The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (10th Anniversary Edition)

By: Sherman Alexie

Narrated by: Sherman Alexie

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

With a forward by Markus Zusak, interviews with Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney, and four-color interior art throughout, this edition is perfect for fans and collectors alike.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2012 Sherman Alexie (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Beautiful novel - but wait and think before extra content

Wait a little to think before listening to the extra content. Didn’t have enough time to fully form my own opinions.

Wonderful!!!

I’m supposed to be a grown man, but this book actually made me cry...
I now feel so privileged when I think about how and where I grew up!

I absolutely recommend this beautiful book to everyone!!

great story and characters are super appealing

this book was recommended to me by my 7th grade ELA teacher and I gave this book a chance, i love it because this book not only sheds light on the poverty and how modern day Indians are looked at with a side eye and are in poverty, and just to add to how appealing it is to teens like me it has some teenage humor as well as unpredictable characters. i recommend this book to any teen who love books based on humor and plot

Do Not Miss This Book!

So engaging I dare anyone at any age not to be GRATEFUL they got a chance to read or listen to this story. It deserves every award it has won.

Narration drove me crazy

I’ve listened to interviews, so I’m used to Alexie’s voice and was excited to listen. It was slow and had so many vocal inflections up at the end of his sentences that it detracted from the book (which I really enjoy). Very disappointed with the reading.

If haven't read this, do it soon.

This is Alexis's best work. It can be classified as American Classic, American Indian Classic, and Native Youth Classic. If you have found adult children, give them this book.

Alexie's YA novel

he Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is the second Sherman Alexie book I listened to after You Don't Have to Say You Love Me. The audio versions were read by the author himself which to me really made the experience as he holds back no emotions, happy or sad, and really makes the stories come to life. I feel like reading a paper copy of the book would give one only half the experience. Additionally, I listened to the 10th anniversary edition of Part-Time Indian which contained some excellent bonus content such as a chapter about best friend Rowdy (real name Randy) which was as emotional, and I thought as good, as anything in the main text of the book. There is also and hour-long interview with the author at the end full of all sorts of interesting stories and thoughts of future plans, many of which didn't come to fruition due to the author's well-publicized personal issues. An accompanying PDF contains all of the author's cartoons featured in the paper book.

This is considered his YA book and Alexie doesn't hold back with regard of describing what life is like for an adolescent boy, and how hard it was growing up Indian, on and off the "rez". You've got your funny moments, profane moments, sad moments (many, many sad moments) - Alexie throws it all out there in detail and doesn't mince words. Hopelessness is a main theme. Apparently, this book was banned in places for it's graphic nature. I don't get it. Real life is not always duckies and bunnies.

I wish I would've read this book before You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, as it felt like sort of a prequel. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me was probably the best book I read in 2017 and I liked it better than Part-Time Indian as I'm not big on YA and don't feel the need to see life through any teen's eyes. But I'm glad that Alexie laid it all out there and didn't pull any punches with respect to language and the graphic details to show how difficult life was for the adolescent part-time Indian.

Absolutely Raw

I LOVED this novel. I sat down to listen to it with my 16 year old who was reading it for school and I didn't want to stop.
I am so happy that we listened to this. Having it read by the author just felt like he was next to us. He really brought it to life.
It was great too because he'd stood and refer to his drawings for a particular scene.

Loved this book!!

The book was a great follow-up to Bridges Out of Poverty and a Framework for Understanding Poverty to see these theories play out in "real life" example. it's funny and entertaining and eye-opening. putting this book down with a lasting impression on my heart and mind. Didn't care too much for the interview though, it was long and kind of meh...

It's Worth Reading but Not Very Deep

This novel is okay. The author is basically just writing the Native American version of The House on Mango Street. It is worth a read, but I wonder what all these teachers who use it for class say about the novel. It is all literal level. I can't see a deep discussion on what happens here or having to rely on any literary technique to determine the themes. This is all surface. Which is good, I guess, for reluctant readers.