User:Katshef7868/The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Plot Summary
Junior gets some words of advice from Mr. P.: "You can't give up. You won't give up. You threw that book in my face because somewhere inside, you refuse to give up." Hearing that, he decides to transfer to Reardan--the school full of rich white kids in the countryside.

Junior tries to talk to Rowdy, who he had been friends with at Wellpinit and as a child growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. He tells him about how he's falling in love with Penelope: "'Hey Rowdy,' I wrote. 'I'm in love with a white girl. What should I do?' 'Hey Asshole,' Rowdy wrote back. 'I'm sick of Indian guys who treat white women like bowling trophies. Get a life.'" They have been fighting ever since Junior  left and Rowdy has gotten mad every time they communicate, even when Junior goes to knock on Rowdy's door to give him a picture he drew of the good old times. His father answers the door and is just as rude as Rowdy himself, saying: "Yeah, I'll give it. Even if it is a little gay."

Characters
Arnold Spirit nicknamed Junior, is a fourteen-year old boy who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He enjoys basketball and drawing in his free time. Junior and his family, along with the others on the reservation are dealing with poverty. A lot of times, there is not enough food to eat in their home or enough money for gas in the car, which forces Junior to hitchhike to school or not go at all.

Juniors Mom is a Spokane Indian, living with the tribe her whole life. She's a bad liar and likes to read books. She's very smart. Junior says of her, "She's a human tape recorder. Really, my mom can read the newspaper in fifteen minutes and tell me baseball scores, the location of every war, the latest guy to win the lottery and the high temperature in Des Moines, Iowa.

Juniors Dad is a drinker, but a good singer. "He sings old country songs. And blues, too. Like a pro." He plays the piano and saxophone.

Mr. P is bald and short. He is Junior's geometry teacher.

Rowdy "is long and lean and strong like a snake." Junior and Rowdy have been friends since they were little.

Juniors sister, Mary, has long hair and is nicknamed "Mary runs away." She likes to write. After high school, she did not go to college or get a job.

Gordy wears glasses, and stands up for Junior when the teacher says Junior is wrong.

Penelope has blond hair and Junior thinks that she is very pretty. She wants to help others and is bulimic.

Eugene is Junior's dad's best friend. "Eugene was a good guy, and like an uncle to me, but he was drunk all the time." He becomes an EMT for the tribe.

Juniors Grandma is Junior's source of advice.

Autobiographical Elements
Like Arnold (Junior), the author of the book, Sherman Alexie, grew up on the Spokane Reservation in Wellpinit, showing just one of the similarities between the two. Trying to make it sound like he is back as a fourteen year old is difficult, but he does it, getting compliments on his work along the way.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is semiautobiographical, partially showing Alexie's views on life.