Review Ten: Audiobook

Citation:

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Recorded Books, LLC: New York. 2008. CD.

Annotation:

Junior is an American Indian with severe brain injuries that leave him disfigured, but very bright.  After he transfers to an all white school for a better chance at life, his world completely changes.

Justification for Nomination:

This novel, with its natural narration, loveable characters, realistic situations, is one for teens to cherish for years.  Junior makes the decision to leave his reservation school after he discovers that one of his textbooks is at least thirty years old.  He then enrolls in Reardan High School in the white and richer area 22 miles from his "rez".  With Junior's voice narrating in the most authentic teen voice you'll ever read, he outlines his freshman year at Reardan.
From being bullied everyday at his reservation school to attending a school where he is more or less accepted, he confronts racism, women, and what it feels like to be part of a team. 
Alexie reads this novel with grace and passion that is rare among book readers.  The character's voice is clear and the story benefits greatly from the impressive reading. 
In this novel, Junior encounters everything from eating disorders to death to independence.  And he does it all with emotion and well placed sarcasm.  Alexie's characters get fully developed and explored throughout the novel.  Especially Junior who changes as he jumps the hurdles of freshman year. 
The reader is allowed to grow up with this character and laugh out loud to some of the things that he says to people or people say to him.
Junior goes through nearly every step of the "who am I?" quest.  He loses his innocence as some people that he is quite close to pass away.  Then he tests his boundaries by mouthing off to his teachers and attending an entirely new school.  When Junior attends the new school, some of the people in his tribe are mad at him and shame him.  He is ostracized by even his best friend and has to forge new relationships in a place he doesn't know. 
Every teen will find something to relate to in this novel.  It speaks from the heart about situations that may not happen all at once to the reader, but probably will happen eventually.  When something does happen, they'll have a book to turn to.

Genre:

Coming of Age/Romance/Audiobook/Multicultural