The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a novel about Junior, a poor kid who grows up on a reservation in Washington state. Maybe because much of the book mirrors Alexie’s life, it seems like a memoir.

Alexie’s book is at turns touching, funny, and tragic. Junior, the protagonist, is not only poor and outcast by friends and family, but he is also bullied constantly. You will find yourself cheering and empathizing with the bookish underdog that is Junior; who despite his deficits and challenges, manages to live life pretty much like anyone else.