DRAFT! Argument Essay: Why Banning The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is not a good idea

DRAFT! Argument Essay: Why Banning The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is not a good idea

By Alexi Bonfils

One of my favorite books is Sherman Alexie’s best selling, and frequently banned book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” This book is about a 14 year old native kid, Arnold who is funny, sensitive, and a growing artist. Arnold is going through puberty, but also has a disease that leaves him with a big head, a stutter, and lisp. Because of this he is bullied non-stop. The central conflict of this story is when Arnold leaves the Spokane Indian Tribe School, to go to an all white school that is looked down upon by the Indians. People want to ban this book, but I think they shouldn't because this book gives very good life lessons, and kids can learn from, and relate to this book.   

This book has a great message to go after your dreams. Arnold gets picked on at his reservation, and decides he wants to switch schools. “I want to go to Reardan,” I said again. I couldn’t believe I was saying it, for me, it seemed as real as saying, “I want to fly to the moon.” “Are you sure?” my parents asked. “You could maybe wait till next semester break or until next year. Get a fresh start.” “No, if I don’t go now, I never will. I have to go now.” “Okay.” They said. This shows Arnold is very brave because he knows that all the Indians hate Reardan because it is filled with rich white kids, but he knows if he goes there he will get a better education. I think when kids read this they will get inspired to be braver and go after what they want.

When Arnold gets to Reardan he doesn’t have any friends.  There is kid there named Gordy who Arnold thinks he could be good friends with. Gordy does not even know who he is, but still Arnold goes up and talks to him, “I looked at Gordy. He was a big kid, actually, strong from bucking bales and driving trucks. He was probably the strongest geek in the world.  I want to be your friend,” I said. “Excuse me?” he asked “ I want us to be friends,” I said.” This shows Arnold being brave because instead of just waiting for the day to come when Gordy talks to him, Arnold steps up and talks to Gordy, and by the end of the book him and Gordy are good friends.

Arnold likes a girl at Reardan named Penelope. Penelope is a popular pretty white girl who doesn’t talk to Arnold at all. Arnold tries talking to her now and then and Penelope talks back, but they aren’t really friends. Arnold tries collecting money for charity with her, he helps her with problems, and by the end of the book they start to date. Not only does this give advice on how to make friends and a girl friend, but also it is another example of being brave, and when kids read this they will also want to try to be braver. To add on it is coming from a kid close to the age of kids who normally read this book, so it is easy to relate to.

People who want to ban this book say it has subjects such as alcoholism so it should be banned. The book does talk about alcoholism, but shows a strong message against it. It explains why no one should ever consider becoming an alcoholic, or drinking and driving. Arnold explains throughout the book about what its like having an alcoholic dad, and even goes through deaths of people close to him dying because of alcohol, “I'm fourteen years old and I've been to forty-two funerals. That's really the biggest difference between Indians and white people .A few of my white classmates have been to a grandparent's funeral. And a few have lost an uncle or aunt. And one guy's brother died of leukemia when he was in third grade. But there's nobody who has been to more than five funerals. All my white friends can count their deaths on one hand. I can count my fingers, toes, arms, legs, eyes, ears, nose, penis, butt cheeks, and nipples, and still not get close to my deaths. And you know what the worst part is? The unhappy part? About 90 percent of the deaths are because of alcohol.” Kids who read this book will realize what can happen when you get drunk, and they will learn to make better choices. If this book were banned they would not get the chance to learn this, and relate to it since it is coming from a boy near their age.

People also say it should be banned because it talks about masturbation. The thing is this is a book about a 14-year-old boy going through puberty. Most kids don’t want to go up to someone and ask questions, they would rather read about it, and keep it to themselves. This book helps kids learn about what’s going to happen to their body, and if this were banned kids wouldn’t know what to do. Also parents get embarrassed about talking about this stuff, so why not give your kid a book that he/she can relate to instead?

In conclusion the book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” By Sherman Alexie should not be banned because it teaches kids to be brave and gives great life lessons. It as well gets kids ready to learn about what’s going to happen to their body. Some people want to ban this book because of it’s mentions of alcoholism and inappropriate words, but it talks how it is bad to drink alcohol, and kids can relate to the terms that Arnold says in this book.