The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

“My head was so big that little Indian skulls orbited around it. Some of the kids called me Orbit. And other kids just called me Globe. The bullies would pick me up, spin me in circles, and put their finger on my skull, and say, I want to go there.” This is what Junior in the book, The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, goes through every day in his school on the reservation. Junior has a variety of medical problems, which causes him to have a big head, and look funny. Everyone picks on him but his best friend Rowdy. Junior draws cartoons of what is happening around him, and his cartoons help him through life. The theme of this book is appreciate what you have because Junior lives in poverty but still never gives up.

Junior gets food once in a while and appreciates every bite, but he also appreciates every time he doesn't get a meal too. “And hey, in a weird way, being hungry makes food taste better. There is nothing better than a chicken leg when you haven’t eaten for (approximately) eighteen and a half hours. And believe me, a good piece of chicken can make anybody believe in the existence of god.” By Junior saying this he is showing that not eating for a while can bring some good to your self because now he appreciates what he has instead of wanting what he doesn't. When you don't get what you want are you angry, or do you appreciate what you did have? Think about that the next time something you want doesn't happen.

Junior has switched to the white school 22 miles from his reservation, it is Halloween, “At school today, I went dressed as a homeless dude. It was a pretty easy costume for me. There’s not much difference between my good and bad clothes, so I pretty much look half homeless anyway.” This shows Junior appreciating what he has because he could of cried and been angry about not having a Halloween costume, but instead he made a costume out of what he has, and ends up having the same costume as the girl he likes, and he starts becoming friends with her. Not having a costume actually ended up being a positive thing.

Junior get beat up a lot, almost everyday. He gets beat up by kids, and by adults. No one even cares that they are hurting him. The only person he has other than his family, is his friend Rowdy, “I think Rowdy might be the most important person in my life. Maybe more important than my family. Can your best friend be more important than your family?” this shows that just because Junior has such a hard life, he still appreciates that he has Roger, and that he is not bullying him.

In conclusion the theme of the book, The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is to appreciate what you have. This shows up when Junior appreciates not having a meal, when he makes a positive out of a negative when not having a costume, and forgetting the people who bully him and appreciate the people who don't bully him. This applies to my life because whenever I feel down I can just remember what I have and appreciate it.