Sherman Alexie’s website reported recently that The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the winner of the 2008 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and all-around fantastic read, has been banned in a high school in Prineville, Oregon. A quick Google Maps search shows that Prineville is approximately 370 miles from Spokane, WA, where Alexie’s story takes place. The school – Crook County High – included Part-Time Indian in its freshman English curriculum until the father of one of the students picked it up and was “shocked” by its content. Read about this act of censorship here and if you haven’t read the book, read Christy’s original review and then stop by The Loft to pick up a copy – we have about 3 on hand. (Jarrett, The Loft)
Update:
The Crook County school board voted by a count of 4-1 recently to continue the classroom ban on the book, but has agreed to make it available to students in the school library.
Note: Part-Time Indian just won the 2009 Odyssey Award for the best audiobook produced for young adults in English in the United States.
