THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie (Little, Brown, and Company, 2007) LIBR 264 #50

  

GENRE: Realistic Fiction

HONORS: National Book Award Winner

REVIEW: Arnold Spirit Junior was born on a reservation and does not know if he will ever leave it.  Besides that, he had a rough start with water on his brain, which had some physical repercussions.  Everyone picks him on except his friend Rowdy.  Junior decides that if he is ever to get off the Rez he needs to go to a different school so he transfers to a white school 20 miles away.  To the other people on the Rez, including Rowdy, he is a traitor.  Junior struggles with fitting in, making friends, and finding his way.  Although he experiences many tragedies throughout the year, including the death of his grandmother, his father's best friend, and his sister, Junior rises above and learns a lot about himself.

OPINION: Junior has it rough but Sherman Alexie writes in such a way that you laugh and cry right along with Junior all the way.  For me, there were too many instances of sexual innuendo and "potty" humor but I am sure tween boys would love it.  I would recommend it for the upper end of the tween range.

IDEAS: This book would be good for reluctant boy readers.  It could tie in with a study of Native Americans and their current experiences.  I would want readers to find out more about Native American experiences on reservations to see if Junior's experiences are realistic.  Possible then readers could look into programs that exist to assist Native Americans.

CODE ORANGE by Caroline Cooney (random House, 2005) LIBR 264 #49

 

GENRE: Realistic Fiction

HONORS: None

REVIEW: Mitty is your average slacker.  He hates homework, he just goes to school so he won't miss out on the social aspect, and he knows he is a disappointment to his parents and teachers.  While away for the weekend, he realizes he forgot to get the required books for a research project on a disease.  Fortunately, he finds several old books at the cottage.  While looking through the books he finds an envelope with smallpox scabs from 1902.  Curious, he takes the scabs out which disintegrate in his hands.  Mitty takes the envelope with the scab remains and the books home and continues his research on smallpox.  The more he learns the more he worries that he may now be infected with smallpox and could infect others with the deadly disease.  He is unsure of who to tell and what to do.  Finally, he sends out some e-mails in an attempt to get some information.  Unfortunately, his e-mails are forwarded to other interested parties and Mitty ends up being kidnapped.  Will Mitty get smallpox?  Why would anyone kidnap him?  You will just have to read and find out.

OPINION: I really enjoyed this book.  As soon as Mitty finds the scabs and inhales the dust the reader is left wondering if he will get smallpox.  Caroline Cooney does a good job of keeping the suspense going and there are a lot of good twists, turns, and cliffhangers.  As we get farther from the events of 9/11, it may be harder for students to see the urgency and how Mitty reacts to the situation.

IDEAS: This would be a fun book to read while studying diseases in health or discussing terrorism in social studies.  I would definitely recommend this book to reluctant readers.