Module 15- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Summary
After hitting his teacher with a book and having the teacher apologize to him for destroying his life, Junior Spirit realizes he has to get off the reservation if he wants a chance at life. He transfers to an all-white high school 22 miles off the reservation. There he finds himself playing basketball on a great team and excelling academically, but not fitting in with the white kids and no longer fitting in with the native kids at home. Things never work out quite the way Junior wants, and so he feels like a, "Part-Time Indian." In the end, Junior realizes that he can be equal parts whatever he wants to be.

Impressions
I love this book. Within the first 30 pages it establishes itself firmly on the challenged list- racism, sex, alcoholism, etc.- yet this book never crosses into the obscene. It is simply the honest, at times beautiful, story of Junior and his struggle to have hope like a white kid yet stay close to his roots like a native kid.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly, 8/20/2007, Vol. 254 Issue 33, p70-71.
"Screenwriter, novelist and poet, Alexie bounds into YA with what might be a Native American equivalent of Angela's Ashes, a coming-of-age story so well observed that its very rootedness in one specific culture is also what lends it universality, and so emotionally honest that the humor almost always proves painful. Presented as the diary of hydrocephalic 14-year-old cartoonist and Spokane Indian Arnold Spirit Jr., the novel revolves around Junior's desperate hope of escaping the reservation. As he says of his drawings, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He transfers to a public school 22 miles away in a rich farm town where the only other Indian is the team mascot. Although his parents support his decision, everyone else on the rez sees him as a traitor, an apple ("red on the outside and white on the inside"), while at school most teachers and students project stereotypes onto him: "I was half Indian in one place and half white in the other." Readers begin to understand Junior's determination as, over the course of the school year, alcoholism and self-destructive behaviors lead to the deaths of close relatives. Unlike protagonists in many YA novels who reclaim or retain ethnic ties in order to find their true selves, Junior must separate from his tribe in order to preserve his identity. Jazzy syntax and Forney's witty cartoons examining Indian versus White attire and behavior transmute despair into dark humor; Alexie's no-holds-barred jokes have the effect of throwing the seriousness of his themes into high relief. Ages 14-up."

Melgaard, Tricia. School Library Journal, Jun2008, Vol. 54 Issue 6, p74.
"Gr 8 Up --Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is an unlikely hero in this semiautobiographical novel (Little, Brown, 2007) by Alexie Sherman. He was born with water on the brain, lives in abject poverty on an Indian reservation near Spokane, and is surrounded by the hopelessness of alcoholism. When a caring teacher recognizes that the boy still has hope, he insists that Junior leave the reservation school. Junior defies his tribe and enrolls in an all-white school 22 miles from the reservation. At Rearden he becomes known as Arnold, but acceptance comes very slowly. At first his classmates are wary and many are racist. When the football captain delivers a jaw-dropping racial slur, Arnold slugs him and is baffled by the fear he sees in the other boys' eyes. He realizes that the rules are different off the rez and he doesn't know the new rules. Through tenacity and humor, Arnold eventually finds a way to balance his part-time life on the reservation with his part-time life at school. The narration by the author is delivered in what Arnold might describe as the sing-song cadence of Indian speech. Poetic, deeply funny, politically incorrect, slightly naughty, and heart-wrenching, the story makes a flawless transition from print to audio. Sherman provides a glimpse into an unfamiliar culture and maintains a balance between the bleak reality of reservation life and the stunning beauty of a loving family and friendship. An essential purchase for all libraries serving older teens."

Suggestions for Library Use
This book should be recommended to teens, especially teen boys. It's written in "teen" language and deals very openly and respectfully with issues teens face.
I would also pair this book with others discussing multicultural teens- Does My Head Look Big in This?, American Born Chinese, etc.

Module 14- Aleutian Sparrow, Karen Hesse

Hesse, Karen. Aleutian Sparrow. New York: Margaret K. McElderry, 2003.

Summary
In 1942, Japanese forces attacked and subsequently occupies some islands along Alaska's Aleutian Chain. Fearing for the safety of the Aleut Natives, and also fearing insurrection among them, the U.S. Military relocated the natives to camps in southeastern Alaska. Conditions in the camps were frightening, even the German prisoner of war camps had better living conditions, and Americans in the nearby towns treated the natives with hostility.
Aleutian Sparrow is the story of Vera, daughter of an Aleut Native woman and a white man who was lost at sea. Living on the Aleutian Chain, Vera and her loved ones are happy and live in the manner of their ancestors. When they are relocated to the camps, everything changes. They experience many tragedies in the camps and live very harsh lives. Eventually the war ends and they are taken back to their islands which has been ravaged by the U.S. Army.

Impressions
The invasion of the Japanese and subsequent occupation of parts of Alaska is almost never talked about in U.S. History classes. I love that Hesse found a unique part of U.S. History and wrote about it in a unique form. The history behind the story is extremely interesting, but the novel itself lacks momentum and the reader is left disinterested. There are also some inaccuracies dealing primarily with things like Alaska weather, plant life, and geography, but if you're not familiar with the state, it wouldn't change the story for you.

Reviews
Abrams, L. George. Christian Science Monitor, 8/12/2010, pN. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Early in World War II, the native people of the Aleutian Islands were evacuated to relocation centers 1,500 miles from their homes. In Aleutian Sparrow award-winning writer Karen Hesse uses poetic imagery to chronicle the story of young Vera as she struggles to survive and keep her heritage alive.
Warning: this story may break your heart."

Brabander, Jennifer M.. Horn Book Magazine, Jan/Feb2004, Vol. 80 Issue 1, p82. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Fans of Hesse's Out of the Dust and Witness may find this third historical novel written in free verse disappointing. Despite some deftly written entries, the novel doesn't provide a clear picture of either the young narrator (Vera, who's half-Aleutian, half-white) or the historical events (the relocation of hundreds of Aleuts during World War 11), Unlike Hesse's fully realized narrator in Out of the Dust, young Vera remains a cipher, with no layers of complexity to gamer readers' sympathy — even a budding romance fails to stir interest. Frustratingly indistinctive, Vera's voice sometimes sounds too adult (she asks her mother, "Remember… how we visited Akutan / And walked … to where / blossoms framed the steaming pools like / masses of perfumed hair?"). The spareness of the verse seems to have limited the amount of background information the author was able to impart — of crucial importance when tackling a subject so unfamiliar to most readers. Some of the poems are quite graceful, conveying much in just a few lines, but in general, the format of this novel-in-verse doesn't serve the author well, resulting in meager characterization and, despite its elemental story of oppression and survival, a surprisingly unaffecting plot."

Suggestions for Library Use

Again, this book is not particularly interesting, however, it discusses a chapter of history very seldom mentioned, especially not from a child's viewpoint. Thus, it would make a valuable piece in a display among the other few resources about the Japanese occupation of Alaska, or even the history of relocation camps in America.

November is Native Alaskan Heritage Month, and we have this book among others on display in my library.

Module 13- American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang.

Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. Dongguan City, Guangdon Province, South China Printing Co. Ltd.; 2010.

Summary
The Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain was a deity in his own right. He had been born of a rock, purged the Flower-Fruit Mountain of the Tiger-Spirit, and mastered thousands of of minor disciplines as well as the four major heavenly disciplines. Despite all this, he still wasn’t invited to the dinner party of the gods. Jealous and angry, the Monkey King mastered even more disciplines in hopes of gaining a place among the gods, but the gods merely asked him to recognize his place as a lowly monkey. After refusing to accept this, Tze-Yo-Tzuh, creator of all existence, trapped the Monkey King under a large pile of rocks. Because of the Monkey King’s pride, he would not return to his normal monkey shape which would allow him to simply wiggle out from beneath the rocks.
Meanwhile, Jin, a first generation Chinese-American, is struggling to fit in at school. There are only two other Asians at school, and they are all bullied. Jin falls in love with a white girl from school, but her white friend asks Jin not to talk to her anymore because he is Chinese. Angry and depressed, Jin wishes to be different. Selling his soul, Jin becomes a white boy with curly blond hair and names himself Danny.
Danny’s cousin Chin-Kee comes to visit for a while and even attends American high school with Danny. Chin-Kee has a heavy accent, wears traditional Chinese clothing, and says things the white students deem offensive. Deeply ashamed and embarrassed of his cousin, Danny feels that his life is over.
Back under the pile of rocks, The Monkey King is convinced by a holy man to return to his original form. He does and escapes from his rock prison. He is then confronted by the most powerful gods and given a mission.
Back at the American high school, Danny attacks his cousin in a fit of rage. Danny knocks off Chin-Kee’s head, and we discover Chin-Kee is the Monkey King. He makes Danny reveal his true form then explains he came to serve as Jin’s conscience, as a signpost to his soul. The Monkey King is also the father of Jin’s best friend who has forsaken his true form, just as Jin did. Jin then confronts his best friend and over time the two begin to embrace their Chinese heritage.

Impressions
This is the best graphic novel I have ever read. It’s so much more than just a superficial story with a lot of illustrations. This novel is meant to teach, not just to entertain. The feelings Jin and the Monkey King struggle with- not having anyone be able to see your own self-worth, wishing you were someone or something else, hiding your own identity at the expense of your conscience- are common among everyone, teens especially. Yang alternates between the story of the Monkey King and Jin/Danny until the very end in a fun, poignant ending. This book is so honest and open, and the illustrations are bright and colorful as well as effective at conveying both humor and emotion.

Reviews
Greg McElhatton. American Born Chinese. Read About Comics. Retrieved November 12, 2010 from http://www.readaboutcomics.com/.
"Yang’s American Born Chinese is one of the stronger examples of multiple, intertwined narratives that I can remember. Each of the three threads—the Monkey King, Jin, and Danny—stands on its own initially as its own, independent story. It’s not until we get to the end of the book that one sees how the plots of the three are connected, doing so in a fairly delightful manner. None of the stories feel like they’re getting short shrift from the others, and that balance between the narratives helps keep the reader interested in all three. At the same time, it’s clear from the beginning that the three stories are connected when it comes to the themes of identity and acceptance. All of our main characters are desperate to shed something connected to themselves—the Monkey King’s species, Jin’s Chinese heritage, and Danny’s cousin—for the sake of how other people perceive them. Yang neatly sidesteps the chance for this to become a story that preaches or speaks condescendingly to the reader, though. The basic theme is stated quickly and then left in the background for the reader to think about; while the basic idea permeates the book, one never feels like Yang is hitting you over the head with the ideas."

Cornog, Martha. Library Journal, 3/15/2007, Vol. 132 Issue 5, p54. Retreived November 12, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections."

Suggestions for Library Use
In a library with some kind of teen reading program, this book would make be an excellent featured novel. Teens could read it, discuss how it feels to be different, if there are truly are benefits of just being yourself, etc.
This book is fun, easy, and fast to read and as such would appeal to a lot of teens. For use in a school, or a library that works very closely with homeschoolers, it would be fun to read this book as part of the English curriculum to study more unique forms of literature. Teens could then write and illustrate their own short graphic novels, write their own stories of instances when they were singled out for somehow being different, etc. They could even partner together as most graphic novelists have color experts that help with illustrations.

Module 12- King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography, Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, Chris. King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2003.

Summary
Chris Crutcher, author of Angry Management, Whale Talk, The Sledding Hill, and the highly challenged book, Deadline, takes readers back to his childhood in rural 1960s Idaho. Crutcher is terrible at sports yet never stops trying to impress girls with his "skills," tries to woo a girl by presenting her with a giant scab, stinks up a bus with Limburger Cheese and mink urine, has perfect church attendance to win a mysterious prize, and is talked into all sorts of pranks and trouble-making by his older, wiser, and more manipulative brother. Add to all his misadventures buck teeth, pride, a propensity for bawling, and a raging temper, and this book is a very honest look at some experiences that are only funny to look back on. It's not until college that Crutcher learns to use his emotions as positive motivators. This inspires him to become a therapist and teen novelist. Throughout the book, Crutcher mentions how characters or situations in his novels are drawn from his own experiences.

Impressions
There were parts of this books where I could not stop laughing. The descriptions about spreading cheese and mink urine all over the senior's fieldtrip bus were priceless! Crutcher is a master of imagery and deadpan humor. Crutcher's style is also semi stream of consciousness, however, and I often found myself confused as to what point in life various stories were taking place or what the story was about. I was also really surprised at the very adult language used. This book uses a lot of profanity, including multiple uses of the f-word, so watch out if you're planning on reading this to youth.

Reviews
Roback, Diane; Brown, Jennifer M.; Bean, Joy; Zaleski, Jeff. Publishers Weekly, 3/3/2003, Vol. 250 Issue 9, p77. Accessed November 3, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"In this funny, bittersweet and brutally honest autobiography, Crutcher recounts his journey from a boyhood misspent in remote Cascade, Idaho ("The information highway was a single-lane logging road winding through steep mountains, dead ending at some nameless 'crick' ") to his present life as a writer. The author displays the same impeccable comedic timing that characterizes his young adult novels. Among the many laugh-out-loud episodes he recalls are his older brother's knack for always gaining the upper hand (he talks young Chris into peeing down the heat-register in the living room and convinces him that Jesus had an "older, smarter brother" named "Esus"), plus the author's penchant for "perty girls," which lost him his front teeth when he tried to impress a girl while playing softball. Nothing tops his misadventures in small-town sports ("If you didn't show up for football practice on the first day of your freshman year, they simply came and got you"), including his days as a terrified 123-pound freshman ("with all the muscle definition of a chalk outline") and his initiation as a letterman (involving oysters, an olive and a large dose of humiliation). It is precisely this sense of humility that allows readers to laugh with young Chris, rather than at him. Crutcher can also turn from hilarity to heartache, as when he discusses his mother's alcoholism or his own legendary temper (which plagued hm in his childhood but which he attributes to the compassion he brings to his work as a family therapist). Readers will clasp this hard-to-put-down book to their hearts even as they laugh sympathetically. Ages 13-up."

Carter, Betty. Horn Book Magazine, May/Jun2003, Vol. 79 Issue 3, p368.
Accessed November 3, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Crutcher, best known for his novels and short stories, has discovered his most effective voice in this collection of episodic, autobiographical essays. Informal essays invite self-revelation, humor, loose structure, and even moralizing; Crutcher responds to all four elements. He writes in an easy, conversational tone, as if he were sitting down swapping stories with his good friend, the reader. He moves back and forth in time, as storytellers do, letting one incident connect to the next thematically rather than chronologically. And what stories he has to tell. There's the time he wants to impress a girl playing baseball and winds up leaving one of his front teeth implanted in the bat. And the time he takes Paula Whitson, the girl of his dreams, to the White Christmas Ball sporting a zit the size of Everest in the middle of his forehead. And even the time Crutcher, full of adolescent cruelty, sponsors the school's most unpopular girl for carnival queen. Crutcher relates direct lessons from his father on relativity and manners, and indirect lessons from his mother on courage. Some of these stories--his own Stotan week, the penis-in-the-popcorn-bag legend--found their way into his novels. But most serve as introductions to his meditations on such subjects as anger or heroism or religion or cruelty, themes that inform all his work. Crutcher concludes that life gives him "a rich pool for stories"; he, in turn, shares that gift with readers. Dive in."

Suggested Library Use
Due to the very mature content (sexuality, death, gratuitous language, etc.), I would not actively promote this book to youth for fear of some serious backlash from parents and teachers. I would, however, include it with a display of Crutcher's other works because it is a funny, poignant book that gives a lot of insight into Crutcher's novels and hope to other kids who might consider themselves losers or outsiders.