The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Junior's Experiences Timeline - Novel Review
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Introduction to Junior
Introduction to Junior / Arnold Spirit Jr. is a 14 year old Native American who was born with hydrocephalus living within the Wellpinit reservation in the state of Washington. He is part of the Spokane tribe. He is constantly bullied by other Native Americans on the reservation, and is usually referred to as "Orbit" due to the large proportion of his head and his mismatched glasses. / We also learn that Arnold is living within poverty. /- Dates are an estimate
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Catharsis
After realizing that the textbooks the class is using are from when his parents used to attend the school, Junior gets angry due to the fact that the reservation is too poor to afford new textbooks, and throws his textbook at the teacher, Mr. P, breaking his nose. Later that day Mr. P talks to Junior and tells him that a lot of the Native Americans on the reservation seem to give up easily, and that he doesn't want Junior to lose his potential and give in to the reservation. -
Realization
After hearing out Mr. P, Junior goes to his parents and asks if he can attend Reardan High School. Reardan being a rich white town. His parents are surprised at first, and then agree to his proposition. -
Vexation
Junior goes to his best friend, Rowdy, and informs him that he is going to attend Reardan High School. Instead of being proud and supportive, Rowdy gets exasperated and begins to insult Junior, calling him a traitor. -
Retaliation
After being shut down by one of the teachers for answering a question, a fellow student stands up for Arnold, proving Arnold's answer to the teacher correct. This student was named Gordy. -
Induction
Junior attends Reardan High School. / Junior develops a crush on the most popular and "perfect" girl at the school, Penelope. He also encounters racism, being called "Chief" by a jock named Roger, alongside other awful slurs. After being fed up with the racial slurs, Jr. punches Roger in the nose, making him back off and walk away. -
Companionship
After speaking about respect, Jr. goes to Roger and talks to him. Saying he wants to be friends. -
Continuation
Jr. joins the basketball team after being suggested by Roger. A few months go by and Junior's grandmother is hit and killed by a drunk driver. This causes Junior to lose faith in everything and want to give up. -
Revelation
After returning to Reardan he gets notified by a teacher that his sister had passed away. -
The End
After beating the Wellpinit Reservation in the basketball game, Junior feels remorse. A year later Rowdy goes to Junior's house and the two talk. They eventually play a game of basketball and talk about the future. Rowdy says that Junior will get far, and comments about a book he read. He compares Junior to older nomadic Native Americans.
