The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semi-autobiographical fiction novel mirroring the life of author Sherman Alexie. The events that occurred in the novel are very similar to events that occurred in Alexie’s childhood. Alexie was born on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington with hydrocephalus, a condition occurring when there is a large amount of cerebral fluid in a person’s brain. He underwent surgery at the age of six years to correct this issue. Alexie’s father was an alcoholic who left his house for days at a time, and Alexie’s time in school was troubling because he was constantly being teased by other students. In order to improve his education, Alexie left the reservation school to attend school in Reardan, thirty miles off the reservation. Alexie was the sole student of Native American heritage in the school, where he excelled academically and became a star basketball player.
These events are all portrayed throughout the character of Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Alexie gives the character of Junior his same medical conditions at a young age, with Junior having too much cerebral fluid on the brain when he was born and having to undergo surgery. Also, the impact of alcohol on Alexie’s life was showed prolifically throughout Junior’s life, as his father would also leave for days at a time because of his alcohol problems. The school attended by Alexie, Reardan High School, is the same school described as being attended by Junior, and Alexie described Junior as the only Native American student at this school as Alexie was as well.
Basketball was an influential part in Junior’s life in the story, as it was to Sherman Alexie. The text says, “Anyway, I signed up for basketball. On the first day of practice, I stepped onto the court and felt short, skinny, and slow” (Alexie 136). He considered not trying out, as he thought that he did not have the talent to make the team. After time passed, however, Junior grew into a more well-rounded and better player who was eventually promoted to starter. Alexie writes, “But somehow or another, as the season went on, I became a freshman starter on a varsity basketball team. And, sure, all of my teammates were bigger and faster, but none of them could shoot like me” (Alexie 179). Basketball had an impact on Sherman Alexie similarly to how it impacted Junior. Both grew from weak players into talented players, and this growth in basketball also provided both people support with the rest of their lives.
These events are all portrayed throughout the character of Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Alexie gives the character of Junior his same medical conditions at a young age, with Junior having too much cerebral fluid on the brain when he was born and having to undergo surgery. Also, the impact of alcohol on Alexie’s life was showed prolifically throughout Junior’s life, as his father would also leave for days at a time because of his alcohol problems. The school attended by Alexie, Reardan High School, is the same school described as being attended by Junior, and Alexie described Junior as the only Native American student at this school as Alexie was as well.
Basketball was an influential part in Junior’s life in the story, as it was to Sherman Alexie. The text says, “Anyway, I signed up for basketball. On the first day of practice, I stepped onto the court and felt short, skinny, and slow” (Alexie 136). He considered not trying out, as he thought that he did not have the talent to make the team. After time passed, however, Junior grew into a more well-rounded and better player who was eventually promoted to starter. Alexie writes, “But somehow or another, as the season went on, I became a freshman starter on a varsity basketball team. And, sure, all of my teammates were bigger and faster, but none of them could shoot like me” (Alexie 179). Basketball had an impact on Sherman Alexie similarly to how it impacted Junior. Both grew from weak players into talented players, and this growth in basketball also provided both people support with the rest of their lives.