Mid Sweden University

This essay presents a postcolonial analysis of Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which explores concepts such as the other, liminality, mimicry and hybridity. These concepts highlight the protagonist’s journey of development as he leaves the Spokane reservation school and starts a predominantly white school in Reardan. The protagonist struggles with racism, social inequality and his divided identity, but also with friends and family relations. This is why the novel is valuable for English 5 in Swedish upper secondary schools as students can relate to Junior’s struggles, as well as explore the perspectives of marginalised groups. Through the method of counter-storytelling students are able to increase their understanding of people from different backgrounds and develop their empathic skills.