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* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: [[spoiler:Two of Arnold's family members and his dad's best friend die in alcohol-related incidents. Grandmother Spirit gets run over by a drunk driver, Eugene gets shot by his best friend Bobby over the last sip from a wine bottle, and Mary (and her husband) burn to death in their trailer after someone heats up soup on a hot plate, forgets about it, and a gust from an open window knocks the hot plate onto the ground.]]
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* ContemptibleCover: The book itself doesn't have one, but the trope is discussed. Mary likes to read romance novels about love affairs between virginal white schoolteachers/preacher’s wives and half-breed Indian warriors. Arnold draws an example of a cover for such a book, featuring a swooning woman (with very visible cleavage) in the arms of a muscular Indian wearing a stereotypical feathered headband.
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* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Grandmother Spirit, Mary, and Eugene die (in three separate alcohol-related accidents), but Arnold survives his first year at Reardan High, earns the respect and friendship of his white classmates, and repairs his friendship with Rowdy.]]
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Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
* AbridgedForChildren: An edition of the book published by Scholastic omits an incident of racist language and refers to it simply as "a joke involving Indians, African-Americans, and buffalo."
to:
* AbridgedForChildren: An edition of the book published by Scholastic omits an incident of racist language (“Did you know that Indians are living proof that niggers fuck buffalo?”) and refers to it simply as "a joke involving Indians, African-Americans, and buffalo."
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* ShootTheDog: Arnold's dog Oscar gets sick very early in the book, and since they can't afford to heal him,
to:
* ShootTheDog: Arnold's dog Oscar gets sick very early in the book, and since they can't afford to heal him, take him to the vet, the only thing they can do is take him out back and [[MercyKill shoot him.]]
* SignatureLaugh: Arnold likes to hear Rowdy laugh (although he doesn't laugh often), describing it as "an avalanche of ha-ha and ho-ho and hee-hee."
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* WhamLine: Arnold starts talking about his grandmother and then casually says that [[spoiler:she hit by a drunk driver and didn't survive.]]
to:
* WhamLine: Arnold starts talking about his grandmother and then casually says that [[spoiler:she was hit by a drunk driver and didn't survive.]]
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* DontLookAtMe: Rowdy hates it when Arnold tries to draw him.
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* AgeGapRomance: Arnold's parents met when his father was five and his mother was thirteen.
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* LampshadedDoubleEntendre: Arnold's dad tells Junior how his mom used to help him get a drink from the water fountain when they were kids, then remarks, "Your mother helped me get a drink from the water fountain last night, if you know what I mean," disgusting Junior.
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Cleaning up ZCE
Changed line(s) 10,13 (click to see context) from:
* TheAlcoholic: Arnold's dad. Arnold's mom is a recovering alcoholic. He comments that almost ''everyone'' on the rez is an alcoholic.
* AuthorAvatar: Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
* BadassNative: Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
* BaseballEpisode: Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
* AuthorAvatar: Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
* BadassNative: Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
* BaseballEpisode: Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
to:
* TheAlcoholic: Arnold's dad.dad has such a bad drinking problem that he abandons his family ''on Christmas Eve'' and uses the little money they have to binge-drink until January 2. Arnold's mom is a recovering alcoholic. He comments that almost ''everyone'' on the rez is an alcoholic.
* AuthorAvatar: Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a whiteschool.
school, much like Arnold.
%% * BadassNative: Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for oneday.
* BaseballEpisode: Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...day.
* AuthorAvatar: Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white
%% * BadassNative: Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one
* BaseballEpisode: Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
Changed line(s) 15,17 (click to see context) from:
* BerserkButton: Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Arnold and Rowdy.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Arnold and Rowdy.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
to:
%% * BerserkButton: Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Arnold is socially awkward but highly intelligent, andRowdy.
Rowdy is the toughest kid on the reservation who beats up people just to get his anger out, and frequently defended Arnold from bullies by beating them up.
%% * TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Arnold is socially awkward but highly intelligent, and
%% * TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
Changed line(s) 22,23 (click to see context) from:
* ItMakesSenseInContext: Some of Arnold's drawings, including the "Pancakes of Doom," "Gordy (+ Metaphysical Boner)" and the "Invisible Mountain Gorilla Scientist."
* KidsAreCruel: A regular theme.
* KidsAreCruel: A regular theme.
to:
%% * ItMakesSenseInContext: Some of Arnold's drawings, including the "Pancakes of Doom," "Gordy (+ Metaphysical Boner)" and the "Invisible Mountain Gorilla Scientist."
* KidsAreCruel:A regular theme.Arnold's interactions with other children are rarely wholly positive. At best they condescend him, and at worst they beat the shit out of him and mock his disability.
* KidsAreCruel:
Changed line(s) 26,28 (click to see context) from:
* MeaningfulName: Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
* MusclesAreMeaningless
* NerdGlasses
* MusclesAreMeaningless
* NerdGlasses
to:
%% * MeaningfulName: Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
%% * MusclesAreMeaningless
%% * NerdGlasses
%% * MusclesAreMeaningless
%% * NerdGlasses
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* RedOniBlueOni: Rowdy is the red to Junior's blue.
to:
%% * RedOniBlueOni: Rowdy is the red to Junior's blue.
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* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Tautology!
* ShootTheDog: Literally.
* ShoutOut: Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat: Likely Ted Nugent.
* ShootTheDog: Literally.
* ShoutOut: Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat: Likely Ted Nugent.
to:
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Tautology!
Gordy has a vocabulary that Arnold finds better suited to a college professor than a high school freshman.
* ShootTheDog:Literally.
Arnold's dog Oscar gets sick very early in the book, and since they can't afford to heal him,
%% * ShoutOut: Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat:Likely During [[spoiler:Grandmother Spirit]]'s wake, a man referred to as "Billionaire Ted" makes a fool of himself by boasting about how much he loves the Indians and trying to return a stolen powwow dance outfit he purchased, only for Arnold's mom to tell him it was made by a totally different tribe, causing him to flee in humiliation. The illustration and discussions of his wealth suggest this could be Ted Nugent.
* ShootTheDog:
%% * ShoutOut: Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat:
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* AbridgedForChildren: An edition of the book published by Scholastic omits an incident of racist language and refers to it simply as "a joke involving Indians, African-Americans, and buffalo."
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* NoodleIncident: A Scholastic edition describes a racist joke told to Arnold [[spoiler: which provokes him to punch the JerkAss who tells it]] as "involving Indians, African-Americans, and buffalo" rather than repeating it.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
* DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler:Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
to:
* DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler:Arnold's dog, his father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:Arnold's grandmother's last words are to ask her family to forgive the man that ran her over. Arnold is surprised and shocked that even to the end, his grandmother was still kind and selfless even towards her killer.]]
* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:Arnold's grandmother's last words are to ask her family to forgive the man that ran her over. Arnold is surprised and shocked that even to the end, his grandmother was still kind and selfless even towards her killer.]]
* KickTheDog: After [[spoiler:Arnold's grandmother dies]], Arnold loses the motivation to go the school for quite a while. When he returns, one of his teachers puts him down as one of those kids that like skipping school. [[spoiler:Arnold's classmates aren't having it.]]
Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* RacistGrandma: Inverted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
to:
* RacistGrandma: Inverted, since as Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
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* WhamLine: Arnold starts talking about his grandmother and then casually says that [[spoiler:she hit by a drunk driver and didn't survive.]]
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to:
* AbusiveParents: Rowdy’s dad physically abuses him on a regular basis.
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Do not spoiler tag trope names on work pages or the names of works on trope pages; please see Handling Spoilers for more information.
Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
* [[spoiler:DeathByNewberyMedal: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
to:
* [[spoiler:DeathByNewberyMedal: Arnold's DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler:Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
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What The Hell Dad is being cut per TRS. Examples will be cut or moved to related tropes where appropriate.
Deleted line(s) 35 (click to see context) :
* WhatTheHellDad: Arnold Spirit Sr.
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* NobleSavage: Discussed and ultimately deconstructed by Arnold -- he hates his family's poverty, and says that while they didn't have technology, that didn't mean they were perfectly happy the way they were and had a contempt for technology.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0cd66e0b44a1abdc7c2e35aa876ce8b5.jpg]]
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!!This book provides us examples of the following:
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Earlier in the book, Junior mentions he is very good at masturbating.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Earlier in the book, Junior mentions he is very good at masturbating.
to:
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Earlier in the book, Junior mentions he is very good at masturbating.
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* ADateWithRosiePalms: Early in the book, Junior mentions he is very good at masturbating.
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Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
* ComputerWars: Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
to:
* ComputerWars: UsefulNotes/ComputerWars: Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
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* ItMakesSenseInContext: Some of Arnold's drawings, including the "Pancakes of Doom," "Gordy (+ Metaphysical Boner)" and the "Invisible Mountain Gorilla Scientist."
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Gordy says he has a "boner" for books.
to:
* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Gordy says he has a "boner" for books. However, he later reveals that he uses it to mean "joy."
-->'''Junior:''' Did you just think books should give me a ''boner''?
-->'''Gordy:''' Yes, I did.
-->'''Junior:''' Are you '''serious?'''
-->'''Gordy:''' Yeah... Don't you get excited about books?
-->'''Junior:''' I don't think you're supposed to get ''that'' excited about books.
-->'''Junior:''' Did you just think books should give me a ''boner''?
-->'''Gordy:''' Yes, I did.
-->'''Junior:''' Are you '''serious?'''
-->'''Gordy:''' Yeah... Don't you get excited about books?
-->'''Junior:''' I don't think you're supposed to get ''that'' excited about books.
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* ADateWithRosiePalms: Earlier in the book, Junior mentions he is very good at masturbating.
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* RedOniBlueOni: Rowdy is the red to Junior's blue.
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Changed line(s) 3 (click to see context) from:
That is the world of Arnold Spirit Jr. in Sherman Alexie's ''The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian''.
to:
That is the world of Arnold Spirit Jr. in Sherman Alexie's Creator/ShermanAlexie's ''The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian''.
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Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Boner.
to:
* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Boner.Gordy says he has a "boner" for books.
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Changed line(s) 22,23 (click to see context) from:
* RacistGrandma: Averted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
* RomanceNovel: Parodied and deconstructed.
* RomanceNovel: Parodied and deconstructed.
to:
* RacistGrandma: Averted, Inverted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
* RomanceNovel: Parodiedand deconstructed.with Mary's romance novels.
* RomanceNovel: Parodied
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Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* MagicalQueer: Outright stated.
to:
* MagicalQueer: Outright stated.Discussed, when Junior says that Indians used to think this.
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Changed line(s) 31 (click to see context) from:
* TheWorfEffect: Junior punches JerkJock Roger and gives him a bloody nose. He expects to get his ass kicked, but Roger just stares at him in shock. His cronies are too afraid to touch the kid. Later {{Lampshaded}} by his grandma when Junior goes to her for advice
to:
* TheWorfEffect: Junior punches JerkJock Roger and gives him a bloody nose. He expects to get his ass kicked, but Roger just stares at him in shock. His cronies are too afraid to touch the kid. Later {{Lampshaded}} by his grandma when Junior goes to her for adviceadvice.
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Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again.
to:
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again. again.
* TheWorfEffect: Junior punches JerkJock Roger and gives him a bloody nose. He expects to get his ass kicked, but Roger just stares at him in shock. His cronies are too afraid to touch the kid. Later {{Lampshaded}} by his grandma when Junior goes to her for advice
* TheWorfEffect: Junior punches JerkJock Roger and gives him a bloody nose. He expects to get his ass kicked, but Roger just stares at him in shock. His cronies are too afraid to touch the kid. Later {{Lampshaded}} by his grandma when Junior goes to her for advice
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Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
* DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
to:
* DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler: [[spoiler:DeathByNewberyMedal: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
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Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
Imagine you're an Indian. No, not a MemeticBadass or MagicalNativeAmerican. No, imagine you're born with hydrocephaly, ten extra teeth, and you've had glasses since age 3. And you have a lisp and stutter even in high school. Now imagine you go to a white school. And your reservation friends hate you for it. And even there, you're smarter than the teachers.
to:
Imagine you're an American Indian. No, not a MemeticBadass or MagicalNativeAmerican. No, imagine you're born with hydrocephaly, ten extra teeth, and you've had glasses since age 3. And you have a lisp and stutter even in high school. Now imagine you go to a white school. And your reservation friends hate you for it. And even there, you're smarter than the teachers.
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Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
Imagine you're an Indian. No, not a MemeticBadass or MagicalNativeAmerican. No, imagine you're born with hydrocephalus, ten extra teeth, and you've had glasses since age 3. And you have a lisp and stutter even in high school. Now imagine you go to a white school. And your reservation friends hate you for it. And even there, you're smarter than the teachers.
to:
Imagine you're an Indian. No, not a MemeticBadass or MagicalNativeAmerican. No, imagine you're born with hydrocephalus, hydrocephaly, ten extra teeth, and you've had glasses since age 3. And you have a lisp and stutter even in high school. Now imagine you go to a white school. And your reservation friends hate you for it. And even there, you're smarter than the teachers.
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Changed line(s) 7,19 (click to see context) from:
* TheAlcoholic - Arnold's dad. Arnold's mom is a recovering alcoholic. He comments that almost ''everyone'' on the rez is an alcoholic.
* AuthorAvatar - Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
* BadassNative - Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
* BaseballEpisode - Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
* TheBeautifulElite - Penelope. Not really "evil" like they usually are, just seriously messed up.
* BerserkButton - Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
* BrainsAndBrawn - Arnold and Rowdy.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong - There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
* ComputerWars - Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
* DeathByNewberyMedal - [[spoiler: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
* KidsAreCruel - A regular theme.
* MagicalQueer - Outright stated.
* MeaningfulName - Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
* AuthorAvatar - Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
* BadassNative - Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
* BaseballEpisode - Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
* TheBeautifulElite - Penelope. Not really "evil" like they usually are, just seriously messed up.
* BerserkButton - Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
* BrainsAndBrawn - Arnold and Rowdy.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong - There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
* ComputerWars - Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
* DeathByNewberyMedal - [[spoiler: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
* KidsAreCruel - A regular theme.
* MagicalQueer - Outright stated.
* MeaningfulName - Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
to:
* TheAlcoholic - TheAlcoholic: Arnold's dad. Arnold's mom is a recovering alcoholic. He comments that almost ''everyone'' on the rez is an alcoholic.
*AuthorAvatar - AuthorAvatar: Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
*BadassNative - BadassNative: Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
*BaseballEpisode - BaseballEpisode: Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
*TheBeautifulElite - TheBeautifulElite: Penelope. Not really "evil" like they usually are, just seriously messed up.
*BerserkButton - BerserkButton: Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
*BrainsAndBrawn - BrainsAndBrawn: Arnold and Rowdy.
*TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong - TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
*ComputerWars - ComputerWars: Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
*DeathByNewberyMedal - DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
*KidsAreCruel - KidsAreCruel: A regular theme.
*MagicalQueer - MagicalQueer: Outright stated.
*MeaningfulName - MeaningfulName: Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Changed line(s) 22,27 (click to see context) from:
* RacistGrandma - Averted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
* RomanceNovel - Parodied and deconstructed.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness - Tautology!
* ShootTheDog - Literally.
* ShoutOut - Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat - Likely Ted Nugent.
* RomanceNovel - Parodied and deconstructed.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness - Tautology!
* ShootTheDog - Literally.
* ShoutOut - Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat - Likely Ted Nugent.
to:
* RacistGrandma - RacistGrandma: Averted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
*RomanceNovel - RomanceNovel: Parodied and deconstructed.
*SesquipedalianLoquaciousness - SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Tautology!
*ShootTheDog - ShootTheDog: Literally.
*ShoutOut - ShoutOut: Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
*TakeThat - TakeThat: Likely Ted Nugent.
*
*
*
*
*
Changed line(s) 29,31 (click to see context) from:
* WhatTheHellDad - Arnold Spirit Sr.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse - Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again.
* YouKeepUsingThatWord - Boner.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse - Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again.
* YouKeepUsingThatWord - Boner.
to:
* WhatTheHellDad - WhatTheHellDad: Arnold Spirit Sr.
*WhatHappenedToTheMouse - WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again.
*YouKeepUsingThatWord - YouKeepUsingThatWord: Boner.
*
*
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Imagine you're an Indian. No, not a MemeticBadass or MagicalNativeAmerican. No, imagine you're born with hydrocephalus, ten extra teeth, and you've had glasses since age 3. And you have a lisp and stutter even in high school. Now imagine you go to a white school. And your reservation friends hate you for it. And even there, you're smarter than the teachers.
That is the world of Arnold Spirit Jr. in Sherman Alexie's ''The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian''.
----
!!This book provides us examples of the following:
* TheAlcoholic - Arnold's dad. Arnold's mom is a recovering alcoholic. He comments that almost ''everyone'' on the rez is an alcoholic.
* AuthorAvatar - Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
* BadassNative - Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
* BaseballEpisode - Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
* TheBeautifulElite - Penelope. Not really "evil" like they usually are, just seriously messed up.
* BerserkButton - Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
* BrainsAndBrawn - Arnold and Rowdy.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong - There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
* ComputerWars - Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
* DeathByNewberyMedal - [[spoiler: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
* KidsAreCruel - A regular theme.
* MagicalQueer - Outright stated.
* MeaningfulName - Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
* MusclesAreMeaningless
* NerdGlasses
* RacistGrandma - Averted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
* RomanceNovel - Parodied and deconstructed.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness - Tautology!
* ShootTheDog - Literally.
* ShoutOut - Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat - Likely Ted Nugent.
* TraumaCongaLine: [[spoiler:The death of Arnold's grandmother, followed by that of Eugene and Arnold's sister. Given that all these deaths involved alcohol and the frequency he attends funerals, he extends this one to his entire people.]]
* WhatTheHellDad - Arnold Spirit Sr.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse - Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again.
* YouKeepUsingThatWord - Boner.
----
That is the world of Arnold Spirit Jr. in Sherman Alexie's ''The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian''.
----
!!This book provides us examples of the following:
* TheAlcoholic - Arnold's dad. Arnold's mom is a recovering alcoholic. He comments that almost ''everyone'' on the rez is an alcoholic.
* AuthorAvatar - Sherman Alexie had hydrocephalus as a kid, and went to a white school.
* BadassNative - Arnold gets to be a MemeticBadass for one day.
* BaseballEpisode - Technically ''basketball'' episode, but still...
* TheBeautifulElite - Penelope. Not really "evil" like they usually are, just seriously messed up.
* BerserkButton - Do ''not'' remind Arnold that he's poor.
* BrainsAndBrawn - Arnold and Rowdy.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong - There's a scene in a science class that plays this straight.
* ComputerWars - Dear God, don't get Gordy started on Mac vs. PC.
* DeathByNewberyMedal - [[spoiler: Arnold's dog, father's best friend, grandmother, and romance novel loving sister do not survive the novel. Heck, the ShootTheDog moment happened at the beginning of the novel.]]
* KidsAreCruel - A regular theme.
* MagicalQueer - Outright stated.
* MeaningfulName - Arnold Spirit. Rowdy. Also, Mary's nickname is Mary Runs Away.
* MusclesAreMeaningless
* NerdGlasses
* RacistGrandma - Averted, since Arnold's grandma is the only character besides Arnold who is tolerant of homosexuals.
* RomanceNovel - Parodied and deconstructed.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness - Tautology!
* ShootTheDog - Literally.
* ShoutOut - Euripides and Tolstoy, among others.
* TakeThat - Likely Ted Nugent.
* TraumaCongaLine: [[spoiler:The death of Arnold's grandmother, followed by that of Eugene and Arnold's sister. Given that all these deaths involved alcohol and the frequency he attends funerals, he extends this one to his entire people.]]
* WhatTheHellDad - Arnold Spirit Sr.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse - Penelope's eating disorder is mentioned once, early in her and Arnold's acquaintance, and it baffles him -- then never comes up again.
* YouKeepUsingThatWord - Boner.
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