The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Study Guide

Chapter 1: The Black-Eye-of the Month Club
1. What happened to Junior when he was born and what was the result of this occurrence?
2. What did the other children call Junior?
3. What does Junior like to do for fun?
4. What are Junior’s dreams?

Chapter 2: Why Chicken Means so Much to me
1. What does Junior do sometimes instead of having dinner?
2. Who is Oscar? What is wrong with him?
3. What would happen to Junior if he blamed his parents?
3. What happened to Oscar?

Chapter 3: Revenge is my Middle Name
1. Describe Rowdy.
2. What kind of a home life does Rowdy have?
2. Explain Rowdy’s relationship with Junior.
2. Retell what happens at the Powwow.

Chapter 4: Because Geometry is not a Country Somewhere Near France
1. Describe Mary.
2. Why does Mr. P sometimes teach class in his pajamas?
3. What realization does Junior make when he excitedly opens his geometry book?

Chapter 5: Hope Against Hope
1. What happens as a result of Junior’s assault on Mr. P?
2. Why is Junior so upset with Mr. P?
2. Why does Mr. P apologize to Junior?

Chapter 6: Go Means Go
1. Who does Junior learn has the most hope?
2. Why does Junior decide to go to another school?
3. Why is it going to be difficult for Junior to go to Reardan?

Chapter 7: Rowdy Sings the Blues
1. How does Rowdy feel about Junior’s decision to leave?
2. Why is Junior afraid of not going to Reardon?

Chapter 8: How to Fight Monsters
1. What does Junior’s dad tell him on his first day at Reardan?
2. How is Reardan the opposite of the Reservation?
3. Describe Penelope.
4. Why does Penelope become angry with Junior?
4. How does Junior react to Roger’s offensive racist joke?
5. What does Junior think might happen as a result of his altercation with Roger?

Chapter 9: Grandmother gives me Some Advice
1. Who does Junior turn to for advice? What advice does he get?
2. How does Junior get to school the day after his altercation with Roger?
3. What does Junior come to realize about Roger when he gets to school?
4. Explain the comparison Junior makes about a king and queen?

Chapter 10: Tears of a Clown
1. Who is Dawn?
2. How is Rowdy a good friend?

Chapter 11: Halloween
1. Explain what happens at Halloween between Junior and Penelope.
2. What happens to Junior’s good intentions?

Chapter 12: Slouching Toward Thanksgiving
1. What happens in geology class?
2. What problems does Junior encounter in getting to school and how does he overcome them?
3. What causes Junior’s mother to cry and how does Junior feel about it?
4. Explain the development of Junior’s new friendship.

Chapter 13: My Sister sends me an E-mail
1. What news does Mary tell Junior in her email?

Chapter 14: Thanksgiving
1. Explain the irony about Indians celebrating Thanksgiving?
2. According to Junior’s dad, what do Indians have to be grateful for?
2. What happens when Junior goes over to Rowdy’s house?

Chapter 15: Hunger Pains
1. What was Penelope doing in the bathroom?
2. According to Junior, how are Penelope and his father similar?
2. How does Junior’s interaction with Penelope affect their friendship and their lives?

Chapter 16: Rowdy Gives Me Advice About Love
1. What two pieces of advice about his love for Penelope does he get from Rowdy and Gordy?

Chapter 17: Dance, Dance, Dance
1. Why does Junior feel "half Indian in one place and half white in the other"?
2. What happens when Junior goes to the Winter Formal?

Chapter 18: Don’t Trust Your Computer
1. Explain what happens when Junior sends his picture to Rowdy?
2. What is the difference between Junior’s relationship with Rowdy and the students at Reardan?
3. What does Junior mean by the term “become white”?
4. How does Gordy what did communities protect individuals from?

Chapter 19: My Sister Sends Me a Letter
1. Retell what is going on in Mary’s life.

Chapter 20: Reindeer Games
1. What does Junior think of his chances of making the basketball team and why?
2. Explain what happens when Junior is pitted against Roger in the tryouts.
3. How is the Reardan basketball team treated when they arrive at the Wellpinit High School?
4. How is Junior treated when he arrives with the opposing team? Why?
4. What happens when Junior gets to play in the 3rd quarter?

Chapter 21: And a Partridge In a Pear Tree
1. What happens on Christmas in Junior’s house?
2. How does Junior feel when his dad returns?
3. What present does Junior’s father have for him?
4. On page 151 Alexie write, “It was a beautiful and ugly thing” about Junior’s father’s gift. What does this mean?

Chapter 22: Red Versus White
1. Explain the dichotomy Junior discovers between being “white” or “Indian”.
2. What happens to Junior’s grandmother?
3. What does Junior’s grandmother request of the surgeon and why?
3. What are Junior’s grandmother’s last words?

Chapter 23: Wake
1. What happens at an Indian wake?
2. Who is Ted and how do the Indians feel about him?
3. Why does Ted come to the wake?
3. Why does everyone laugh at the wake?

Chapter 24: Valentine Heart
1. What does Junior say everything on the reservation is about?
2. What does Junior learn about the story of Euripides by Medea?
3. What does "two tribes...the people who are assholes and the people who are not,” mean.
4. What is Junior’s grieving ceremony?

Chapter 25: In Like a Lion
1. In what ways has Junior become successful?
2. What unusual move does the coach take in Reardan’s match against Wellpinit and why?
3. Explain what happens in the game.
4. Why is Junior ashamed even though he is a hero?

Chapter 26: Rowdy and I Have a Long and Serious Discussion about Basketball
1. How does Rowdy’s email response "kick (Reardan's) asses next year" make Junior feel and why?
2. What is the significance of this response?

Chapter 27: Because Russian Guys Are Not Always Geniuses
1. What traumatic event occurs in Junior’s life?
2. How does Mary die?
3. Why does Rowdy start laughing when he gets into his father’s car?
4. What does Rowdy tell Junior about Mary’s death?
5. How does the Reardan community react to his sister’s death?

Chapter 28: Remembering
1. What happens at the gravesite?
2. "She went searching for her dreams...she didn't find them, but she made the attempt.” Why is this important?
3. What similarity can be made between Mary’s and Junior’s actions?

Chapter 29: Talking About Turtles
1. How is the Rez beautiful?
2. What happens to Stupid Horse?
3. What does Rowdy compare Junior to?
4. Why is Junior crying at the end of the book?