Born with a rare condition that resulted in mild brain damage and occasional seizures, while also being subjected to several beating by almost everyone in his reservation; Junior has had a tough journey throughout his life. In the novel,“ The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, a fifteen year old Native American boy named Junior is forced to decide between remaining in the reservation; he and his whole family have lived on for years, or tamper tradition and attend a school away from his reservation. By Junior attending school off the reservation, he is bringing dishonor to his family, betraying his Native American identity, and conforming to the Western ways. Native Americans who live on reservations like our main …show more content…
Junior had began to find his place meeting new friends like Gordy the Reardan boy genius, Roger the best player on the basketball team, and Penelope the beautiful popular girl in Reardan. Compared to his old school in the reservation where he was beaten up just about everyday, Reardan is seeming like the best decision. Junior is speaking to himself about Penelope's decision declaring him cute. Penelope publicly declaring Junior cute made “all of the girls in school decide that [he] was cute,...[and] all of the boys in school decide that [he] was a major stud” (110). Junior finding these new friends that accepted him for who he was, gave him more of an objective to say and continue to be further accepted by them. This acceptance is something he has only been able to find with one other friend which was Rowdy, who now hated Junior at this time. Not only has Junior been able to be accepted by most the student a Reardan, but he also managed to fall in love with a white girl, Penelope, making him question what to do (115). These conflicting feeling Junior is having is making him feel lost and confused, making him pick between his Native Identity and this new found Western culture. By Junior liking a white girl he has chosen and accepted the Western
Mr. p was one of the biggest inspirations to juniors actions. If it weren't for him Junior would be stuck at the rez forever and most likely become like all the other adults, drunk and angry. When junior began his journey to achieve his goals at Reardan it was very difficult. He was the only “different” kid there. Different meaning he was the only Indian in a school of white kids.
“ That piece showed a negative in their friendship because junior mocked rowdy of messing up when he stopped for three pointer to win the game. “ I was reading this book about old time Indians about how we used to being nomadic.
This is proven to be true during Junior’s high school dance, when he wears his dad’s suit and is complimented by Penelope since it leads him to think that “every girl was immediately breathless at the sight of [his] bell-bottom slacks.” Thus, by claiming that girls fell in love with him because what his outfit, it indicates that he is more self-assured about his looks as he no longer describes himself in a belittling manner such as saying that he has too many teeth. Instead, he now perceives himself in a more confident way since he believes he is good looking enough to pull off an outfit that make girls “immediately breathless.” Furthermore, after Junior and Roger compete in a one-on-one game at basketball tryouts, Junior declares that “[he knows he’s] going to make the team.” When he finds out that this is true, he announces that “[he is] going to be [the coach’s]
When Junior goes to this school people treat him differently he acts differently he even goes by a different name. He doesn’t want to forget about his heritage and the people he left behind but he feels like this school will get him on a better path for life. He also feels a little bit guilty about leaving his friends and family from the reservation behind and moving on in life. You can see this in a quote from the book "My name is Junior," I said. "And my name is Arnold.
Junior’s father’s drinking problems and the lack of funds to afford decent living conditions on the reservation are prevalent issues throughout the book that provide an insight into this theme. This proves that the author has written this novel to exhibit the hardships of those in poverty are detrimental to a child’s future. First, the novel shows the hardships of poverty by showing the discrimination made against Junior. On page 86, Junior states he “remembered when I [he] used to be a human being,” (Alexie 86).
He had created new friendships and had repaired an old one. When he first arrived at Reardan, people called Junior many racist names. Eventually, Junior had gained the respect of teachers, students, and even of people on the reservation.
Junior then gets an idea to go to Reardan high school so he can be with people with hope. Giving him a better future for him by a better education so he can have a good job and life when he is older. Going to Reardan will change Junior because he has a better chance he won’t turn out like his the other indians on the rez. Who had hope but got brought down because they thought they were to poor. The rez is also a setting that Sherman Alexie uses to help show us Junior’s development as a character.
Junior loses a lot of friends and family at the young age of fourteen. He gets bullied because he was born with too much cerebral spinal fluid inside his skull, but he has his best friend Rowdy there to help him. Junior realizes that he needs to leave the reservation to get a better life for himself. He goes to a new school off the
Faced with many obstacles from poverty to racial stereotypes, Junior must override them if he is to make his life better than that of fellow Indians. Interestingly, rather than letting the obstacles hold him back Junior understands that his destiny is in his own hands and he must celebrate who he is even if it means fighting. In the end, we see a boy who have managed to overcome all hardships to get to the top, even if it means making tough choices such as changing schools, therefore is could be seen that race and stereotypes only made Junior
In “How to Fight Monsters,” Junior also has to deal with people poking fun at his race and stereotyping him around school. The two characters also both come from minority backgrounds and grew up in unusual circumstances, relative to most kids. Growing up on an Indian reservation and in a rundown city apartment with no father will lead to different views and takes on life for the two main characters. Overall, both short stories feature characters that share challenges, racial stereotyping, and unusual
He realizes that his team has numerous economic and social advantages. Junior’s ability to address topics like poverty, racism and bullying with humor is a significant characteristic of his voice. For Junior, as well as his friends Rowdy and Penelope, part of growing up is recognizing that the world is more complicated than a strict division of opposites, it’s possible to be more than one thing—part of countless different “tribes”—is what enables him to unify his split identity and, as someone destined to travel beyond the reservation, navigate the world both figuratively and
They also discuss how things are difficult on the rez now that Junior is going to school in Reardan. Junior discusses things of importance all the time so he is not conforming to rule three of the Code of Conduct.
Argument for Banning “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” Book in Middle Schools Published in 2007, “The Absolutely True Diary of Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie says about the moving story of a Native American teenager named Arnold Spirit who made the bold decision to attend an all-white high school from Spokane reservation to find hope for the future in the Reardan. This volume won the National Book Award in 2007 and won several other awards. Even though this novel can be power of education, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” paperback should be banned because this is not appropriate for middle schools.
After everyone compliments his suit, he realizes it is okay to be different. Another example of this lesson is when Junior goes to Reardon, knowing he is going to be the only Indian there. Junior knows he will be the only non-white student at reardon, yet he goes anyway. Even though he has to deal with being picked on, and standing out, he learns to cope with it. In conclusion, Junior is not afraid to be different, since he has had a lot of experience as always being different in his life.
Mr. P advises Junior to have perseverance so, he should never give up on his hope of becoming better. Mr. P believes hope leads to greater things, a better future. Therefore, he wants Junior to have hope and leave the reservation for the greater thing, a better future. Another example is Junior's experience at Reardan. For instance, while Roger is making inappropriate comments, Junior decides to defend Indians, black people, and buffalo, so “he punched Roger in the face”(Alexie 65).