Sherman Alexi

The title of this book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” fits it very well, because it’s about the very real feelings and experiences of a boy that’s trying to fight his way out of poverty while still trying to keep his heritage alive. The protagonist's name is Arnold Spirit Junior he’s a young Native American boy growing up on a reservation that aspires to change his life by leaving the reservation and its traditions behind to go to school in a neighboring town with white students. In this paper, we’re going to take a look at the cultural impact that Junior feels upon leaving the reservation as well as the blowback he receives from his people on the reservation that view him as a traitor to his culture. We’re also going to take a look at the stereotypes that are placed upon the Native Americans by those of the white culture, though Sherman Alexi doesn’t go too deep in his book about this stereotyping there are little snippets of it that bear mentioning.

Sherman Alexi was born October 7, 1966, on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. Alexi was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that occurs when an abnormally large amount of cerebral fluid is contained within the cranial cavity. He had to have brain surgery when he was only six months old, he was not expected survive and if he did the doctors expected him to
Though adolescence and all cultures face many trials and tribulations as they grow from a child to an adult those faced by the Native Americans that live on the reservation are even more challenging. The young people on the reservation must deal with alcoholism, drug use, as well as inadequate supplies in their schools. Sherman Alexie does an excellent job in bringing these trials the reservation youth to