.
