Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

            Sherman Alexi’s Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian does an excellent job of portraying what it’s like for a student to transition from their own culture to that of a largely different school culture. However, that is not all the book does well. Junior’s story tells a very inspirational tale for students about managing to overcome a phenomenon known as “Learned Helplessness.” This condition is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “a condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed.” (OED Learned Helplessness) This is a prevalent theme in Junior’s story and it is an obstacle that he works very hard to overcome as the novel progresses.

            Junior’s struggle against the learned helplessness of his tribe is prevalent from the very start of the novel, early on he expresses his frustration with the drinking habits of both of his parents and the fact that neither they nor his tribe are willing to make the effort to make a better life for themselves. This decision is the main driving force behind his decision to attend Rearden High School rather than the reservation school. This drive to better himself also helps him overcome the challenges of not only his tribe’s learned helplessness but also the difficulties he faces in the culture clash between his native heritage and the largely white community of Reardan. Junior also uses his enormous sense of humor to help him overcome a lot of his struggles, making light of the challenges he faces and making it seem like his journey toward a better education was as much enjoyable as productive.

            While The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is a fantastic and humorous read by itself, it’s real strength is showing how learned helplessness can be overcome, and how any student can succeed, regardless of their background, if they want to achieve their goals.