The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (National Book Award Winner)

The book "The absolute true diary of a part time Indian" is about Arnold Spirit, also named Junior, making his way through life. Junior isn't a "normal" kid, because he was born with water in his head an has to live with the consequences now. He lives in the reservation, because he's an Indian and he also visits the high-school there. But when he smashes his geometry book in the teachers face he thinks about to change his life. Junior decides to go to Reardan, a Highschool outside the rez, where he gets the promotion he deserves. At Reardan he first doesn´t feel comfortable, but the more he gets in contact with the white kids, the more he learns to accept himself and his life. The book is about the ups and downs in live everyone is having sometimes and loosing, but also finding hope. The main charakter is Junior whom the reader is following through an episode of his life. He´s a very strong and special charakter. His experiences are unique and made him to the interesting person he is in this novella. He changes through the story from a victim and loser (he thinks that of himself) to a respected and a self-confident person. Rowdy, Junoir´s best friend, also has an important role in the novella, because he and Junior are friends since they´re born. The friendship with Rowdy ist the only friendship Junior has at the beginning and without Rowdy he feels not complete. Rowdy is a very special charakter, because he gets beaten up at home and for that reason he beats up other kids, except Junior. He wants to make others feel his own pain. Another important charakter is Penelope, Juniors girlfriend. To the outside she‘s a beautiful, intelligent and talented girl, but at the inside she´s not confident with her self and stands under great pressure, going out from her dad. So she throws up sometimes, but doesn´t tell anyone. I can identify myself to some parts of every named charakter in the book, because they all show problems everybody, or the biggest part of us, has. I also made Juniors expierences, people said to me that I´m dumb and I wont bring it to something, some of my classmates were really unfair and unpolite to me most time, when I was younger. But I also made experiences like Penelope, not because someone of my family put pressure on me, just because I often put to much pressure to myself. I´m often not confident and proud to myself, to the grades I write, how I look and other things, but I don´t show it to anyone. Also I think I sometimes feel like Rowdy, when someone is unfair to me or something wasn´t working like I wanted, I want to make others feel like I feel, but I don´t beat them up. I think this novella can be projected to everyone of us and thats why I liked it that much. First I wasn´t that sure if it would be a good read, but at first sight I found it very funny, because I saw the cartoons. I was exited about how the novella would tell the story and I was very surprised that it went that well. I really liked Junior as a main chrakter and read the book in like…4 hours (I´m a quick reader). So I just can highly recommend this book to everyone of you! I give 4,5 of 5 Stars to "The absolute true diary of a part time indian“!