Essay on My Perspective
My reading experiences as a high school student has opened my eyes to new and different ideas. My eyes have been opened to controversial ideas that have been brought up in books through the main characters’ struggles. A series that I could always relate to was the Harry Potter series. I was able to relate to the series because I was, in a way, an outcast. I never fit in with other people because I didn’t always follow what others did. I went out of my way to be different, and yet at times be the same as everyone else. A book that I was able to relate to recently was The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
In the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the main character, Junior, struggled with fitting in with the other kids at the school he goes to. Junior was a Native American boy that decided to leave the reservation for a better education. Junior decides to go to an all-white high school in Reardon, Washington. One of his main struggles at his new school is fitting in because he’s a Native American and the students are all white. He wasn’t sure how to fit in because he was used to a whole different set of people and rules. At his old school on the reservation, students fought a lot. The people Junior went to school with have a completely different set of rules that they go by. The white students do not automatically fight after if they being insulted by other students. They solve problems differently. Also, I am able to relate to Junior because I also grew up with same kids my whole life, just like he did in the reservation. Like Junior, I did not have a new group of friends till I went to high school. I am going to a high school where at the beginning I didn't know anyone. I started to get involved with my school and started to make friends. “...freshman starter on a varsity... team.” (p.179 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie) I can relate to how Junior felt a sense of pride in his basketball achievements and how other students started to relate to him as a person because of his accomplishments. Like Junior, I developed a love for sports and soon I became friends with most of my teammates. I joined the cross country team as a freshman and discovered my passion for running. Just like Junior playing on the varsity basketball team as a freshman, I was able to run as varsity in cross country meets. Just like Junior, I also made new friends who shared the same passion for the sport. However, not all students have the chance to connect to The Part- Time Indian experience. Parents cannot always see the relevance of Junior’s struggles and are clouded by some of the book’s teenage content.
This book was banned in several schools everywhere. One of the schools that the Part Time Indian was banned in was West Valley Washington. This book was banned because some of the parents believed that it wasn't age appropriate for Sophomores. Parents didn’t think this book was age appropriate for Sophomores because the book had several sentences that had sexual content and mild language. The high school originally had the Part Time Indian book on the reading list for Juniors and Seniors. Teachers thought that putting the book on the Sophomore reading list because the teachers thought that students could relate to the book. “‘...promote reading and give access to life through reading.’” (p2 of “West Valley parents, teachers differ over young-adult novel”)
The parents had taken the book to the school board and had the book banned from the reading list in all grades. A few months after the book was banned, two of the board members changed their votes after reading Part Time Indian. Their previous actions just showed how closed-minded people can be before they really knew the lesson in Junior’s story. After the board members changed their votes, the book was put back on the reading list.
If this book was banned, teens wouldn't be able to relate to Junior's struggles. It is important to highlight a teenagers difficult struggle in fitting in. Many students can find hope in Junior’s struggles. People find books interesting if they are able to relate to one or more of the characters. But if students could relate to the main character, students could see how other students struggle in life and overcome their struggles. Having students be able to overcome their struggles is a big part of high school and growing up. It inspires hope for many who can connect to a story like Junior’s.
My reading experiences as a high school student has opened my eyes to new and different ideas. My eyes have been opened to controversial ideas that have been brought up in books through the main characters’ struggles. A series that I could always relate to was the Harry Potter series. I was able to relate to the series because I was, in a way, an outcast. I never fit in with other people because I didn’t always follow what others did. I went out of my way to be different, and yet at times be the same as everyone else. A book that I was able to relate to recently was The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
In the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the main character, Junior, struggled with fitting in with the other kids at the school he goes to. Junior was a Native American boy that decided to leave the reservation for a better education. Junior decides to go to an all-white high school in Reardon, Washington. One of his main struggles at his new school is fitting in because he’s a Native American and the students are all white. He wasn’t sure how to fit in because he was used to a whole different set of people and rules. At his old school on the reservation, students fought a lot. The people Junior went to school with have a completely different set of rules that they go by. The white students do not automatically fight after if they being insulted by other students. They solve problems differently. Also, I am able to relate to Junior because I also grew up with same kids my whole life, just like he did in the reservation. Like Junior, I did not have a new group of friends till I went to high school. I am going to a high school where at the beginning I didn't know anyone. I started to get involved with my school and started to make friends. “...freshman starter on a varsity... team.” (p.179 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie) I can relate to how Junior felt a sense of pride in his basketball achievements and how other students started to relate to him as a person because of his accomplishments. Like Junior, I developed a love for sports and soon I became friends with most of my teammates. I joined the cross country team as a freshman and discovered my passion for running. Just like Junior playing on the varsity basketball team as a freshman, I was able to run as varsity in cross country meets. Just like Junior, I also made new friends who shared the same passion for the sport. However, not all students have the chance to connect to The Part- Time Indian experience. Parents cannot always see the relevance of Junior’s struggles and are clouded by some of the book’s teenage content.
This book was banned in several schools everywhere. One of the schools that the Part Time Indian was banned in was West Valley Washington. This book was banned because some of the parents believed that it wasn't age appropriate for Sophomores. Parents didn’t think this book was age appropriate for Sophomores because the book had several sentences that had sexual content and mild language. The high school originally had the Part Time Indian book on the reading list for Juniors and Seniors. Teachers thought that putting the book on the Sophomore reading list because the teachers thought that students could relate to the book. “‘...promote reading and give access to life through reading.’” (p2 of “West Valley parents, teachers differ over young-adult novel”)
The parents had taken the book to the school board and had the book banned from the reading list in all grades. A few months after the book was banned, two of the board members changed their votes after reading Part Time Indian. Their previous actions just showed how closed-minded people can be before they really knew the lesson in Junior’s story. After the board members changed their votes, the book was put back on the reading list.
If this book was banned, teens wouldn't be able to relate to Junior's struggles. It is important to highlight a teenagers difficult struggle in fitting in. Many students can find hope in Junior’s struggles. People find books interesting if they are able to relate to one or more of the characters. But if students could relate to the main character, students could see how other students struggle in life and overcome their struggles. Having students be able to overcome their struggles is a big part of high school and growing up. It inspires hope for many who can connect to a story like Junior’s.