Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is living a hard life on an Indian reservation. He has been picked on all his life, and is not exactly destined for greatness. To try and save himself, he switches to the white school off the reservation, where he is the only Indian besides the school mascot. Overcoming personal tragedy, outcast status with his own people, and being a high school misfit, Junior demonstrates strength of character and determination that is truly extraordinary.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is a poignant and exceptionally worthwhile read. Alcoholism is a sad but very real problem on the Indian reservation and is involved in multiple tragic deaths that affect the main character. Although told with incredibly sharp wit, and often hilarious to read, underlying messages about tolerance, racism, acceptance, and triumph over adversity do not lose their importance. Subject matter is mature; masturbation is mentioned, use of derogatory homosexual slurs is frequent, violent fighting occurs, and several main characters die.

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