I have never been a huge fan of audiobooks, but I had to get through so many in a short amount of time and I’m glad I was able to interact with Alexie’s voice, literally. This can lead to another discussion on format. It’s back on my TBR list because I tend to interact more with print because I like to see the words and any other text features that can impact the meaning of the story. I bought it for my son and didn’t realize illustrations were included when he discussed his drawings. I found myself laughing at parts and then doing a double take and thinking, that wasn’t funny. I read it last summer as part of my Multicultural Literature class for my MSIS program. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Video: Interview with Sherman Alexie (This is a really in-depth interview evidently, the book is highly autobiographical and in the interview, Alexie talks about all the aspects of his life that are reflected in the book.).The Heart of a Chief, by Joseph Bruchac.Smoke Signals (film also written by Sherman Alexie).
Not a good choice for elementary students, and may be questionable in many middle schools as well. The book contains several references to masturbation, along with a lot of profanity, so teachers should keep this in mind when making it available to students.This would also make for an interesting discussion question: How do students feel about this decision? How do they feel about the reaction Junior got from Rowdy and the rest of his community? Junior takes his future into his own hands by deciding to attend Reardon.When talking to students about this, it would be interesting to see where they see their own day-to-day lives in these two worlds…what is similar? What is different? Both worlds-the reservation and the all-white school-are portrayed in both positive and negative lights.This would make for an interesting conversation with students about the nature of their friendships, what they are willing to put up with, why they stay and what might ultimately pull them apart. In both cases, but especially with Rowdy, the relationships swing between vulnerability and meanness. The book offers an interesting study of the complexity of friendship, through Junior’s relationship with Rowdy and Gordy.It also gives student writers a different way of looking at their writing those who have never had the option of adding illustration to their work could see this as a good model to follow. The illustrations in this book make it a good choice for reluctant readers because it will break up the text and offer other ways to process the story.This would be an interesting focus to talk with students about the different groups they belong to, how they might behave differently in each one to better fit in, and how all of that plays out in their minds. I found a strong parallel between Junior in this book and Starr in The Hate U Give, because both are trying to live in two different worlds at once and struggling with feeling like outsiders in both.
#PART TIME INDIAN FONT HOW TO#
I thought the ending of this book was done so well. It would make a good example of how to end a story with a scene that doesn’t hit the reader over the head with a point, but definitely gives us a sense of where things are headed for the characters.Here is my video reflection, followed by a few notes: This page contains Amazon Affiliate links if you purchase from Amazon after going through these links, Cult of Pedagogy receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. Dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities he has there, Junior decides to start attending a neighboring school whose student body is all white. The second of five selections for our summer 2017 study of Young Adult books, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is the story of Junior, a teenage boy who lives on the Spokane Indian reservation. ***original post from the Summer 2017 book study follows*** (Thanks to Pernille Ripp for sharing so many of these!) Why I’ll Never Teach This Powerful Book Again Why Reading Sherman Alexie Was Never Enoughĭiscussions of Whether “Part-Time Indian” Should Still be Taught in Schools Sherman Alexie Called Out for Sexual Misconduct for Over a Twenty-Year Period
Sherman Alexie’s Accusers Go on the RecordĪILA Rescinds Sherman Alexie’s 2008 YA Book of the Year Award Some good resources are listed below to help.Īrticles About the Allegations and the Response I would recommend all ELA teachers and school librarians take the time to read up on the Alexie story so you can make an informed decision. This information has complicated the question of whether Alexie is an author we should still be promoting in schools. Update, July 2018: Since the publication of this book study, multiple women have come forward accusing Sherman Alexie of sexual misconduct.