"Sherman Alexie overcame a childhood of crushing poverty on the Spokane Indian Reservation to become an award-winning poet, novelist and filmmaker.
In his remarkable new young-adult novel, the Seattle author places his young protagonist at the start of a similar path.
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” a National Book Award finalist, is the story of aspiring cartoonist Arnold “Junior” Spirit, a sharp, plucky 14-year-old fighting for his soul on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
Alexie’s semiautobiographical tale ricochets from hilarious to heartbreaking – often in the same sentence. It’s punctuated with Arnold’s cartoons, delightfully rendered by Seattle artist Ellen Forney.
Junior tells us in the novel’s first words that he was born with water on the brain. That and related complications left him a pile of problems, from a stutter to thick glasses. He’s a daily punching bag for bullies, including the meanest 30-year-old triplets in the world.
“Yep, I belong to the Black-Eye-of-the-Month-Club,” he says."
Get the Story:‘Part-Time Indian’ has a hero teens will root for (The Tacoma News Tribune 11/6) Relevant Links:
Sherman Alexie - http://www.fallsapart.com Related Stories:
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