Alexie, Sherman. The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. Fic Al 27a
This is a sweet, funny, gritty, and painful story of a year in the life of Junior Spirit (well, actually his name’s Arnold, but nobody calls him that), as he leaves his Spokane Indian Reservation School for the white kids' school 22 miles away in Reardon.
The only other Indian there is the school mascot.
Part narration, part cartooning, entirely engrossing, Junior’s year is one of academic triumphs, injuries on the basketball court (many inflicted by his former best friend), shadowed always by crushing family tragedies. Neil Gaiman said of this book, “I have no doubt that in a year or so it’ll both be winning awards and being banned.” Find out why.