The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-True-Diary-Part-Time-Indian/dp/0316013692/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

related:
http://chizuwu.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2B63B4391DE3635B!2468.entry

Sherman J. Alexie, Jr., was born in October 1966. A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, he grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA, about 50 miles northwest of Spokane, WA. Approximately 1,100 Spokane Tribal members live there.Born hydrocephalic, which means with water on the brain, Alexie underwent a brain operation at the age of 6 months and was not expected to survive. When he did beat the odds, doctors predicted he would live with severe mental retardation. Though he showed no signs of this, he suffered severe side effects, such as seizures, throughout his childhood.