The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The heartbreakingly funny New York Times bestseller
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Andersen Press
Age 12+
Personal & Social Issues: Truancy & School Problems Adventure Stories
An all-new edition of the tragicomic smash hit which stormed the New York Times bestseller charts, now featuring an introduction from Markus Zusak.
In his first book for young adults, Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, featuring poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, is based on the author's own experiences. It chronicles contemporary adolescence as seen through the eyes of one Native American boy.
'Excellent in every way' Neil Gaiman
Illustrated in a contemporary cartoon style by Ellen Forney.
Creators
Sherman Alexie is the author of Reservation Blues, Indian Killer, and The Toughest Indian in the World. His books have earned him a citation from the PEN Hemingway Award for Best First Book of Fiction, the Before Columbus Foundation's America Book Award and the Murray Morgan Prize.
Reviews
A gem of a book . . . may be Sherman Alexie’s best work yet
New York Times
It’s humane, authentic and, most of all, it speaks
Guardian
Funny, frank and engaging
Evening Standard
A remarkable tale that is sure to resonate and lift spirits of all ages to come
USA Today
Emotionally spring-loaded, linguistically gymnastic and devastatingly funny
San Francisco Bay Guardian
A coming-of-age story so well observed that its very rootedness in one specific culture is also what lends its universality
Publishers Weekly
Worth re-reading purely for the quality of the prose. Poignant and often heart-breaking, but ultimately very much uplifting.
Bookbag
Deftly mingles raw feeling with funny, sardonic insight
Kirkus
Totally deserves to be on any 13+ reading list.
An Absolute Must Read for teens, Lovereading
As painful, pungent and provocative as it was first time around.
Irish Times, Robert Dunbar
Unusual and uplifting story of ambition, loyalty and acceptance.
Armadillo Magazine
the first teenage novel by poet/author Sherman Alexie. Funny, heart-wrenching and utterly gripping, let’s hope it’s the first of many.
Guardian
breathtakingly honest, heartbreaking and very, very funny . . . Beautifully written, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect Junior’s art, it’s easy to see why this won the National Book Award in America.
Scotsman
one of the best books I’ve reviewed for a long time. I read it in one sitting. It is profound and an inspiration to read. It covers themes that few books handle with comparable wit and honesty . . . it has volumes to say to teenagers everywhere on the planet. I’ll be shoving my copy around all known readers.
Books for Keeps
A unique and unsettling read which deserves to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
Publishing News
Always honest, sometimes painfully so, this is also raunchy, extremely funny, witty and wise. (TOP TITLE, CHILDREN’S BOOKSELLER)
The Bookseller
Overflows with truth, pain and black comedy amid lacerating memories of life on the rez. … the novel is an unforgettable portrait of getting by in harsh circumstances, then getting out.
New York Times
A rare and potent book . . . Profound but very readable and full of believable characters who set up resonances that will stay with you forever. Winner of the National Book Award in America, it deserves recognition here too.
Carousel
For 15 years now, Sherman Alexie has explored the struggle to survive between the grinding plates of the Indian and white worlds… ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian’ may be his best work yet.
New York Times
It’s not easy to find great fiction that guys want to read, but here is an outstanding example…It all adds up to a wonderfully-written book that appeals to teenagers (male and female) and teaches a powerful lesson without even a little bit of preaching.
The Today Show, "Count down to Christmas" segment
So emotionally honest that the humour almost always proves painful.
Publisher's Weekly
Fluid narration deftly mingles raw feeling with funny, sardonic insight. STARRED REVIEW
Kirkus
Would be all but unbearable without the humour and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world.
School Library Journal
It takes a master’s hand to transform sociological issues into a page turner that resonates with adolescent readers. Few writers are more masterful than Sherman Alexie
Los Angeles Times
Boys are going to love this book, because it’s funny, and entertaining and has great illustrations.
School Library Journal
Breathtakingly honest, funny, profane and sad.
KLIATT
STARRED CHOICE: A heartbreaking, funny and beautifully written and illustrated tale.
Publishing News
BOOKSELLER’S CHOICE: This book has real heart and soul and tackles, head-on, ignorance as a root cause of racism and xenophobia
Publishing News
[a] tale of chutzpah and the indomitable human spirit
The Times
Written in a pacey vernacular . . . this book is funny and poignant, and makes us care about a community that has been tidied away out of sight, to the shame of the wider world.
The Sunday Times
At points painful, partly positive but always poignant, this an accomplished and astoundingly life-affirming novel.
Achuka
…a terrific read and an essential purchase…
The School Librarian
It’s humane, authentic and, most of all, it speaks.
Guardian, Diane Samuels
This was a really new and original story. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it.
Teen Titles 43
