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Part Time Indian

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Part Time Indian
Many people will take huge risks if it means they can be happy. Junior (Arnold.) Takes a bold move leaving the rez. But, when Junior leaves the rez, he lives a double life. He is poor, shunned, and bullied on the rez. However, at Rearden, he is smart, rich, and popular. “The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie takes place at an indian reservation around 2006. Alexie tells the story of a 14 year old poor who leaves his reservation to go to a white school and find hope. When Junior decides to attend Rearden, he is split into two people- the “Indian” Junior and the “white” Arnold. He tries hard to make sure the two identities do not meet and that both have a calm experience to ensure a successful life. On the rez, …show more content…
It happens to be a very hard task due to the fact that Rearden’s first basketball game happened to be against Wellpinit, the school on the rez. When Junior’s team arrives, he is booed and attacked. With a quarter splitting open his forehead, and then his old best friend, Rowdy, elbowing him in his very fragile head and giving him a concussion. Junior also tries his hardest to separate Arnold’s life from Junior’s life. As Arnold, he lies to his friends, claiming he is not poor and he has a normal life. Which could not be farther from the truth because Junior happens to be very poor and his life far from normal. When the truth rears its ugly head, Roger and Penelope do not turn away, but like him even more, and help him through his crisis. In the end, his two personalities come back to one, because his friends at Rearden know the truth about him, and Rowdy befriends Junior again. When Junior decides to attend Rearden, he becomes two people-the “Indian” Junior and the “white” Arnold. However, in the end of the book, his two personalities come back to one, and life for Junior is how it should be. Junior has Rowdy again, Arnold needs not to lie to his Rearden friends, and Junior can finally find hope. So sometimes, the risks are worth the gain, and the gain is worth the risks. You only have one life, so you might as well be happy with

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