“The
Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club” pages 1-6
- Why is Junior a member of ‘the
Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club’?
- Why does Junior draw cartoons? What do the first
two cartoons depict? What does this tell
us about Junior?
“Why Chicken Means So
Much to Me” pages 7-13
1.
What does Junior identify as the worst thing
about being poor?
2.
Arnold says, “And hey, in a weird way, being
hungry makes food taste better” (Alexie 8). What does this statement show us
about Junior?
3.
What happens to Oscar? What does this illustrate
to the reader?
4. How is poverty a cycle for Junior’s family?
5. Use five adjectives to describe Junior’s personality
so far.
“Revenge Is My Middle
Name” pages 15-24
1.
Describe Rowdy and Junior’s relationship. What do
they do for each other?
2.
What is the Spokane Powwow?
3
What does Rowdy do to the Andruss brothers? Why?
What does this demonstrate about his friendship with Junior?
“Because Geometry Is
Not a Country Somewhere Near France” pages
25-31
1. Describe Mr. P.
2. Why is Junior so cynical about white
teachers?
3. What angers Junior about his geometry book?
“Hope
Against Hope” pages 32-43
- Why does Junior throw his geometry book? What does it
signify?
- Why does Mr. P say the
following? “Every white person on this rev should get smashed in the face. But,
let me tell you this. All the Indians should get smashed in the face, too”
(Alexie 40).
- What is Mr. P’s advice to
Junior? Why does he give him this advice
“Go
Means Go” pages 44-47
1.
How do Junior’s parents
react to his decision to change schools? What does this show about them?
“Rowdy Sings the Blues” pages 48-53
- How
are sporting results used to compare the two schools?
- Why
is it significant that Rowdy performed well at most competitions?
- How
does Rowdy react to Junior’s decision to move schools? Why does he react in
this way?
- How does Rowdy disguise his
pain?
“How
to Fight Monsters” pages 54-66
1.
Why is Junior deemed to have
betrayed his tribe?
1.
Describe the cartoon on page
57. What does this symbolize about Junior’s insecurities?
1.
How does the confusion over
Junior’s names demonstrate his change in culture?
1.
How do the students react to
Junior at Reardan?
1.
How could Junior have
reacted to being called names?
1.
How does the fight illustrate
the differences in social codes?
1.
‘Maybe I was telling the
world I was no longer a moving target.’ How is this a significant moment for
Junior?
“Grandmother
Gives Me Some Advice” pages 67-73
- Junior says, “I realized how much of my self-worth, my
sense of safety, was based on Rowdy’s fists” (Alexie 68). How does Junior learn to stand up for himself
- What is Junior’s
grandmother’s advice
“Tears
of a Clown” pages 74-76
1.
What does Junior’s story about
Dawn illustrate to the reader?
Halloween” pages
77-81
- How does Junior try
to establish a connection with Penelope?
- How does trick or treating remind Junior of Rowdy?
”Slouching Toward
Thanksgiving” pages 82-98
- How does the author illustrate Junior’s loneliness?
- What is significant about Junior speaking up in class?
- How does Mr. Dodge reply and how does this make Junior
feel?
- Examine the cartoon of Junior’s journey to school on
p. 88. Contrast this to how you normally get to school.
- What does Mary do? Why?
- How does Junior become friends with Gordy? What do
they have in common?
“My Sister Sends Me
an E-mail” pages 99-100
1.
Summarize Mary’s email in three bullet points.
“Thanksgiving”
pages 101-103
1. Why does Junior think of Rowdy at
Thanksgiving time?
2. Describe the cartoon Junior draws.
3. Why is Rowdy’s respect still so important to Junior?
4.How does Rowdy’s father regard the cartoon?
“Hunger Pains” pages
104-113
- How does Penelope and Junior’s friendship develop?
- How are Penelope and Junior using each other?
- What advice does Junior give Penelope? Is it good
advice?
“Rowdy Gives Me
Advice About Love” pages 114-117
- Why does Junior refer to how ‘white’ Penelope is? What
is the effect of this?
- Gordy claims, “White girls are privileged. They’re
damsels in distress” (Alexie 116). What does this mean?
“Dance, Dance, Dance”
pages 118-129
- Why is the novel called The Absolutely True Diary
of a Part-time Indian?
- Examine the cartoon on p. 120. Analyze each of the
pictures. Why do you think Alexie presents the information in this way?
- How do Penelope and Roger react to Junior’s admission
that he is poor?
- What does Junior learn by the end of the chapter?
“Don’t Trust Your
Computer” pages 130-132
- What does Junior email Rowdy
and how does he reply? Why does this make Junior laugh?
- Why do the people at home call Junior an ‘apple’?
- What does Gordy say about the role of the tribe? How
is this applicable to Junior?
“My Sister Sends Me a
Letter” pages 133-134
1.
What does Junior think of Mary’s ‘gorgeous new
place’?
“Reindeer Games”
pages 135-149
- Why does Junior try out for the basketball
team?
- What happens at try-outs? Why does Junior get in?
- Why does Junior say “it was like something out of
Shakespeare” (Alexie 142) when he discovers their first game is against
Wellpinit?
- What happens when Junior enters the gym? How does he
react? Why?
- What happens during the basketball game? Write a short
news report.
TO BE CONTINUED ....