One could easily believe that Alexie’s novel shows kids …show more content…
Middle school aged children are known for the main source of bullying problems, that seems to be the prime time for the bullying issues to start. “The majority of participants were classified as bullies, victims, and bully-victims as 70% of the participants re- ported involvement with bullying and/or victimization during their middle school years” (Swearer and Cary). I believe that in middle school children are starting to have to deal with friendship and even relationship issues. Seventh and eighth grade in my opinion is a tough age to be dealing with bullying issues then read this book and think well Arnold is getting bullied so that’s what supposed to happen in middle school. This book may make a kid feel helpless and nothing can be done. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian also talks about Arnold getting bullied with racist jokes throughout the book. Alexie writes, “I know, I know, but some Indians think you have to act white to make your life better. Some Indians think you become white if you try to make your life better, if you become successful” (131). This shows that children are to assume race comes from how you act or who you hang out with. I believe this is giving children the wrong impression, saying race is not about what you were born into rather than a social category. This may lead to children believing they have to act like their peers to try to fit in, like Arnold being a part-time Indian while attending the all-white school off the