Reddit reviews The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
We found 6 Reddit comments about The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
> Apparently it's "banned" from certain school libraries, because "muh racism" (which is frankly absurd; it was written by a native)
Blah blah "internalized racism" blah blah "we know best" blah blah
Typical bullshit. If it goes against what's been established as "the acceptable truth", it needs to be suppressed.
Here it is on Amazon, in case anyone is looking to get a copy.
Acting classes, plural! I took a few as electives in college because it was fun and I am so very grateful I did! Now, as a "seasoned" teacher, I recommend them to the student teachers and practicum students I deal with daily. You HAVE to know how to improvise for more reasons than I could explain here.
As far as books I would base my recommendations on the population you want to serve, and you have to WANT to serve. As a general rule I would start with Educating Esme, A Kind and Just Parent, Lies My Teacher Told Me, and a lot of kid and young adult books. If you want specifics just let me know. I teach banned books!
Assuming that when OP said it doesn't have to be historical fiction that he meant that he'd be ok with contemporary fiction (as opposed to historical non-fiction), I second the Sherman Alexie recommendation.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a classic.
Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King is also a trip.
>it's just surreal that the natives of this land only gained the right to vote in it less than one century ago and it's kind of sickening to think about how archaic this time is.
I don't want to look like I'm forming a pity party, but the Civil Rights Movement didn't really help out Indian Country. We had to have our own round of protests and fighting in the 1970s. Check out the American Indian Movement, the Occupation of Alcatraz Island and especially the Alcatraz Proclamation, among others. What really stunning is that the American Indian Religious Freedom Act didn't come about until 1978, let alone the fact that they had to pass it at all!
>Are there any books, movies, or another form of media that are true stories or realistic fiction that depict American Indians in a way that you find to be interesting and faithful?
Anything by Vine Deloria, Jr. is awesome, although he is more historian and scientist than he is story-teller. A short list of my favorites:
If you want to read some great fiction that depicts American Indians accurately, start with Sherman Alexie:
Outside of those authors, some popular picks are Black Elk Speaks and Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.
As far as movies go, any self-respecting Indian has seen the movie Smoke Signals dozens of times. Powwow Highway is a favorite of mine, and Dance Me Outside is movie gold, although it doesn't get enough attention.
>I'm thinking - why hasn't HBO or some big network done a drama that focuses on American Indians? This could be a very interesting book, as well... Or is this idea something even somewhat appealing to you as a young American Indian?
I'm not sure what you are thinking, but I have my own ideas. I'd like to see a series that focuses on a single reservation for each episode, and details the hardships that the people of that reservation deal with on a daily basis. Call it a pity party, but there are children in the United States right now that live in houses with dirt floors and sleep on pallets and go to school on 30-year-old school buses on unkempt dirt roads (and sometimes off-road) where they learn a curriculum outdated for a decade or more........ I can go on and on. Get in your car and drive to Pine Ridge Reservation RIGHT NOW, you'll be convinced that you walked into a third world country in the middle of a war. Its not pretty. The corruption in the tribal government needs to be put in the spotlight, and the part that the Federal and State governments have played in this tragedy need to be righted. That's the facts.
So I am writing an epileptic MC... Beyond the scientific research, I've also been doing a lot of lurking in forums. It's one thing to read about potential side effects, etc, etc, and another to see what most people are complaining about.
I've also got a lot of reading to do.
Books with Epileptic Characters
The Queen's Fool (adult historical)
Incarceron & Sapphique (YA steampunk)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (MG contemporary - doesn't come up, just a passing line about history)
How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets (contemporary)
The Universe Versus Alex Woods (YA magical realism? contemporary? I don't know yet)
Epileptic (graphic novel)
Prizefighter en Mi Casa (MG contemporary)
The Way of Kings (Supposedly. Adult fantasy in any case.)
Haven't read the ones at the bottom of the list yet.
I'll recommend this again and again and again. Go buy this right now and read it, it will change your life and everyone who has two seconds to listen to you about this book (like me) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie