Hope is an idea that drives people forward. Fail a test? Then hope to pass the next one. Lose a game? Then get 'em next time. In Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, his protagonist, Junior, tends to hold onto hope like a good luck charm. From the book's opening chapter, Junior's narration reveals that he has been born into a life where the cards are stacked against him. He was born with hydrocephalus, which has resulted in physical problems; poor vision, headaches, seizures, and speech impediments. Finally, it is revealed that Junior is poor, extremely poor, or as he describes it, "I am really just a poor-ass reservation kid living with his poor-ass family on the poor-ass Spokane Indian Reservation" (Alexie, pg. 7). However, Junior refuses to be cast as one to be pitied. Instead, he chooses to rise above his circumstances and tells his parents he wants to transfer to a better school, a school "with a computer room and huge chemistry lab and a drama club and two basketball gyms" (Alexie, pg.46). Junior is holding onto hope because as he puts it, "I am running away because I want to find something" (Alexie, pg. 46). And this point is where Sherman Alexie succeeds with his character and plot. I never found myself doubting that Junior would succeed. Even in the worst of moments, whether it was hearing his father shoot his sick dog because they had no money to bring him to the vet, or whether he is mourning the tragic deaths of his beloved grandmother or sister, Junior faithfully believes in finding the happiness in life. "And I kept trying to find the little pieces of joy in my life. That's the only way I managed to make it through all of that death and change" (Alexie, pg. 176). Junior creates lists to remind him of his joy and they read like a teenage boy's version of a gratitude journal.
In chapter 2 of Young Adult Literature in the Classroom: Reading It, Teaching It, Loving It, author Laura Robb presents that literature becomes more meaningful to students when they are able to make emotional connections to it. Robb asserts, "Such connections bond students to books and set them firmly on the road to making sense of the author's words" (Robb, pg. 29). When students form connections with a character, they become vested in his or her plight. They want to continue reading to discover how this character will solve the conflict; they want to know the resolution to the story. In Junior's case, he is presented as the ultimate underdog. Most everyone roots for the underdog to take down the establishment and to triumph in his or her quest to become the top dog. That is why I think this book is highly teachable for upper middle school and high school students. This group already views themselves as the underdogs, fighting against the adult establishment (teachers, administrators, parents) to be victorious in their quests for success and independence. Students can relate to Junior's predicaments and will either laugh or cringe alongside him. What I also liked about this book, is the honesty that comes across in Junior's voice. An ideal writing lesson would be to model writing a short memoir using internal monologue and minimal dialogue exchange, much like is done in the book. Although the chapters are short, they clearly capture the mood and tone of the narrator, while providing just enough information to reveal the point of the writing.
I read this novel 2 years ago and enjoyed it just as much then as I did now. When I finished reading it this time around, I kept thinking about a popular song by the contemporary artist, Pink. She sings in the chorus,
"So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never, never be
Anything but loud and nitty gritty, dirty little freaks"
After the second go round, I'm raising my glass and toasting Junior, and all the other underdogs I come across in literature and my classroom. It's their stories that provide inspiration for all the readers in the world.
