The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

I am going to start this blog different than all of my other blogs and rate it on the grading scale first and then give my reasoning’s behind the grade. I am giving this book, like many other books, an A (I love mostly all books). I am giving it an A because even though it was talking about the culture differences between white kids and Indian kids I felt that it was very polite about it and respectful. I was not once offended while reading this book. In fact I enjoyed how he gave both sides of the story showing that the kids from Reardan had problems of their own. They may not have been life threatening like drunken parents or going hungry but they did have their own problems to deal with. Like fathers who ignored them, and girls who puke to feel in control of their life; and by setting the story in a somewhat humorous manner I did not feel uncomfortable reading the story and was able to have a greater appreciation for the severity of what was going on because I was not guilt tripped into it or made to believe that it was my fault. But rather I was made more culturally aware that it was happening and that people were suffering from it. Through-out the novel Arnold or Junior which ever you prefer developed into becoming my friend, I wanted to be his friend, and so listening to his complaints about life did not bother me. I do not feel like it leaves anyone out gender or culture wise because the author does such a nice job of not having a bias that you can just appreciate the story. This text appeals to young adults because it shows the struggle of identity and discovering who you are and what your purpose is in life. But it puts it in a perspective that is enlightening. It shows how the process of discovering yourself is a positive and can be joyous and it is not as depressed or horrible as everyone wants you to believe it is. Because even after the many struggles Arnold went through like losing three members of his family he was still able to find happiness in life and strive for his goals. That is why I gave this book a perfect score.