Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Summer Reading Questions

 Over the Summer I read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian  by Sherman Alexie.
Here are some questions that I answered that may help you understand the book.

1. Arnold Spirit, also known as Junior is a brave, ambitious, and a sensitive 14 year-old boy. He has the fortitude to take his problems by the horns. He also cares deeply about his friends and family and he falls apart without their love.


2. At the beginning of the story, Junior’s teacher tells him to get out of the reservation in hope of a better life for him. In the middle of the story, Junior starts school off the reservation where he makes friends, plays basketball, becomes hated by his best friend, and loses his grandmother. The story ends with the death of Junior’s sister, and him getting his best friend back.

3. The death of Junior’s friend, grandmother, and sister are all due to alcohol. This shows that the author thinks that alcohol is not a good way to spend a life because life goes by too quickly.

4. A main issue in the story is alcohol and it affects Junior because a drunk driver hit his beloved grandmother, which made him depressed. Rowdy, Junior’s best friend’s father is an alcoholic and abuses him, which causes Rowdy to be mean. Junior's sister is killed by a party where because everyone was under then influence, his sister and brother-in-law are killed by a fire. Lastly, Junior’s dad is an alcoholic and spends most of his money drinking which makes him depressed because he cannot support his family.

5. The author makes alcoholism a very real issue when the father comes home on Christmas with nothing but five dollars because he spent the rest on alcohol. This issue becomes real because it is hard to see a parent trying to escape reality rather than dealing with the problem itself. Poverty also becomes a real issue in the story when Junior has to walk to school because his family can’t afford gas. Most Americans take a ride to school for granted so when Junior couldn’t get a ride it truly brought to life the reality of poverty in society.







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