The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian Essay Examples

- Summary of the book
The book talks about Arnold Spirit Jr. a 14 year old boy whose life is full of tragedies. Junior as he is popularly known is born with excess cerebrospinal fluid in his skull. This condition and the surgery to correct the problem leave him with a number of physical problems. He has a big head, big hands and big feet with a skinny body. He also suffers from poor eyesight and frequent seizures. Due to these problems, Arnold is mistreated by others in the reservation where they live. His family is also very poor as are other families in the Indian reservation. Arnold’s best friend in the reservation is a boy called Rowdy, who is perpetually covered in bruises. These bruises are caused by his drunken father who beats him and his mother. Despite these hardships of his own, Rowdy usually stands up for Arnold trying to protect him from some of the physical abuses. The story changes plot when Arnold joins High school. His school, Wellpinit is so poor that they cannot afford to buy new books. An example is the math book that is given on the first day. Arnold discovers that his book has his mother’s maiden name on it. Having given birth to him at age thirty, it means that the book is over forty years old. Arnold is angered by this and he throws the book that hits the teacher and breaks his nose. Arnold is suspended and during his suspension, he meets with his teacher who tells him he is not angry with him. Instead, the teacher tells Arnold about his sister who dreams to be a writer. The teacher convinces Arnold that he must leave the reservation in order to achieve his own dreams. Arnold transfers from the reservation to Reardan high school, which is a school of rich white kids. There are only two Indian kids in the school, Arnold and the school mascot. Despite being from a poor family, Arnold is allowed to transfer to the school. Despite having initial problems settling in, Arnold begins to enjoy life at Reardan. He develops a liking for a white girl called Penelope. Their relationship gets closer and they even go to the dance together. On the other hand, Arnold and Rowdy’s relationship is strained by the fact that Arnold decided to transfer to Reardan. This strained relationship is evident on the basketball court where both are members of their high school teams. In the first game, Arnold team loses after he is manhandled and knocked unconscious by Rowdy. In the second game, Arnold restricts Rowdy to just four points and his team wins. However, instead of celebrating after the win, he is saddened by the faces of his former high school players. Despite these developments in his life, Arnold is still followed by misfortune. His grandmother is run over by a drunk driver; his newly wed sister and her husband are killed when their mobile home is burnt down. Despite all these misfortunes, Arnold and Rowdy reconcile while playing basketball towards the end of the story. They decide to always talk regardless of where the future takes them.
- Why I chose this book
The writer chose this book as it is set in Washington State. It tells a story that the writer can identify with. The writer is also from the same state as the setting of the book. This means that the writer can actually identify with actual locations mentioned in the story. The story also has some historical accuracy based on the past of the state. Some of the events in the book may have been influenced by things that took place historically. This makes the book a good choice for the writer of this article. The writer may have encountered aspects of this history from other readings. This would make it easy to understand the book and relate with it.
- Did I like the book?
I liked the book. The book is written in a simple style that tells the story of Arnold. The author of the book, Sherman Alexie tells the story that puts across the troubled life of a teenager who faces tough choices in his life. At a tender age he has gone through a lot of difficulties but somehow manages to get through the adversities. He is faced with tough choices but somehow manages to take the best steps despite not having someone to guide him. The story is easily identifiable to many people and is equally inspiring.
- Can I relate to the main character found themselves in?
I cannot relate to the situation the main character found themselves in. this is because I am not of Indian origin. I also live in a time when there are no reservations based on race. This makes it hard to identify in the first place with the circumstances prevailing at the time of the character. I am also not exposed to a poor background. This also makes it impossible to relate with the very poor background of the main character in the story. I also lives in a time when mixed race relationships are not a big issue. During the time when the main character in the story lived, such relationships would have been a big deal. This is the reason that Arnold’s relationship with Penelope is highlighted in the story.
- If I were the main character would I handle the situation the same way?
If I were the main character in the book I would handle the situation the same way. From the beginning, Arnold is faced with many problems, first because of his physical problems and because of the problems he faces at home. Due to his poverty, Arnold wants to follow the path that is most promising to his career as a cartoonist. Forced to decide between his own career and his friend Rowdy, Arnold chooses to go to the school that holds brighter prospects for his career. This is a choice that many people would make and I would not be any different.
- How did I feel about the main character? Did I like them? Do I empathize with their situation?
I liked the main character in the book. Arnold cuts across as an inspiring character and I empathize with his situation. Arnold is born with a condition that makes him look different from other people in the society. Despite all this, he tries to figure out a way to make his life better. No child deserves to be born different. Many children born into poverty struggle to make something out of their lives. The struggles of the main character in the story to overcome his problems are an inspiration to many people. Many people can take an example from the character and not use poverty and physical problems as an excuse for failure.
- If I were a character in the book what advice would I give the main character? What would I do to help them?
If I was a character in the book, I would be Gordy. This was Arnold’s white friend at Reardans, who liked science. I would advise Arnold to follow his dreams and not let my past problems derail him. Every person deserves a friend who offers them support when they are facing adversities. Gordy is in this unique position since he is close to Arnold in his new school. When someone is new in a place, they need a friend or someone who helps them get used to the new environment. Gordy plays this important part. I would help Arnold in his class work and take him round to familiarize him with the school. I would also introduce him to some of my friends to make him feel more welcome.