“Something will be offensive to someone in every book, you’ve just got to fight it”- Judy Blume. The childrens author Judy Blume wrote these words which I believed directly related to the banning of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. In 2012, it was the second most challenged book in America, due to its inappropriate content. Not only was it challenged, but it was banned in Richland, Washington. It was banned from the whole Richland school district and libraries! The book was brought to the school board by other parents. After the school board blindly voted, the book was banned from being used in the Richland school district. Only two people out of the whole school board had read parts of the book. Currently the book isn’t banned anymore. All ten books are checked out and on hold at all libraries in Richland. Sherman Alexie wrote a book called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian where it starts off with an unfortunate young boy with many problems. His name is Arnold but everybody calls him Junior. Arnold is an American Indian who lives on the spokane reservation twenty miles away is a city called Wellpoint. He attends an all “white” high school. Junior is the only Indian, besides the school mascot. Since he goes to an all white high school he is known as a traitor on the reservation. Throughout the book Junior fights to be socially accepted and normal. Alexie demonstrated many life lesson through the character Arnold. For example, believing in yourself, dreaming big, and hope, I don’t think the book should have been banned because of all of the life lessons it gives. The language and inappropriate occurrences throughout the book made it so you could more accurately understand the characters hardships.
Not only does this book show many examples that teenagers could connect with but it gives them hope. Junior’s Dad supportly said, “You have to dream big to get big”(ATDPTI Chapter 20). Though Arnold is having a rough time, his dad encourages him. His dad also teaches him the importance of dreaming big. “But we reservation Indians don’t get these chances or choices. We’re just poor. That’s all we are.” This gave junior the courage to be more than what is mom and dad were. He wanted to presue his dreams of leaving the reservation. Why ban a book that gives us examples on why we should believe in ourselves? Throughout the book there were many lessons. The lesson I connected the most with was to believe in yourself. “Come on”, I said, “ Who had the most hope?” “White people” my parents said at the same time.” This was a great example of Junior knowing that his parents couldn’t go anywhere but he kept believing in them. Even when you are born in the worst situation you just need to keep going and not give up.
Teenagers not only loved reading ATDPTI they could easily connect to it, but parents fully disagreed. “I write books for teenagers” He made it inappropriate on purpose so he can stress to the readers what Junior. is going through, which make it so other teenagers could connect to it. This book makes it so other teenagers didn’t like feel they were the only ones going through issues. Personally I was able to connect to Junior through out some of his difficult times. Not only were teenagers from the Richland High School District going through the same problems as Junior, but some go through worse. In the end of the book it shows all the readers that believing in yourself. The publishing for this book was for good.
The school board of Richland had voted to ban the book, ATDPTI. “Only two of the board members had read part of the book. This was very surprising to me but also to many others that this book was “judged by it’s cover”. In one part of the book Gordy was teaching Junior how to read a book. He stated, “Listen you have to read a book three times before you understand it.” This is such an interesting quote. You tend to notice more key notes and themes the second and third time reading. Alexie notices that teenagers could connect better than adults. “I have talked to dozens of high school students that were individually tragic and collectively alarming.” Not only could some teenagers connect, but they were going through worse. In the end the book did not stay banned. The school board saw that overall the book wasn’t so bad. Many saw that this was a helpful book to many teenagers. In every book there will be something somebody doesn't like so therefore you have to fight for it to be published. This book comforted young adults. This book had a huge impact on teenagers. Not only did this book inform, entertain, and inspire but it united teens.
Not only does this book show many examples that teenagers could connect with but it gives them hope. Junior’s Dad supportly said, “You have to dream big to get big”(ATDPTI Chapter 20). Though Arnold is having a rough time, his dad encourages him. His dad also teaches him the importance of dreaming big. “But we reservation Indians don’t get these chances or choices. We’re just poor. That’s all we are.” This gave junior the courage to be more than what is mom and dad were. He wanted to presue his dreams of leaving the reservation. Why ban a book that gives us examples on why we should believe in ourselves? Throughout the book there were many lessons. The lesson I connected the most with was to believe in yourself. “Come on”, I said, “ Who had the most hope?” “White people” my parents said at the same time.” This was a great example of Junior knowing that his parents couldn’t go anywhere but he kept believing in them. Even when you are born in the worst situation you just need to keep going and not give up.
Teenagers not only loved reading ATDPTI they could easily connect to it, but parents fully disagreed. “I write books for teenagers” He made it inappropriate on purpose so he can stress to the readers what Junior. is going through, which make it so other teenagers could connect to it. This book makes it so other teenagers didn’t like feel they were the only ones going through issues. Personally I was able to connect to Junior through out some of his difficult times. Not only were teenagers from the Richland High School District going through the same problems as Junior, but some go through worse. In the end of the book it shows all the readers that believing in yourself. The publishing for this book was for good.
The school board of Richland had voted to ban the book, ATDPTI. “Only two of the board members had read part of the book. This was very surprising to me but also to many others that this book was “judged by it’s cover”. In one part of the book Gordy was teaching Junior how to read a book. He stated, “Listen you have to read a book three times before you understand it.” This is such an interesting quote. You tend to notice more key notes and themes the second and third time reading. Alexie notices that teenagers could connect better than adults. “I have talked to dozens of high school students that were individually tragic and collectively alarming.” Not only could some teenagers connect, but they were going through worse. In the end the book did not stay banned. The school board saw that overall the book wasn’t so bad. Many saw that this was a helpful book to many teenagers. In every book there will be something somebody doesn't like so therefore you have to fight for it to be published. This book comforted young adults. This book had a huge impact on teenagers. Not only did this book inform, entertain, and inspire but it united teens.