In the YouTube video called “PEN Banned Books Week Google Hangout on the Air with Sherman Alexie,” PEN representative Deji Olukotun and American Library Association Office Director Barbara Jones interview Sherman Alexie. This video highlights authors whose books have been banned; therefore, Sherman Alexie is a guest for this interview. Olukotun and Jones ask him a series of questions about his novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. In the interview, there are three intriguing questions: Do people feel uncomfortable discussing and dealing with Native American issues? Does the controversy surrounding your works change the way you write? What is your goal for writing YA books? Alexie’s response to the first question surprised me because most people are uncomfortable with discussing the issues of other minorities. For example, if a person is Irish-American, he or she may feel uncomfortable and unqualified to discuss the issues of a Native American or African American because he or she does not identify with the minority. On the other hand,
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Jones continues to the second question, “Does the controversy surrounding your works change the way you write?” In Google Hangout with Sherman Alexie, Alexie says in that he does not change the way writes his stories nor does he seek to be controversial. He writes about his thoughts, feelings, and experiences. He points out that the opposition to “True Diary,” along with its banning in schools, comes from the conservative towns that he wants to celebrate. Schools like Rearden in “True Diary” illustrate the school districts that banned his books. Surprisingly, “True Diary” celebrates the way conservatives support Junior, an Indian liberal, and help him find success. Personally, I respect Alexie because he writes from a place of honesty. He does not sugar-coat the truth about his childhood and adulthood as a Native American. Furthermore, I appreciate his willingness to address the issues facing young
Jones continues to the second question, “Does the controversy surrounding your works change the way you write?” In Google Hangout with Sherman Alexie, Alexie says in that he does not change the way writes his stories nor does he seek to be controversial. He writes about his thoughts, feelings, and experiences. He points out that the opposition to “True Diary,” along with its banning in schools, comes from the conservative towns that he wants to celebrate. Schools like Rearden in “True Diary” illustrate the school districts that banned his books. Surprisingly, “True Diary” celebrates the way conservatives support Junior, an Indian liberal, and help him find success. Personally, I respect Alexie because he writes from a place of honesty. He does not sugar-coat the truth about his childhood and adulthood as a Native American. Furthermore, I appreciate his willingness to address the issues facing young