Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

For my first book of the summer, I chose the complete opposite of a beach read. Junior risks complete ostracization when he leaves his Spokane reservation to attend an all-white school 22 miles away. He copes with the pain, and with more grief than anyone should face in five lifetimes, by keeping a sense of humor as well as drawing cartoons. Often completely (though appropriately!) profane, this book made me laugh and cry throughout. Just a taste: Junior gets the idea to leave the res from his math teacher after Arnold breaks his nose. Why did Arnold break his nose? Because when he saw that his decrepit math book once belonged to his mother, he threw it across the room in frustration. Why did his teacher think Arnold should leave? Because Arnold, besides being one of his brightest students, is one of the only who still thinks he deserves better than a forty year old school book. As a teacher in a well-supported school district, that really moved me. Click here for links to audio clips of the book as well as reviews.