Students across the state of Maryland have been talking about this year’s One Maryland One Book selection, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie. At 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, in the St. Mary’s College of Maryland library, Brandi Stanton, adjunct professor, will discuss it and the controversy surrounding it in “Words are Too Limited: Banned Books, Ethnic Literatures & Sherman Alexie’s Junior.” The talk is open to the public.
The book has been banned in some states, but has been met with praise in others. “For 15 years now, Sherman Alexie has explored the struggle to survive between the grinding plates of the Indian and white worlds,” said a New York Times review. “He’s done it through various characters and genres, but “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” may be his best work yet.”
Now in its fourth year, One Maryland One Book is designed to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. Readers are then invited to participate in book-centered discussions and other associated programs at public libraries, high schools, colleges and universities, museums, bookstores, and community and senior centers.