Award-winning author Sherman Alexie addressed Language Arts students and teachers at Redmond High School (RHS) Sept. 25, wrapping up the Redmond Regional Library’s 2008 “One Book, One Redmond, One Summer” program.
This summer’s book selection was Alexie’s semi-autobiography, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.”
With self-depracating humor and a style reminiscent of a stand-up comedian, Alexie described his medically fragile childhood, which in a perverse way, may have helped to shape his destiny. Because he was always sick, he became a voracious reader and movie-watcher. These were ways to kill time but also opened his eyes to the world outside of the Indian reservation where he grew up.
He had plenty of anecdotes about life on “the rez,” where it wasn’t uncommon for “17 guys … and three women” to turn around when someone called the name “Junior.”
Arnold Spirit, better known as Junior, was the unconventional hero of “The Absolutely True Diary… .” Self-concious about his looks, his Indian accent, his name and mostly his poverty, he had a meltdown at school when he opened up a math book and saw his mother’s maiden name written in it. She had used the same textbook three decades earlier.
“Why was I learning from a 30-year-old math book? Because I was poor, living on a reservation. I was terrified, but I had to leave,” said Alexie, speaking from Junior’s perspective.
Junior transferred to a white high school — as Alexie did in real life — and encountered suspicion and prejudice. Kids taunted him with names like Tonto, Geronimo and Sitting Bull.
“People expected me to pull out a bow and arrow,” said Alexie. On the other hand, “I thought they were Custer, ready to massacre me. So many stereotypes all the way around.”
He recounted a pivotal moment when a teacher asked his name. He said “Sherman” and a white girl turned around and glared at him — “I thought your name was Junior.” He stammered, “I’m Sherman. I’m Sherman Junior. I’m both.”
At that moment, Alexie explained, “I became two people.”
That’s the central theme of “The Absolutely True Diary … .” Junior struggles to fit in with the white crowd and eventually succeeds but then draws scorn from people on “the rez,” including his best friend Rowdy.
RHS students wanted to know if Rowdy was a real person in Alexie’s life. Yes, although his true name was Randy, the author told them.
Every tale in the book was based on something that actually happened to Alexie or someone in his family. Some were laugh-out-loud funny, others made you want to cry.
Among the most poignant scenes is when Junior goes to the high school’s winter formal with a pretty white girl. He can’t afford the right clothes and is forced to wear his father’s “polyester disco suit.” To his relief, his date thinks the “retro” suit is cool — and because she’s popular, the other kids agree.
The night mostly goes well because “dancing doesn’t cost anything” and again, to Junior’s relief, they’re so busy dancing that they miss getting their pictures taken. He couldn’t afford the photos, anyway.
But then someone suggests going to Denny’s for pancakes. He’s mortified and tries to cover up the fact that he doesn’t have enough money for the pancakes and doesn’t have a ride home.
Things like that happened all the time, Alexie stated. “Poverty makes you ashamed. Poverty is scary,” he said.
Someone asked what Alexie thought about white writers — such as last year’s “One Book, One Redmond, One Summer” author, Kent Meyers — who have written about “the Indian experience.”
Alexie said he had nothing against Meyers, but added, “His book is utter fiction. Mine is not.”
He concluded, “I write the stuff that I’ve lived and the stuff that I do live.”
RHS librarian Sharie Hanson said the reaction to this year’s “One Book, One Redmond, One Summer” selection and the announcement that Alexie was coming to the school were extremely positive. Students were inspired to read more of his books.
