Lexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
This book is reflective of Lexie's experiences in his life and of transitioning to a new high school outside of the reservation where he lived on all his life.  He still lived there but would have to travel everyday over 20 miles to go to a white school.  The book opens with Junior the main character describing his life and the disadvantages he had been born sick and with water on the brain.  Most doctors expected him to die during surgery or live in a vegetative state.  Despite the odd of being born sick, alcoholic dad and community and extreme poverty, Junior decided to go to the school off the reservation.  This is met with alarm and anger in both communities. The Indian community in which he lived felt he was selling out in a way and turning his back on them. His best friend, Rowdy, who had always been his protector from bullies cut ties with Junior and even punched him before Junior started his new school.  The white school and community where he went to school never knew someone that was Indian and Junior was subject to racism and bullying.  He described about being too white on the reservation and too Indian at his school, Reardan. Junior missed his best friend, his only friend but knows going to a different school will develop him differently and give him advantages.  Junior has a complicated home life. He loved by his parents, his dad is an alcoholic, his older sister runs away to a better life and a grandma who he loves dearly.  Despite the struggles and very candid look into Junior's life, it is funny, straightforward and hopeful.
This book exposes readers to a life that many might not know anything about but Alexie presents it with humor and honesty.  Junior's life might be completely different than others but the struggles of high school, dysfunctional family, bullying and wanting something better are all universal themes,  The book has art by Ellen Forney which is from the perspective and drawn by Junior who loves to draw cartoons. The readers is emphatic and in disbelief of the heartache Junior and his family endures along with life on the reservation.  It gives opportunity to reflect with students about the inequality of advantages, racism and poverty. Alexie creates a narrative that is easy to read but deeply layered.  The book is effective as both a window and mirror for the reader.
Sherman Alexie is an award winning author, he reflects that he loves to write poetry and short stories, writes novels as his job and screen writes as his passion. Alexie wrote and produced the film, Smoke Signals, a widely acclaimed movie.  The book has discussion ideas and interview with the illustrator, Ellen Forney which can further conversation with students.  Sherman Alexie's body of work and strageties for teaching are easily accessible on the internet, CSPAN has an book talk with him at  https://www.c-span.org/video/?202083-3/absolutely-true-diary-parttime-indian. I recommend watching Smoke Signals with students as well as a way to have dialogue and share Lexie's work.