The absolute true diary of a part time Indian study guide #3

1. How is Mary's life on the Flathead Reservation similar to and different from Junior's life?

Mary lives on the Flathead Reservation in Montana, where Indians still ride horses and live alongside white people. Her husband has some money, unlike Junior's family.

2. What does Mary's email reveal about her new life?

Mary is happy living with her husband in Montana and is starting a new life away from the Spokane Reservation.

3. Why does Junior think about Rowdy on Thanksgiving?

Junior misses Rowdy because they used to have pumpkin pie-eating contests every Thanksgiving.

4. What does Junior give Rowdy on Thanksgiving, and why?

Junior draws Rowdy a cartoon because he misses their friendship, even though Rowdy is still angry with him.

5. What eating disorder does Penelope have, and how does Junior discover it?

Penelope has bulimia. Junior discovers her vomiting in the school bathroom.

6. Why does Penelope feel unhappy despite being popular?

Penelope looks beautiful and successful on the outside, but she feels lonely and wants to escape her life.

7. How are Penelope and Junior using each other?

Penelope turns to Junior because she feels lonely, while Junior gains popularity and acceptance at Reardan by dating her.

8. What does Penelope mean when she says, "I want to leave as soon as I can. I think I was born with a suitcase"?

She wants to leave her hometown and experience a different life because she feels trapped and unhappy.

9. Why does Junior ask Rowdy for advice about Penelope?

Junior wants advice about his feelings for Penelope, even though his friendship with Rowdy is damaged.

10. What does Rowdy tell Junior about Penelope?

Rowdy warns Junior that Penelope might be interested in him because he is Native American, showing Rowdy's anger and concern about stereotypes.

11. Why is Junior embarrassed about his clothes at the winter formal?

Junior wears his father's old suit because his family cannot afford to buy him a new one.

12. What happens when Junior goes out to eat after the dance?

Junior cannot afford to pay for the food, and Roger helps by covering the bill.

13. How do Penelope and Roger react when they discover Junior is poor?

Penelope worries about how Junior will get home, and Roger helps him with money instead of making fun of him.

14. What does Junior learn when he says, "If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing"?

He learns that opening up to people allows them to understand, accept, and help him.

15. What does Junior email Rowdy, and how does Rowdy respond?

Junior emails Rowdy a smiling picture of himself, and Rowdy replies with a picture of his butt.

16. Why does Rowdy's email make Junior laugh?

Junior laughs because the joke is typical of Rowdy, and it reminds him how much he misses their friendship.

17. What does Gordy say about being an individual and belonging to a community?

Gordy says life is a constant balance between being yourself and belonging to a group. It is never just one or the other.

18. What are the main themes of these chapters?

Friendship, poverty, identity, loneliness, acceptance, and hope. Junior struggles between two communities while learning to trust others.

19. What happens when Reardan plays Wellpinit in basketball?

Junior faces Rowdy, his former best friend, during a game between his new school, Reardan, and his old school, Wellpinit. Rowdy elbows Junior in the head, sending him to the hospital.