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Written from the heart, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” takes a brutally honest, sometimes raunchy look at life on and off the Spokane Indian reservation.

We see the world through the eyes of a 14-year-old misfit, Arnold Spirit. The precocious student is riding hormonal waves toward a sketchy future. His zest for life is captured through witty cartoons (drawn playfully by Ellen Forney) and his emotionally heart-tugging, sometimes zany journal entries.

Sherman Alexie’s semi-autobiographical book is a fun read. It’s the kind of book that makes brain cells do backflips.

The entertaining coming-of-age tale, sometimes funny, sometimes profane, shines light on the risks of being different.

The young hero fails to fit in either the reservation or the white man’s world.

To achieve his full potential he must break the cycle of alcoholism and premature death that grips the reservation.

Leaving the reservation to study at a nearby white high school, Arnold “Junior” risks being shunned by his fellow Indians.

If he stays, he risks sacrificing gifts on the Dumpster fire of substance abuse.

Moments of youthful heroism — whether in the classroom or on the basketball court — too often turn to an adulthood of desperation and despair.

Alexie shines a light on the heartbreaking, tragic, darker side of life.

The story takes the reader back to high school days, the struggle of yearning to be different and unique yet wanting to fit in with classmates and the latest trends.

Arnold feels the pain of being shunned in both worlds.

The author displays writer’s gifts for metaphor and linguistic gymnastics as the fast-paced book unfolds. Authentic, energetic dialogue captures the outlook of a nerdy 14-year-old seeking his place in a perplexing, often unkind world.

With spirit, Alexie captures the dilemmas a young teen faces fitting into two very opposed cultures.

Alexie hits on themes of grief, redemption, friendship, family, betrayal, bullying and violence.

A rich vein of humor — from loony to deadpan — runs through the book.

The main character is likable. The reader roots for him to succeed in the white man’s world while staying connected to his red roots.

A richly evocative sense of place emerges in “The Absolutely True Diary.” Picturesque hills, pines and lakes bely the emotional turmoil in the human geography.

Not everyone is an Alexie fan. A decade after the book was published, the author was caught in allegations of sexual harassment. Yet the controversy fails to diminish the importance of this book in the annals of Northwest literature.

Arnold Spirit’s big brain and open heart are forces to behold as he perseveres, displaying an against-all-odds resilience rowing turbulent waters.