The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

"I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats."

Alexie's first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian. Born with water on the brain and being in the top of his class , Arnold is regularly the target of bullies. His love for drawing is his only outlet for escape from his bleak surrounding.

The artwork of Ellen Forney is a perfect match to the endearing and heartbreaking writing of Alexie. Told with the wit, humor and raw truthfulness of a 14 year old there are times when you are bursting laughing one page then sobbing the next.

A tour de force for Alexie's first jump into young adult writing. I highly suggest this read for teens who feel they are on the fringe and adults who grew up there.