illustration of main character, Junior, holding a basketball and looking over his shoulder

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

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Student Question

How old was Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian when he started wearing eyeglasses?

Quick answer:

Junior started wearing eyeglasses at the age of three due to being nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. He faced multiple physical challenges from birth, including hydrocephalus, requiring surgery at six months, and later developed other issues such as having extra teeth and experiencing seizures. These conditions made him a target for bullying on the reservation, with his thick, black-rimmed glasses often ridiculed.

Expert Answers

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In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Junior started wearing eyeglasses when he was just three years old.  Ever since birth, Junior suffered from physical ailments, the most immediate being hydrocephalus.  He had surgery when he was only six months old. From there, other physical problems surfaced, including him being nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other, causing him to start wearing glasses at three years old.  When Junior's teeth finally came in, he ended up with 42, which is 10 more than standard.  In addition to these, Junior also suffers seizures.  As a result, Junior is often bullied on the reservation.  The glasses that he wears are thick and rimmed in black plastic, which others think look funny.  So, Junior has worn glasses since the age of three.

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