Alexie Book Resonse

I have always enjoyed reading the work of Sherman Alexie. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is no exception to the rule. As a reader, I find his outlook on life and his realistic portrayal of Indian Reservation life to be extremely sad, thoughtful, and eye opening to the difficulties of growing up as a native American (specifically Spokane) in a white dominated country where any culture outside is seen as negative. As a future teacher, I value Alexie’s work because he gets students thinking about issues relating to race, culture, politics, and adolescence surrounded by difficult circumstances. Alexie’s stories provide students with the chance to read stories from other perspectives that are not just dead white men. I think that this book follows that same principle, and is a great addition to any classroom reading list.

Although I love this book and I value the insights gained from it, I have read much of Alexie’s work and in the classroom I think that some of his short stories lend better to teaching students in a shorter time period. Although I would probably have this book offered as a “book group” book, I don’t think that I would assign the book as a whole class reading requirement. This is because, although the book is valuable in a classroom, I believe that his shorter stories can reach the same point and effect on students’ awareness of social issues regarding culture and race in a shorter version. I can see myself using his short stories in class to talk about these issues, and not need to devote the whole of the class reading this longer piece in what could be accomplished in a shorter time with a more focused piece of his work. I can see this book being very helpful and useful in a middle school classroom, because the reading level is lower than a high school reading level and it can introduce students to these issues we have in society at a younger age. I don’t believe in sheltering students from the truth when it regards peoples’ thoughts and feelings which are not sheltered. To hide these problems does a great injustice to those who have struggled through hardships, and I think that we as English teachers have a chance to introduce students to these issues in society in a literary studies course.