I read the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Alexie based this story on his own life. Even though this book has made up characters, it is an autobiography. This book tells what it’s like to be a Native American and live on a reservation.
This book is about this boy named Arnold but goes by Junior because he has the same name as his dad. Junior and his best friend Rowdy both live on a reservation near Spokane, Washington. Their lives are hard because they are poor Native Americans and like almost everyone on the reservation, including their parents, are alcoholics. Later on Junior’s teacher, Mr. P, tells him that he's the only one at the reservation left with hope and that he should escape from the reservation. Junior tells his parents that he wants to switch to Reardan, a school with all whites 22 miles away. People on the reservation, including Rowdy are upset with him because they feel like he’s not being loyal. It’s also being brave because he’s the only Native American at the school with all whites. Junior overcomes many hard things in order to succeed at Reardan High. Junior shows that he doesn’t want to quit life.
I like how Sherman Alexie writes because I understood the book. I liked how there are pictures and words. The pictures weren’t just illustrations, they showed how Junior sees the world. When the text was difficult, Alexie found a way for one character to explain what it meant to the other character. Like when Gordy told Junior what a tautology was. While I was reading the book I felt bad for how they had to live. They were poor and sometimes didn’t have enough money to buy food. Also I was surprised about how many people died. Junior loses his grandmother, sister, and Eugene, his dad’s best friend.

I liked the book from the start. It had my attention the whole way through and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I learned what it’s like to be a Native American living on the reservation and how hard it is. Junior seems like a victim but is actually a hero. He could inspire anyone. I would recommend this book to people who want to learn more about what it’s like to grow up on an Indian Reservation.