“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian,” a novel for young adults written by Sherman Alexie, has won several awards.

    The novel is a first-person narrative by native American teenager Arnold Spirit Jr., also known as “Junior,” a 14-year-old budding cartoonist*. The book is a bildungsroman*, detailing Junior’s life on the Spokane Indian Reservation* and his decision, upon encouragement from a reservation high school teacher, to go to an all-white public high school in the off-reservation town of Reardan, Washington.

    The novel is controversial* for some of its content on issues such as alcohol, poverty, bullying* and the tragic* deaths of characters.

    For 15 years, Alexie has explored the struggle to survive between the grinding* plates of the Indian and white worlds. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” may be his best work yet.

    Working in the voice of a 14-year-old forced Alexie to strip everything down to action and emotion, so that reading becomes more like listening to your smart, funny best friend recount his day while waiting after school for a ride home.(SD-Agencies)