Should ‘’The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’’ be banned?

Introduction 

Sherman Alexie’s Award-winning novel, ‘’The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’’ has been banned in a number of schools. The book remains one of the most challenged works of the modern times that has been found controversial, and eventually being banned in a number of schools. Additionally, the text is one of the top ten challenged and has been listed in the #2 slot of the 2017 ALA’s list of the top challenged books. It has been placed on the list because that the book contains profanity content and expresses situations deemed sexually explicit for the schoolchildren. It is not the first book to be banned for use among the schools, but remains one of the art pieces that raises debate on whether it should be banned or not. Looking deeply into the case, a few items may need to be analyzed to find if the book is worth being banned or it. The novel, ‘’The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’’ should not be banned by the fact that the book reveals real struggles of the children in a language that they understand best and in ways that many who go through the situation may fear to express. 

Analysis and Discussion 

A succinct preview shows the novel presents a story, which revolves around the life the protagonist character. The protagonist who is also the first person narrator of the story is said to be Arnold Spirit (Junior), a 14 year old who is said to live in a Spokane Indian Reservation. The character that lives in the Indian Reservation leaves to attend an all-white high school. The author describes the experience of the protagonist in the new environment through the lens of his own experience. Through the experience of the protagonist, a number of themes come clear. They include the themes on violence, poverty, racial identity, coming of age, sexual struggles, and bullying. They are captured with Alexie’s characteristic humor with Forney providing the artistic illustrations for the novel. The book written in the first person of the 14 year old presents real issues that are faced in the process of coming to age ( Alexie, 2016) . Probably, a 14 year old would not be cautious of the language used and would want to express the issues in a more fun and hilarious ways. 

In as much as the novel has been challenged for inclusion of profane and sexually explicit content, it is worth the children reading. This novel should not be banned for numerous reasons. First, schools handle children and teens that can be categorized as coming-of-age young adults whose struggles and challenges of life have been largely neglected. With the world having an increase in the number of coming to age young adults in schools, there is need for the issues they go through to come into limelight. The novel successfully expresses the real experiences of teens as they mature into adulthood in a light, interesting, and fun manner. Through the expressions of the protagonist, it becomes possible to iron out the real issues that go through the minds and life of the teens. It is a story that the teens and young adults going through schools would find digestible and informative. On this account, the story plays a great role in boosting awareness of the real issues and struggles that people go through as they mature into adulthood. 

A counterargument to this view has been that the book needs to stay on the list of banned because it has a number of references to masturbation, sexually explicit language, and pornographic content. While these are real issues to look at, they should not be the main determinant factor of banning the book considering the contextual background by which the narrator is coming from. There is need consider the contextual background of the narrator as one who is experiencing an awakening of sexual maturity and is coming to age. Millions of children are going through these experiences and need to be assisted by knowing that they could overcome. 

Notwithstanding the counterargument, the novel should not be banned. The novel should not stay on the banned book lists by the fact Alexie challenges the values that helping teens go grow well is through keeping some information from them. The author makes clear through the story of the protagonist that one cannot purport to keep teen from information they already know. Teens are not strange to the urges of maturation or sexually explicit language. It is on this account that the novel tells of a story of the protagonist with a focus on self-discovery and independent growth. On a larger sense, the story of the protagonist promotes independent growth by allowing self-acceptance of the struggles to overcome poverty and sexual urges. Through the experience of the protagonist in the Indian reservation, and his behavior as learnt and experienced, many would learn about the real life struggles of coming into age from teenage hood. 

Moreover, the novel should not be banned for it brings out a clear picture of what is happening in the society. The book does not sugar coat the real struggles of coming into age and the power of the environment in shaping the values and behaviors. For instance, the author designs the story in a way to show the protagonists world growing around us leading to a better understanding of his reality (Alexie, 2016). For example, issues of poverty and fate are expressed through the way his mother and father were considered “too smart for the reservation” yet the chains of poverty trapped them and made them become devoid of hope. The struggles of poverty and hopelessness are realities in the American society among the people battling with poverty. Revealing these issues in a language that resonates with the audience would be so good for the children or teens that have been raised under such backgrounds. Thus, the book should be allowed for use in schools. 

Conclusion 

Conclusively, the study makes it clear that it is better not to keep the book among the banned lists for school because the book is relevant in addressing the core problems facing the teens and young adults in schools. In fact, the book expresses the key issues that teens and young adults in the schools go through. Instead of keeping these issues way from this population, there is need to increase the awareness of these issues and to find amicable ways by which the issues could be handled. 

Reference 

Alexie, S. (2016). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. NewYork: Andersen Press Limited.