The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Summary

The protagonist, Arnold Spirit Jr. - known as Junior - narrates his life from his Spokane Reservation home, where he was born with too much cerebral spinal fluid. Despite this condition causing a lisp, stutter, and seizures, he fights through and lives, despite being bullied by others on the "rez." Junior finds solace in his best friend Rowdy, his artwork, and dreams of a better life beyond the reservation, although Rowdy's violent streak and his alcoholic parents pose additional challenges. His sister, Mary, spends her time isolated in the basement, which worries him.

An incident involving an outdated textbook leads to Junior's suspension from his school, Wellpinit High. His teacher, Mr. P, visits him at home, apologizing and advising him to leave the reservation for better opportunities. Junior decides to heed his advice and enrolls in an all-white school, Reardan, located twenty-two miles away. His transition is challenging, and his old friends, including Rowdy, feel betrayed. However, he gains new friends and even a girlfriend, Penelope, and manages to earn respect through his actions. Meanwhile, his sister, Mary, marries a poker player and moves away without a farewell.

The last part of Junior's high school life is marked by a mixture of successes and tragedies. Junior makes it onto the Reardan basketball team, but his return to Wellpinit results in hostility and physical harm. Tragedies also strike; his grandmother is killed by a drunk driver, a family friend is shot over a wine dispute, and he loses his sister in a fire. Despite these hardships, Junior completes the school year with a decent report card and vows never to drink. The story concludes with Rowdy visiting Junior, and the two friends playing basketball in the summer heat, indicating hope for healing and reconciliation.