October 3, 2012

Celebrate the Freedom to Read




First, I want to say HAPPY BANNED BOOK WEEK to all! This is such an important week to readers because it is 100% about the freedom of choice – the choice to read. Most importantly, it is important that we continue to fight for this choice for all readers of all ages.

I am proud to work with Book Journey this week and host this novel as well as a giveaway.

When I read the tweet to help celebrate, I knew immediately what novel I wanted to recognize and host. At first I thought of Speak, but then I decided on this one because I am always being asked what books I recommend for male readers, especially reluctant ones, and I love this book that much and cannot believe it has been challenged.

Title and author: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Pages: 230
ISBN: 9780316013697
Source: Purchased

Summary (from book jacket):

Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside of himself that he never knew existed.

Inspired by his own experiences growing up, award-winning author Sherman Alexie chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live.

My Thoughts:

Alexie knocks it out of the park with this novel. He introduces readers to Junior, a young boy who happens to be a walking miracle. He was born with water on his brain, too many teeth, huge feet, and awful eyesight. If that was not bad enough, he’s Native American too.

Throughout the novel, readers are brought into a world unlike any other in YA literature. Readers will experience Junior’s frustration at the lack of equality in education on the rez and will feel triumphant when he makes the decision to leave the rez for a better education, even if that means betraying the one he respects the most, his best friend.

Ultimately, this is a tale of survival. It’s hard to be a teenager, and when it seems that the world it out to “get you” in a variety of ways, it adds to the headache. 

But Junior keeps his head up, his hopes high, and his want for a better life center. From having a crush to fighting with a best friend to issues with teachers and family members, all readers will find themselves lost in the pages cheering for Junior.

Alexie's gift of storytelling is truly remarkable – he made me laugh and cry, many times simultaneously, and he warmed my heart. Throughout the novel I found myself rooting for Junior, no matter what it involved.

I want to share with you one of my favorite moments in the novel. It’s one I always share with my students when we study Alexie's essay, “Superman and Me.” To me, this captures not only the tone of Junior’s life but it also will always be relevant in society.

It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you’re poor because you’re stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you’re stupid and ugly because you’re Indian. And because you’re Indian you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Poverty doesn’t give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor (13).

It is moments like these that make this worth your time. Alexie brings universal truths to the forefront, challenging “ideas” many are raised to believe. With absolute tender care, Alexie provides readers a look into what it truly is like to grow up not only poor in America but also Native American. Stereotypes are addressed as well as being a growing, teenage boy.

But more than anything, this is always a “go to” novel for me with students, especially male. I have not ever had a male student return the book and say he did not like it. Usually when I ask all that is said is, “Can you recommend another book I would like as well?”

Chris Crutcher enjoying BBW in Spokane
Guys, this is a sure-winner for your classroom library, with your students, with you. 

And if that doesn't convince you...check out the picture of fellow author Chris Crutcher reading from the novel. A big THANK YOU to Kelly Milner Halls, his personal assistant, for allowing me to share the love and post this picture of Crutcher.

I have read this novel and listened to it on audio – I recommend you do both. I recommend that you read the novel first. The cartoons that accompany are an important element, but once you’ve read it, it is worth a listen because Alexie is the reader.

Reasons given for banning this novel: 
  • offensive language
  • racism
  • religious viewpoint
  • sexually explicit
  • unsuited to age group
Want to learn more?

And now...it's GIVEAWAY time! Enter for your chance to win a copy of Sherman Alexie's YA novel below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


29 comments:

  1. To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite banned book because of the memorable story and the beautifully portrayed characters who live on. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For most of my juniors, it remains one of their favorite reads ever while in school.

      Delete
  2. I just finished reading The Color of Earth and I loved it!

    Kendal
    @kstegmann
    Kinx's Book Nook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read that - I will have to add it to my list.

      Delete
  3. Gone With the Wind is my favorite.
    @CarolAnnM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Swoon!!! Such a great read - and rarely mentioned during BBW

      Delete
  4. I loved this book so much when I borrowed it from the library a year ago. I agree with you - there is so much "fantastic" about it! Thanks for being a part of banned book week -

    AND my favorite banned books are the Harry Potter books.

    twitter: bookjourney

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You had me at Harry Potter, period. Such a fan - and I am shocked to learn that many of my high school juniors have no idea that (1) the books are banned and (2) banned books is a real thing.

      It still shocks me - until we talk about it and I have to educate them. But isn't that why we have school librarians as well? Shouldn't they celebrate a student's right to read?

      Delete
  5. To Kill A Mockingbird is my favorite :) Thanks for a great giveaway!

    Twitter: @poshpow

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a great choice - and a favorite among my students

      Delete
  6. To Kill a Mockingbird is my all time favorite banned book :)

    Happy Banned Book Week to you too! I've been wanting to read Part Time Indian!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd say my current favorite is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I've heard great things about The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. It's been on my TBR list for a while, but I haven't read it yet. I keep seeing so many posts on it for Banned Book Week so I'm much more inclined to pick it up sooner rather than later. Lovely review.

    twitter handle @kristiluvsbooks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perks is such a great read - I read it because a student bought it for me and said, "You have to read this book." LOVED it!!!

      Delete
  8. My favorite are Harry Potter series.
    @forestofthedead

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A favorite of mine as well - love Harry Potter!!! One of the only series I will pick up and read again and again...as well as the audios

      Delete
  9. One of my favorite banned books is THE COLOR PURPLE. It's heart breaking & beautifully written.

    (No Twitter)

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 100% agree - I always recommend this novel when students choose an outside reading novel to work through and present to the class. I usually have a student who is familiar with the movie but never knew it was a book.

      Delete
  10. One of my favorites is The Lord of the Flies. I think it has an amazingly powerful message. I wish it had been part of my HS curriculum!

    Kelly
    @TheWRRedhead

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Taught Lord of the Flies last year for the first time - I was shocked to learn that it was a banned book, and then again not so much. My seniors love, love, love that book. It's one thing they look forward to during the semester.

      Isn't it weird that at the high school where I teach almost all of the novels we teach are on the banned list but our librarian doesn't discuss banned books at all. Students usually find out from the teachers instead.

      Delete
  11. One of several books that has popped up several times, I'm becoming more and more intrigued by this.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Awakening by Kate Chopin!

    @Jkimmelf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was just talking about this book to my juniors because I teach "The Story of an Hour" by Chopin - we teach it in our AP Lit. class. I love hearing the comments from the boys when they read it.

      Such a great choice!

      Delete
  13. I've heard a lot of great things about this book so I've been meaning to read it, I've just got this towering TBR pile to read through. My favourite is The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I love the characters and writing. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Swoon for 'Perks' - my juniors love that book!

      Delete
  14. My favourite banned book is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley because it's so shocking to see how much of his book has come true even though it was written years ago. Plus, I love the way he writes & I love a good sci-fi book. =)

    Twitter: @khal_khaleesi


    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm surprised I haven't seen this one listed more...great choice!

      Delete
  15. I love banned books week. I get all kinds of great recommendations every year. This is a new one to add to the old favorites!

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear from you