The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Tim Indian by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Ellen Forney
Junior wants a better future. He doesn't want to give up on life, the way it sometimes seems that
his family and community have. One of his teachers, who
seems like a real creep, tells him he needs to get off the reservation and go to a school in the next town. Junior decides to do that, but it
is difficult to get there due to his family's situation, and it alienates him from his community and his best friend. His friend is the meanest kid at the rez school and also the best basketball player. They were supposed to play together and Junior is pretty nervous that now they will be rivals. He is surprised and also a little put off by the friendliness and generosity of the students at his new school. He is not sure if they are genuine or condescending to him because he is Native American; the only other Indian on campus is the school mascot.
This is a realistic fiction young adult book, so it does have mature topics. It is a good one!
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