Are you folks hiding in the stacks? :) Well, to update you on my reading life, I finished The Absolutely True Diary f a Part-Time Indian, and I have to tell you, it was one of the top three books I read all year-- and that's saying something. Now, it has a well-earned YA sticker on it, and it is not for youngsters (8th graders only please!) due to language and mature content. But once you are of age, give it a try; I think you'll really like it!
Sherman Alexie has written a semi-autobiographical tale of an 8th-grader-going-into-high-school who lives on "the rez"-- an Spokane Indian reservation. Arnold Spirit Jr. (Junior) is a smart, honest, funny, artistic and sad narrator. His life isn't easy, but he deals with it using humor, grace and his cartoon drawing. He decides to leave the reservation high school and attend the all-white school in a small town sort of nearby. Junior is then known as "an apple" by the rez folks-- red on the outside, white on the inside. He describes for us the ups and downs of his life, which include fistfights, being ignored, surprise semi-girlfriends, mad basketball skills, the loss of loved ones, the tragedy of alcoholism, and the undeniable power of believing in oneself. Junior is a true hero who will make you laugh and cry, often in the same moment.
Wow, I should have written that for the back of the book, hunh?!
:)
Mrs. P
12 comments:
I'm here, I'm here. I'll go check out that book--sounds good, and like one of the stuff I'd read. :)
Hi everchanging,
I'm recommending it to eveyone who's old enough to read it-- especially my adult friends. It just got nominated for the National Book Award for Children's Lit catagory, so I'm not the only one who thinks it's Quality! Give it a shot and report back here.
:)
Mrs. P
link has come to town to type some stuff!!! hey i have read 10 books in the past week. oh and i'm wanting to read another book but i cant find one of my taste any sudgestions?? please help and i will give a 3doll- cent reward
Why aren't Seventh graders mature enough?
Hi Anonymous!
Like I said, Part-Time Indian is written about an 8th/9th grader, and it's got the language to match. :) You are welcome to give it a shot (please make sure your parents are OK with it) and let me know what you think!
:)
Mrs. P
Hey link!
Welcome back. :) What books did you read? Or maybe we should limit that-- what were your Top 3?
Hmmm... do folks have any suggestions for link on what to read next? What are you in the mood for? We just got in some new stuff, so you should check the displays around the circ desk. Hopefully we'll find a good choice for you!
:)
Mrs. P
I am still here! I am going to check that book out very soon!!! just keep me up dated Mrs. P!!!
is everchanging a guy or girl. really want to no when i read her opinions about books. its sorta a by name. so yea...
everchanging,
I have ben looking at the other bogs and I see that you like to read, or maby u have just read alot of books. Do you think that we could blog together cause it looks like that u like to blog to. anyway, I think that it could work cause it looks like we r the ones who blog the most(not including Mrs P.) and I think that we could b realy good friends.
maymay365
everchanging is Lulu, a former student who is now going to school at Fairview. She is a GREAT resource for books, especially fantasy-- feel free to address her specifically!
:)
Mrs. P
Hey Mrs. P! How bad is the language? Can you compare it to another book?
Hmmm, compare it to another book... I know I could if I thought about it long enough, but of course right now I'm drawing a blank. Suffice to say you get a pretty full range of curse words throughout the course of the book, plus one or two "mature" situations thrown in. All of the reviews I've read on "Part-Time Indian" label it for 8th grade and up. I'll say this, though-- it's not like Alexie put them in there TOO much; there's not a curse word on every page or anything. Like I said, it seems very realistic to me and not overboard at all.
Hope that helps. I'll keep thinking of a comparison!
:)
Mrs. P
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