The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/F3QMxf4yySA

A Native American teenage boy named Arnold Spirit Jr. lives in an Indian reservation. The reservation is a place of poverty and his parents are alcoholics. To make things worse, he suffers from seizures and is constantly being picked on and beaten up by everyone. But with Rowdy, his best friend in the picture, both look at each other for strength through rough encounters. Throughout the story he loses his grandmother (struck and killed by a drunk driver), sister (due to drinking and a fire), and two of his dad's friends (one hung himself in jail because he shot and killed the other when they were both drunk). But despite all the tragedies and against all odds, he is determined to get out of the reservation and get a better education by attending an all-white High School called Reardan.

Amazing, great read that is both funny and tragic. In this book Arnold makes the independent   choice of bettering himself. This is a book recommended for 7th grade and up. Other books by the same author include, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Reservation Blues, Indian Killer, War Dances, The Toughest Indian in the World, Under Boy, and Flight.

Speak

Anderson, L. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. 

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/FpIuOa7C1f8

An outcast who is without a friend all because she called the cops to raid an end of summer party. No one will listen or talk to her. They call her names and harass her.  But there is a secret that they don't know about. Something terrible happened at the party that night in which caused her to call the police. It is then that she stops talking. The only place at school where she feels at ease is her art class. It is through a project and the support of a teacher that she is finally able to face the fact that at the party she was raped. As she begins to heal, she comes across the guy that raped her. This time Melinda fights back with a little triumph, and refuses to be silent.  

An encouraging book that can help rape victims to speak up for themselves. Teens and adults can relate to Melinda and the horrible ordeal she had to go through. A book for grade levels seven through twelve. Other books written by this author include, Chains, Wintergirls, Fever, The Impossible Knife of Memory, and Twisted. Books related to this book include, Ride High Pineapple by Jonathan Yanez and Introvert Survival Tactics: How to Make Friends, Be More Social, and Be Comfortable In Any Situation by Patrick King.