The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Illustrated by Ellen Forney. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009. 288 pages. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01369-7.

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Narrated by Sherman Alexie. Recorded Books, LLC, 2008. CD. 5 hours. $46.75. ISBN 978-1-428-18297-4.

Annotation: A teenage boy wants to develop the courage to leave his Spokane Indian Reservation so he has a chance at pursuing his dreams.

Summary: Arnold Spirit, better known as Junior, is a teenager on a Spokane Indian Reservation. He is intellectually gifted but physically impaired due to being a hydrocephalic. He is a cartoonist who can more easily communicate with art than with words. He knows that in order for him to pursue his dreams he will need to leave the Indian Reservation because of the poverty and hopelessness on the “rez.” With the encouragement of a teacher, Junior decides to attend Reardan, an all-white high school twenty-two miles away. At Reardan, he experiences prejudice for being an Indian and on the reservations, his friends turn their backs on him and view him as a traitor to the tribe, including his best friend, Rowdy. He is seen as an apple, red on the outside and white on the inside. Despite his trials including many family alcohol-related deaths, Junior is able to get on Reardan’s basketball team, get a girlfriend, and become well regarded at school. He makes amends with Rowdy and sees hope for his future.

Evaluation: The cartoon artwork spread throughout the novel complements and re-enforces the text. The pencil illustrations look like they could have been drawn by a high school student. The crude language, mature subject matter, and physical and alcohol abuse paint a realistic portrait of life on an Indian Reservation. Alexie Sherman draws from his own life experience to write this revelatory and often humorous novel exposing the challenges of life on an Indian Reservation. Recommended for ages 14 to 18.

Genre / Subject: Fiction, Semi-Autobiographical, Realistic Fiction, American Indians, Racism, Identity, Friendship, Family, Persistence, Abuse, Aspirations, Sports, Hope, Alcoholism

Awards: 2009 Odyssey Award Winner for Excellence in Audiobook Production, 2009 ALA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Award, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 American Booksellers Children’s Literature Honor Award, 2007 L.A. Times Award Honor Book, 2007 National Book Award Winner – Young People’s Literature,

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. Penguin Group, Incorporated. 224 pages. pap. $10.00. ISBN 978-0-14-240732-5.

Annotation: This is a year in the life of an outcast freshman girl who gets drunk at a party and ends up getting raped. The story is how she struggles for recovery.

Summary: Melinda Sordino, a freshman high school student, goes to a party at the end of summer. She drinks alcohol for the first time and gets drunk and she ends up getting raped. She calls the police to get help, but never tells them what happened. Instead, her friends get busted for underage drinking. Melinda becomes a school outcast; she retreats into herself and suffers depression. A helpful art teacher encourages her to express herself. Step by step she slowly develops the courage to face what has happened to her and can reclaim pieces of her life.

Evaluation: This is a well-written and surprisingly funny book, despite the serious subject matter. Through Laurie Halse Anderson’s use of humor, Melinda becomes a multi-dimensional character that readers are able relate to and sympathize with. Reading about Melinda’s transformation from being a victim unable to talk to starting to heal and express herself would be helpful to other teens going through touch challenges. Recommended for ages 14 to 18.

Genre / Subject: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Identity, Friendship, Family, Rape, Abuse, Depression, Self-Worth, Schools

Awards: 2000 Michael L. Printz Award – Honor Book, 1999 National Book Award Honor Book – Young People’s Literature, 1999 L.A. Times Book Award Honor Book – Young Adult Fiction, 2000 ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2000 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan

Madigan, L. K. Flash Burnout. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, 2010. 336 pages. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-40493-6.

Annotation: Witty sophomore Blake Hewson has a beautiful girlfriend named Shannon and a really good photography friend named Marissa. The problem is one of them loves him and one of them needs him and he cannot please both.

Summary: In Madigan’s debut novel, humorous sophomore Blake Hewson has just gotten a first time girlfriend. Shannon is beautiful, funny, and a little possessive. Blake also has a very good friend named Marissa who is his cool photography buddy. Always ready to make people laugh, Blake divides his time between both girls. He is in love with Shannon but Marissa needs his help dealing with her meth-addicted mom. Tensions increase as both girls need more of his time and attention. After an emotional incident with Marissa, Blake ends up having sex with her. Shannon finds out and is so hurt that she dumps Blake. Marissa ends up leaving for Seattle. Blake is left to contemplate his decisions and realizes he has failed both girls.

Evaluation: This is a compelling novel that analyzes the conflicts between being a boyfriend and a friend. Questions concerning love and loyalty, actions and consequences, and life and death are explored. The book’s diverse primary and secondary characters, compellingly realistic teen problems, and humorous relief make this a novel of substance. Because there was no neatly wrapped ending, this novel mirrors life; we all have some loose threads to trim because of the consequences of our actions. Recommended for ages 14 to 18.

Genre / Subject: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Dating, Photography, Identity, Romance, Family, Friendship, Choices, Abuse

Awards: 2010 William C. Morris Award, 2010 ALA Best Books for Young Adults

Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2004. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-689-87102-3.

Annotation: An abused and neglected young girl named Tish writes a series of truthful journal entries for an English class assignment. She shares her thoughts and feelings as she works, goes to school, takes care of her younger brother, deals with a depressed mother and an abusive father.

Summary: This book is written in a compelling first person narrative about an abused and neglected young girl named Tish who writes a series of journal entries for a year-long sophomore English class assignment. Tish shares her thoughts and feelings as she works at a burger joint with a boss who makes sexual advances, goes to school and sufferers the effects of being an underachiever, takes care of her sensitive and innocent younger brother, deals with a depressed and later absent mother and an emotionally and physically abusive father who has abandoned the family . Besides her own courage, Tish has another saving grace- a caring and sensitive English teacher who assists her in getting help.

Evaluation: This is a short, gritty novel that deals honestly with the problems of emotional and physical abuse. By touching on realistic contemporary themes and authentic problems, Haddix draws in teen readers and keeps them involved. The book sends a positive message about how to deal with difficult social problems. Recommended for ages 14 to 18.

Genre / Subject: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Abuse, Family, School, Identity, Survival

Awards: 1997 ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 1997 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2003 ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults