Teen Book Club September - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Last night we had our September meeting of the Teen Book Club and we discussed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  This week also happens to be Banned Books Week and TATDoaPTI was the 2nd most challenged book of 2012!

Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live.

Here are the questions we used for discussion:

1. What did you think of the book in general? 
2. Who were your favorite characters in the book and why?
3. Did you have a favorite scene or part in the book?  Why did it stand out for you?
4. What does it mean for Junior to be a "part-time" Indian?
5. Would you have left the reservation if you were Junior, or another person living on the reservation in similar circumstances at him?
6. Why do you think fighting was such a big part of the culture on the rez?  (refer back to the rules of fighting on page 61)
7. What did Junior's drawings add to the book?  What did they say that the words did not?  How do Junior's drawings of himself change throughout the book?
8. Junior makes a list of all the tribes he belongs to, (page 217) what tribes would you say that you belong to?
9. This week is Banned Books Week!  This book was the 2nd most challenged book of 2012 for the following reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.  What do you think about challenging/banning books?  With that in mind, how would you recommend this book to others?
10. Ratings and final thoughts!

Here are our ratings: (avg 7.8)

Clare - 6.5/10 - It was not my personal preference for a book, but it would be suited for the 10-16 year old age group.
Catherine - 9.5/10 - Perfect book for teens because its an easy read, not patronizing, funny, and honest!
Melanie - 7.5/10 - I liked how the writing fit the main character's personality.

Our book for October is a zombie book!  We will be reading Zom-B by Darren Shan.  Copies are available at the front desk and we will be meeting to discuss the book on Wednesday, October 30th from 5:30-6:30pm.  Snacks will served and we will get to preview November's new books before anyone else!

When the news starts reporting a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's father thinks it's a hoax-but even if it isn't, the two of them joke, it's only the Irish, right? That is, until zombies actually attack the school. B is forced on a mad dash through the serpentine corridors of high school, making allegiances with anyone with enough gall to fight off their pursuers. But when they come face-to-face with the ravenous, oozing corpses, all bets are off. There are no friends. No allies. Just whatever it takes to survive.

Banned Books Week

Hey YAs, next week is Banned Books Week, a week when we celebrate that we are free to read whatever we want. A lot of time people across the country don't think that certain books should be in libraries or schools and they submit something called a challenge.  This means that they are challenging the book's inclusion in that collection, whether it is a school, university, or public library.  Every year the American Library Association makes up a list of the top 10 most challenged books of the year.  Let's take a look at 2011's top 10 and see what they are....

#10

Title:  To Kill A Mockingbird

Author:  Harper Lee

Summary:  Scout Finch, daughter of the town lawyer Atticus, has just started school; but her carefree days come to an end when a black man in town is accused of raping a white woman, and her father is the only man willing to defend him.

Reason(s):  Offensive language and racism

#9

Title:  Gossip Girl (the entire series)

Author:  Cecily Von Ziegesar

Summary:   Presents a world of jealousy and betrayal at an exclusive private school in Manhattan.

Reason(s):  Drugs, offensive language, and sexual content

#8

Title:  What My Mother Doesn't Know

Author:  Sonya Sones

Summary:   Sophie describes her relationships with a series of boys as she searches for Mr. Right.

Reason(s):  Nudity, offensive language, and sexual content

#7

Title:  Brave New World

Author:  Aldus Huxley

Summary:    Huxley's terrifying vision of a controlled and emotionless future "Utopian" society is truly startling in its prediction of modern scientific and cultural phenomena, including test-tube babies and rampant drug abuse.

Reason(s):  Insensitivity, nudity, racism, religious viewpoint, and sexual content

#6

Title: Alice (entire series)

Author:  Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Summary:    Eleven-year-old, motherless Alice decides she needs a gorgeous role model who does everything right; and when placed in homely Mrs. Plotkins's class she is greatly disappointed until she discovers it's what people are inside that counts.

Reason(s):  Nudity, religious viewpoint, and offensive language

#5

Title:  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author:  Sherman Alexie

Summary:     Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Reason(s):  Offensive language, racism, religious viewpoint, sexual content, and unsuited to age group

#4

Title:  My Mom's Having a Baby!

Author:  Dori Hillestad Butler

Summary:     Elizabeth's mom is having a baby, and the whole family is involved. Elizabeth learns all about the baby's development, and she traces his growth, month by month. She learns how the baby got inside Mom, too.

Reason(s):  Nudity, sexual education, sexual content, and unsuited to age group

#3

Title:  The Hunger Games (entire series)

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Summary:      In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

Reason(s):  Anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic, and violence

#2

Title:  The Color of the Earth (entire series)

Author:  Kim Dong Hwa

Summary:      Ehwa is a young girl growing up in a Korean village.  She lives with her mother, who was widowed not long after Ehwa was born.  Through these two women, we see different stages of love, as Ehwa has her first crushes and her mother meets a traveling stranger.

Reason(s):  Nudity, sex education, sexual content, and unsuited to age group

**Drum roll please!**



The #1 Most Challenged Book(s) of 2011:

Title:  TTYL (entire series)

Author:  Lauren Myracle

Summary:       Chronicles, in "instant message" format, the day-to-day experiences, feelings, and plans of three friends, Zoe, Maddie, and Angela, as they begin tenth grade.

Reason(s):  Offensive language, religious view point, sexual content, and unsuited to age group




So, how many have you read?  I've read 6 out of the 10.  Celebrate BBW by reading one yourself, they will be on display in the library and available for you to check out.  Also, I will be putting up a large display in the lobby display case that you should check out too~