The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Freshman Honors Summer Reading Assignment

 

Due the week of September14th, Your teacher will give you more details once school starts.

 

Pick three of the following prompts and write a one paragraph to one page journal entry style response. Please number each of your journal entries.

 

  1. In the opening of the book Junior spends a great deal of time explaining how awful his life is, yet “his hopes and dreams float away” the moment he sees his mother’s name in the book on page 24. Why do you think this was the final straw for him?

 

  1. Rowdy and Gordy are two of Junior’s closest friends, yet these boys are very different. Discuss the similarities and differences between the two boys including how the boys affected Junior’s life and what role they play in his life.

 

  1. What do you think is the importance of the story about the tallest tree in the rez?

 

  1. What moment do you think was the biggest turning point for Junior in the course of this book and why?

 

  1. Why did Mr. P tell Junior he needed to leave the reservation?

 

  1. Pick one quote that you really connected with, write it down and explain why you think it connected to you. (Be sure to include the page number.)

 

 

 

Pick three of the following creative options and follow the directions.

 

  1. Throughout the book Junior draws pictures of important people with explanations about who they are (Mary, Grandmother, His Parents If Someone Had Paid Attention to Their Dreams, Mr. P etc) Create an image of someone who is important to you in the same manner.

 

  1. On page 66 he gives a list of “Unwritten and Unspoken Rules” for his reservation and his culture, but then finds out that at Reardon High School there are different rules. Create a list of “Unwritten and Unspoken Rules” for one aspect of your life with a short explanation of when they do or do not apply. (They can be about anything, not just fighting, or school.)

 

  1. On page pg 57 Junior uses a cartoon to show the differences and similarities between a White and Indian student. Create a similar image that explains two different cultures or worlds that exist in your life.    

 

  1. Draw a 6 panel cartoon of one important moment in the book that Junior did not illustrate.

 

  1. Through out the book Junior draws cartoons that shows a series of possible events (How he gets to school each day, How to pretend you’re not poor, “Are you poor?” Possible responses, Why I did miss a lot of school etc) create a six panel cartoon that gives some options to a common question or issue in your life.

 

  1. Creative a visual image of what you think Junior’s room looks like.