Review Of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie, the author of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part - Time Indian, was born on October 7, 1966, near Spokane, Washington. He was born with hydrocephalus, which means there is too much cerebral spinal fluid inside his skull. Living on the rez, or the reservation, there isn’t much of an opportunity to get a good education. Alexie was determined to have some change in that. And he did, by transferring from the school in the rez, to the all white school in Reardan, which was 22 miles away. Sherman Alexie uses his personal cultural experiences to form the character Junior in the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part - Time Indian. Junior grows up on the Spokane Indian Reservation just like his author. Like Alexie, Junior also has medical problems he has to face, wants a better education which causes a loss for Junior, and the struggle of alcohol abuse with friends and family members. Sherman Alexie’s mother and father are both indians. His mother is a Spokane indian, and his father from the Coeur d’Alene tribe. “His father was a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe, his mother a Spokane,” (McFarland). Although his father is from a different tribe, his family continued to live within the Spokane Reservation. “Sherman Joseph Alexie, Jr., grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington,” (McFarland). When Alexie was born, he had excess cerebral spinal fluid inside his skull. “Alexie was hydrocephalic…” (Sax). That caused him to have some difficulties

This book lets others read how difficult it can be to step out of your comfort zone. It teaches you that no matter what other people think, if you believe in yourself, you can achieve what you thought was impossible. Alexie and Junior both wanted a better education, had medical problems, and had family and friend alcohol issues, but only Junior suffered through the big loss of his best