The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

  • First Day of Freshman Year

    On his first day of school, Junior gets upset that his geometry textbooks are so outdated and throws the book at his teacher's face, resulting in a suspension.
  • Transfer and Fight

    Junior decides to transfer to Rearden high school, but Rowdy, feeling betrayed and hurt, decides to fight Junior.
  • Halloween

    Junior and Penelope both decide to dress as homeless people for Halloween, asking for spare change instead of candy, to raise awareness for the homeless.
  • Mary Gets Married

    Junior's sister, Mary, runs away and gets married, shocking the rest of the family.
  • Gordy

    After he defends Junior in their geology class, Gordy and Junior become friends.
  • The Email

    Right around Thanksgiving, Mary emails Junior and assures him that she's doing well and loves her new life.
  • Junior & Penelope

    Junior and Penelope begin to develop romantic interest toward one another, but Junior acknowledges that they're both kind of just using one another.
  • Basketball

    Junior ends up making Reardan's varsity basketball team, but in his first game, he gets knocked unconscious and is diagnosed with a concussion.
  • The Diner

    Junior, Penelope, and Roger are at a diner when the truth comes out that Junior is poor. The other two promise not to tell anyone.
  • Meeting New Classmates

    Junior meets Penelope and Roger, two kids from his new school. Roger seems to take enough of a liking to Junior, but he has some work to do with Penelope.
  • Oscar Dies

    Junior's dog, Oscar, is shot by Junior's father after Oscar gets sick and the family cannot afford to take him to the vet. Junior is devastated.
  • 127th Annual Powwow

    Junior goes to the 127th Annual Spokane Reservation Powwow with Rowdy, reluctantly, and ends up getting involved in some violence/fighting with Rowdy himself, and a few of their other peers.
  • The Crash

    Junior's grandmother, who he loves dearly, is struck and killed in a car crash on her way home from a powwow.
  • Shots

    Junior's dad's best friend, Eugene, who occasionally gives Junior rides to/from school, is shot outside 7/11 by his friend. A little while later, while in prison, the friend hangs himself.
  • The Big Game

    Reardan plays Junior's old high school's basketball team. Junior has to guard Rowdy, and ends up holding him to just four points all night. At one point, Junior drains a three-pointer.
  • Mary Dies

    Mary dies in a fire after her and her husband get drunk and fall asleep, and their trailer goes up in flames.
  • Reflection

    Junior goes to the cemetery with his parents to clean off the gravestones of his grandmother, Eugene, and Mary and thinks about the highs and lows of his freshman year.