Multiple Perspectives: Literature Written in Blood
With all of the mature issues presented to Arthur, some teachers and parents may fear that The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is too advanced in content for young adults to manage. It discusses many issues beyond the previously discussed issues of alcoholism, poverty, and oppression; it also explores issues of racism, sexuality, death, and eating disorders. And, with Sherman Alexie as the author, rarely are these issues dealt with delicately. However, Alexie’s article Why the Best Kid’s Books Are Written in Blood addresses this fear as being too little, too late.
Alexie asserts that children and young adults have already encountered several of these issues in their own lives and do not need to be protected by adult censors. Young adults have probably had similar experience and need their own experiences to be validated in diverse literature, or need to learn about the world outside their own likely privileged world.
Alexie believes that he is not exposing young adults to new material. Young adults already know about these issues. Some have lived through these issues. Some are living through them as they read Alexie’s book. Thus, young adults cannot be protected from the issues Alexie presents in his young adult books, nor do they need to be protected. Young adults will experience what they experience, and Alexie asserts that books need to be “written in blood” in order for readers to relate to the characters and story. Books need to be authentic, real, and raw, and written in blood, because these young adults are likely bleeding themselves.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is written in blood because it addresses true and powerful issues that many young adult readers will relate to – death, poverty, loneliness, alcoholism, eating disorders, and racism. Alexie says, “there are millions of teens who read because they are sad and lonely and enraged. They read because they live in an often-terrible world. They read because they believe, despite the callow protestations of certain adults, that books-especially the dark and dangerous ones-will save them” (2011). Alexie’s piece is powerful enough, with all of its complex and heavy issues, to save its readers.
Alexie asserts that children and young adults have already encountered several of these issues in their own lives and do not need to be protected by adult censors. Young adults have probably had similar experience and need their own experiences to be validated in diverse literature, or need to learn about the world outside their own likely privileged world.
Alexie believes that he is not exposing young adults to new material. Young adults already know about these issues. Some have lived through these issues. Some are living through them as they read Alexie’s book. Thus, young adults cannot be protected from the issues Alexie presents in his young adult books, nor do they need to be protected. Young adults will experience what they experience, and Alexie asserts that books need to be “written in blood” in order for readers to relate to the characters and story. Books need to be authentic, real, and raw, and written in blood, because these young adults are likely bleeding themselves.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is written in blood because it addresses true and powerful issues that many young adult readers will relate to – death, poverty, loneliness, alcoholism, eating disorders, and racism. Alexie says, “there are millions of teens who read because they are sad and lonely and enraged. They read because they live in an often-terrible world. They read because they believe, despite the callow protestations of certain adults, that books-especially the dark and dangerous ones-will save them” (2011). Alexie’s piece is powerful enough, with all of its complex and heavy issues, to save its readers.