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

First of all, I cannot believe that I've never read this book. I can't believe I've never read any Sherman Alexie books before now. I loved this book. I mean, I really loved this book. I wanted to not even put it down before beginning to read this book for the second time. I am very much looking forward to reading his other books during our winter break. Okay...that's out. This is an excellent book to have available for adolescent readers. Some of the issues which I feel would be most valuable for high school students to read about is the feelings of isolation and lonliness Junior deals with. Also another issue Junior deals with, aside from obviously being an outsider, is his poverty and the shame he feels regarding his poverty. The scene with his new friends, Roger and Penolope, after the school dance was particularly poignant and uplifting. Generally, the humor in the book and the candid way Alexie approaches the occurances of the protagonists life made this book such an enjoyable read. The story of Junior's fears, tragedies, triumphs, and renewal of lost relationships were told in such a way, I believe any adolescent could relate to and grow and learn from.

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe gives a vivid and candid view of a world and culture so different from our own. After the chapters and layers of the everyday lives of the characters, especially the lion-like, larger-than-life main character of Okonkwo, I would never have guessed at the events revealed at the end of the book. Achebe slowly weaves the story, showing us the vast differences of characters, situations, customs, attitudes, all within the silken beauty of his well chosen words. This would be an invaluable book to introduce to young readers. Though there is violence, it is not graphically depicted. As the events unfold in the third part of the book, the reader has become immersed in this native culture. I have not found many books which have so successfully normalized a culture outside my own. Even the parts which were strange, brutal, or just plain distasteful, were revealed in a way in which the reader can at least make sense of it. By then end of the story, it gives the readers a clear idea of the way in which a usurping, oppressive, culture may look to native peoples who are in danger of loosing their own identity through the colonization process.