Summary
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is about a Native American boy’s experience when he makes a life-changing choice. This boy is Arnold Spirit, Jr. (Junior). He is a nerdy kid who is constantly made fun of. At the beginning of the novel, he is excited to start his freshman year in High School and learn geometry. Junior gets upset when he sees how old his geometry book is (his mother’s name is in it). Later that day, his teacher comes to talk to him. He tells Arnold to transfer because he sees potential in Junior. Junior takes his advice and asks his parents to transfer to Reardan. By transferring, Junior has accepted a whirlwind of problems.
Junior gets shunned by the rest of the people on the Rez (reservation) for transferring to their rival school and for thinking he is better than them (which he does not think). Even his best friend, only friend, and protector, Rowdy, hates him. This he did not expect, Rowdy was always there for him, especially when others picked on him, now Rowdy was with them. To make matters worse, Arnold actually had to start school at Reardan, where he would be the only Indian, besides the mascot. Junior did not get off to a great start; it seemed it would be just as it was on the Rez, getting made fun of and not being accepted. Then, unexpectedly, he makes friends; Rodger (a kid who teased Arnold until he hit him), Gordy (a nerdy kid who teaches Junior a lot), and Penelope (a girl who tells Junior her problems and becomes his girlfriend). Arnold is happy about his new friends but, still wants Rowdy back as his best friend. He continues trying to gain back his friendship throughout the novel, well for the most part.
Arnold decides to try out for basketball and makes varsity, so did Rowdy at Wellpinit (Junior’s old school). Both are excited to beat each other’s teams. When Reardan beats Wellpinit in their second game together, Junior doesn’t feel the way he thought he would, he feels disgusted with himself. He wanted to show the people on the reservation that he cannot be messed with anymore, that he is strong. As Junior put it, it was a David and Goliath story, but he thought the wrong side was David until after the game. Things go downhill from there. His grandmother, sister and father’s best friend pass away around the same time. Although these events were tragic, Arnold was able to realize more. He saw that he could trust his new friends and they really care about him. He learned to cherish the good times and not to let the bad times bring him down. These things then helped Junior and Rowdy become friends again.
Junior gets shunned by the rest of the people on the Rez (reservation) for transferring to their rival school and for thinking he is better than them (which he does not think). Even his best friend, only friend, and protector, Rowdy, hates him. This he did not expect, Rowdy was always there for him, especially when others picked on him, now Rowdy was with them. To make matters worse, Arnold actually had to start school at Reardan, where he would be the only Indian, besides the mascot. Junior did not get off to a great start; it seemed it would be just as it was on the Rez, getting made fun of and not being accepted. Then, unexpectedly, he makes friends; Rodger (a kid who teased Arnold until he hit him), Gordy (a nerdy kid who teaches Junior a lot), and Penelope (a girl who tells Junior her problems and becomes his girlfriend). Arnold is happy about his new friends but, still wants Rowdy back as his best friend. He continues trying to gain back his friendship throughout the novel, well for the most part.
Arnold decides to try out for basketball and makes varsity, so did Rowdy at Wellpinit (Junior’s old school). Both are excited to beat each other’s teams. When Reardan beats Wellpinit in their second game together, Junior doesn’t feel the way he thought he would, he feels disgusted with himself. He wanted to show the people on the reservation that he cannot be messed with anymore, that he is strong. As Junior put it, it was a David and Goliath story, but he thought the wrong side was David until after the game. Things go downhill from there. His grandmother, sister and father’s best friend pass away around the same time. Although these events were tragic, Arnold was able to realize more. He saw that he could trust his new friends and they really care about him. He learned to cherish the good times and not to let the bad times bring him down. These things then helped Junior and Rowdy become friends again.