Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Who’s Afraid of Sherman Alexie?

Sherman Alexie poignantly gives us a novel that is hysterical, honest, and yet heartbreaking with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Through the character of Junior, he shows us a wonderfully real person torn between cultures as an “other.” Born Native American, he is tied to the Rez, and while trying to obtain a better education at a white public school, he is seen as an “apple” — red on the outside and white on the inside. The novel follows his struggle with trying to find a place within these two cultures while ultimately finding himself. The novel gives real depictions of racism, sexuality, substance abuse, and violence. These themes are why some have banned the book and challenged it throughout schools in this U.S. The novel is a true depiction of the life of Junior and semi-autobiographical of Sherman himself. The novel falls under fiction for young adults and there lies the issue for schools and parents; it also becomes the issue for me.

I see no reason this book is not taught throughout school systems for the target audience of young adults. A character who overcomes living with alcoholics, is violently bullied, faces racism, deals with the hormonal crashes of teenage lust, and finds a way to traverse these themes and overcome his adversities is a character worth teaching. Any student could identify with any of the themes in this book, be it metaphorically or personally. The idea that a junior-high student cannot find commonality with this novel is utterly narrow-minded and a direct correlation to the system that Junior has to fight and navigate. Junior is an authentic depiction of freshman in school. Strip away the fact the novel deals with the outsider perspective from the standpoint of race, and we still can see that it’s a story of an awkward teenage boy. I ask you find me anyone boy or girl in junior-high to tenth-grade that is not awkward. I believe you would be hard-pressed, part-time or other.


Discussion Questions


  1. What do you find as the most controversial theme of the book that would merit a ban or challenge?
  2. Some might classify this book as a dark-comedy. Do you see that correlation or is it that the humor is merely a way for Junior to deal with his internal struggle?
  3. What would you say some of the principal merits of the book are that should be taught to young adults, or is that too early an audience with this novel?
  4. If you had to site one certain theme that is too controversial with this novel, what would it be?

— Ryan Steed
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 21, 2015 at 5:30 AM

    I'd say you touched already on the principle merits. But to reiterate, finding ones self and true idenity, regardless of the societal limitations white America places on minorities. As we have said, America (or humanity in general) hates to admit defeat, or wrongdoing. So banning the book may have stemmed from the overwhelming amount of true reflection inside it.

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  2. AnonymousApril 21, 2015 at 7:55 AM

    I think that the prevalence of alcohol and how it causes multiple deaths throughout the book is the most controversial theme in this book. It seems like the events surrounding it would deter younger readers away from it, rather than encourage them to drink, however. I'd guess that people wanted to ban this book simply because of how grim it tends to get whenever alcohol comes up, without even knowing the lesson behind it all.

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  3. honesttoblog42April 21, 2015 at 8:26 AM

    I agree. I believe the presence of alcohol, foul language, and violence are some key factors in why this book is challenged and was banned. But I think it's also because it came straight from the horses mouth, that a Native American is telling about his Native American struggles. We have no problem teaching the violent history to children because once we close the textbooks, we can still celebrate Columbus Day. They prefer the transgressions to be instantly forgotten because history is history. People love to believe that race is no longer a factor in our society so they try very hard to fight any reminders that doesn't come from a textbook.

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  4. AnonymousApril 21, 2015 at 8:33 AM

    I think that the dark humor is indeed a way that junior deals with his struggle, but I also think that it is a symbol of the whole Indian community (when pertaining to this book). During the wake of Grandma Spirit, the whole community finds a reason to laugh, and keep laughing. Junior laughs at the absurd, horrific death of his sister. I believe that Sherman Alexie is trying to show that the struggles and sorrows of this community are so deep that all they have left is laughter. Junior acknowledges the hardships in his life, but doesn't let them destroy him. That dark humor is a defense mechanism that allows him to get up in the morning and keep fighting.

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  5. AnonymousApril 28, 2015 at 9:32 AM

    I think the most controversial theme in the novel, it the sexuality. I feel like most of the parents who raise a fuss about Teachers and School systems haven’t read them, and only really flip through the book, LOOKING for these trigger words, giving themselves the liberty to speak ill about it. I saw a video just yesterday about a Florida school system where this exact event happened. The news cast and the lady reporting the story even said they just flipped through the book!!
    Anyone who is trying to challenge the book, and have not read it have no merit and are not justified in their challenge.
    Some of the principal merits is the honesty, and truth to junior’s journey. He is brutally honest with himself and with the readers about his life, and troubles with violence and bullies, his romance and sexuality, and just being a middle schooler in a very tough situation.
    The last question if hard for me to answer because I don’t think any of the themes are “too controversial” because most of the challenges for the book hold no merit.

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