The Challenge Factory discussion

Publication date: September 12, 2007
Literary Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2007), Odyssey Award (2009), South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult Book Award (2010), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2009), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee (2008), Florida Teens Read Nominee (2009), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction (2008), The Inky Awards Nominee for Silver Inky (2009), California Young Readers Medal for Young Adult (2010), Lincoln Award Nominee (2011), James Cook Book Award Nominee (2009), The Inky Awards Shortlist for Silver Inky (2009)

This book has been on the American Library Association's Top 10 challenged books list seven times since its publication in 2007. Libraries and schools that have banned the book attribute the censorship to things like its “violence, language and some sexual content

Synopsis
Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

My library had this available at the beginning of the month, so I took the chance whilst it was available and listened before the 15th. I loved it. It was funny and sensitive and honest and moving. Iisttened to the audiobook and the author narrated it. The cadence of the speech and his delivery of the jokes was excellent. It's a coming of age tale about a boy that managed to entertain a 45 year old woman.

Yet again, another book I likely would not have read had it not been for this challenge.

I've got a small start on this one. So far I like except for his repeated use of the term retard. That term is pretty derogatory and doesn't mesh well with the tone of the rest of the story.

I enjoyed this book very much, outside of the author's use of the terms retard and fag/faggot. When I was a kid those terms were commonly heard but not so much anymore. The rest of the tale was refreshing and gave some insight into the particular pain of adolescence for a young man who wants to get off the reservation. I happen to have a 10-year anniversary edition of the book in which the extra material explains that this is largely taken from the author's experiences.

I told my brother this book was on the reading list for this challenge and he expressed surprise and said the author is a real jerk. So I just googled the author and find that he has multiple accusations of unwanted sexual advances lodged against him by several women. And so I apologize to all, as I was not aware of that when I chose the book. It is sad that this kind of writing talent comes housed in the skin of a creep.

I agree with you about the words. As embarrassing as it is, I will admit to using them in my youth, retard/retarded and more commonly gay instead of fag/faggot. Honestly, I look back and cringe, but I think it is a common phase for young people. So as jarring as it was, I think it rings true. It didn't make me like it any less.

Equally, the author's life didn't make me like it any less. I looked him up whilst listening because I had never heard of him. I saw that he has been accused of various things. I also saw his apology and admitting of his behaviour. Personally, I don’t think you have any reason to apologise. I don’t think banning books because of the author is good. I think if someone chooses to not read an author for one's own political/personal/moral reasons fair enough. I won't ever read Marion Zimmer Bradley. But I still love and encourage everyone to read The Color Purple. Though I won't read any of Alice Walker's recent works. Mostly, I won't read these because I will be reading too much of their gross personal beliefs or experiences into the book. It's like looking at an Eric Gill painting, where before one might have seen childhood beauty and innocence, knowing the full horror it's hard not to see perversion. I am not making excuses at all for Alexie Sherman, some of the things he did were disrespectful. Is he a creep? Maybe. But since he admitted and apologised, I'm going to take him at his word. I have to believe that people can change. I don’t think he has to lose everything because of unwanted sexual advances. If he was being accused of criminal assaults, that would be a whole different kettle of fish. But there are levels, saying inappropriate things is not the same as doing inappropriate things. I believe shame is a powerful tool in rectifying behaviour. Alexie Sherman has been named and shamed. Let's hope he does better, and uses any power he has left to those ends. Anyway, I will get down from my soapbox and say, I'm happy you included it.

I'm glad you feel that way Keli. I think his book has been banned for reasons other than the author's behavior. I think references to adolescent sexual desire and activities is more likely the case. I agree the book is very good and I hope it is still used in schools because I think it has something to offer teens - to broaden their perspective of the world, of how we relate to one another. I especially liked Junior's grandmother. I imagine there really is someone like her out there.