the Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The book, The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, so far is about a Indian boy named Junior, who goes through medical issues and poverty with his family. He lives on the "Rez" a neighborhood where only people of color are living. He has a best friend named Rowdy, who he claims to communicate more with, rather than his older sibling. Within this book, there are some social issues that the author points out.  Some social issues include; poverty, racism, and friendship struggles. These issues are hinted out through Junior's life being in the Rez and transferring schools that is another neighborhood.
     One of the ways that the author shows poverty within this books is when Junior's dad drives him to school and drops him off. During that scene, Junior's father gives him lunch money, however, Junior mentions the fact that he is always getting free lunch. He also refers to himself as a "Only Indian and a sad sack who needed charity." This shows how Junior and his family are going through poverty. Not to mention the fact that they may have to pay medical bills because of Junior's medical problems that he is having with his brain, along with the seizures that he is having "at least 2 times per week." In addition, there was a moment when there was an image comparing what a white person would wear and what he wears. This image also relates to how the author points out racism in this book. Anyways, he described himself wearing a "K mart t-shirt, sears blue jeans, garbage book bag, and canvas tennis shoes", the way he describes it though is as if the outfit is outdated because he even mentions that where his school is located is "hope."
     One way that the author shows a sign of racism was through the image of what he is wearing in comparison to what a typical white person is wearing as described in the above paragraph. Furthermore, there was a scene where Junior decides to transfer schools. He later learns that the school is in a white neighborhood. He breaks the news to his friend Rowdy, who then is devastated and yells at Junior saying that he would rather be with white people rather than his best friend, who is indian. He even punches Junior, but then is forced to face the facts that he is moving.
    In conclusion, this book points out that poverty and racism are issues within Earth and those issues are used in Junior's life. These issues are very hard to deal with because they are found almost everywhere you go and the way the author expresses these issues within this book gives me a good glimpse of what some people could be going through with their life.