The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is Sherman Alexie’s only teen novel. The story is based on Alexie’s own experiences growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. Like the novel’s protagonist, Alexie was angered at being assigned a school textbook with his mom’s name in it. And so, he made the decision to attend an all-white High School off the Reservation in the hopes of a brighter future.
There is a wealth of teen novels written by and/or about Native Americans across the continent. An attractive book display would be a great way to introduce The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to teens. Aboriginal Awareness Week, which follows the long weekend in May, would be an excellent opportunity to create a book display and to encourage teens to take an interest in Native American culture.
Books about Native Americans that may be of interest to teens include:
COLLECTIONS OF SHORT STORIES
Moccasin Thunder by Lorie Marie Carlson
Cloudwater: Contemporary Native American Stories by Joel Monture
NOVELS
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Who Will Tell MyBrother? by Marlene Carvell
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Talking Earth by Jean Craighead George
The Birchback House by Louise Edrich
Beardance by Will Hobbs
The Brave by Robert Lipsyte
Prophecy Rock by Rob MacGregor
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
White Girl by Sylvia Olsen
Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
The Spirit Line by Aimee and David Thurlo
NON-FICTION
Unsung Heroes of World War II:The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers by Deanne Durrett
As Long as the Rivers Flow: The Stories of Nine Native Americans by Paula Gunn Allen and Patricia Clark Smith
