The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by

Sherman Alexie

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Diary of a Part-Time Indian makes teaching easy.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Chapter 19 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
In another happy letter, Mary tells Junior that although she hasn’t been able to find a job yet, she has begun to write her life story, entitled “How to Run Away From Your House and Find Your Home.”
Mary’s decision to write her life story means she’s finally pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but it’s also a metaphor for her decision to take control of her own life.
Themes
Identity, Belonging, and Coming-of-Age Theme Icon
Hope, Dreams, and Loss Theme Icon
Drawing, Writing, and Junior’s Cartoons Theme Icon
Mary encloses a photo of her “gorgeous new place,” an aluminum trailer that Junior, who reproduces it in cartoon form, thinks “looks like a TV dinner tray.”
In some ways, Mary’s happiness seems delusional, as her reality doesn’t match her “gorgeous” dream, even though she thinks it does. On the other hand, she’s found a lot of joy in a life that doesn’t seem very glorious, proving that finding your dream isn’t so unattainable after all.
Themes
Overlapping Opposites Theme Icon
Hope, Dreams, and Loss Theme Icon
Drawing, Writing, and Junior’s Cartoons Theme Icon