Mom Character Analysis in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior’s mother. An avid reader with an extraordinary memory for information, she would have gone to college if given the chance. Mom is an “ex-drunk” who has become religious since she quit drinking. In the aftermath of Grandmother’s death, she suffers from depression and anxiety and sometimes needs Junior to stay home because she is scared for him to leave. Though she and Dad worry about their family splitting up, they want the best for their children and are very supportive of Junior’s decision to transfer schools.

Mom Character Timeline in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The timeline below shows where the character Mom appears in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

However, when Junior asks his mom to take Oscar to the vet, she tells him they can’t afford the hundreds of... (full context)

...might have been able to do “if someone had paid attention to their dreams.” His mom would have gone to college, and his dad would have been a musician. He includes... (full context)

...school. When he arrives and passes out books, Junior notices that his book has his mom’s maiden name inscribed in it—meaning the book is at least thirty years older than he... (full context)

...even though it will be difficult to get him to school every day. However, Junior’s mom warns him that since Junior will be the first person to leave the rez this... (full context)

Drawing, Writing, and Junior’s Cartoons Theme Icon

...has married a Flathead Indian and moved to Montana without saying goodbye to anyone. His mom and dad are “absolutely freaked”: they feel that they have now lost two kids to... (full context)

Junior enjoys Thanksgiving with his mom, dad, and grandmother, but misses Rowdy because he always used to come over for a... (full context)

...compares his family to the families of his white classmates. He loves Mary and his mom and dad and grandmother. In spite of their flaws, he believes his mom and dad... (full context)

Confessions, Revenge, and Forgiveness Theme Icon

...about Reardan is Penelope—as well as Gordy, maybe—and the best thing about Wellpinit was his grandmother. He thinks his grandmother’s greatest gift was her tolerance, an “old-time Indian spirit” of forgiving... (full context)

Grandmother was always open-minded, loved meeting new people, and was famous at powwows simply for being... (full context)

The surgeon who works on Grandmother when she is brought to the emergency room tells Junior’s family that her last words... (full context)

To Junior, the fact that his grandmother was killed by a drunk driver is especially ironic because although many Indians die because... (full context)

When Grandmother’s wake is held three days later, almost two thousand Indians attend. Out of respect for... (full context)

...be moved onto the football field—a “crazy and fun and sad” send-off that Junior knows Grandmother would have loved. (full context)

...feeling guilty for years about keeping it. While Junior wonders why Ted has chosen his grandmother’s funeral for this confession, Ted explains that he learned from an anthropologist that the outfit... (full context)

Junior’s mother rises to accept Ted’s apology and explains that there’s nothing to forgive: her mother wasn’t... (full context)

In grief, Junior’s Dad goes on a drinking binge, Mom goes to church every day, and Junior draws and draws cartoons that mock God and... (full context)

...a three-pointer, humiliating Rowdy and deciding the fate of the game. The crowd is amazed—Junior’s mom faints, and his dad hugs and kisses the white guy next to him even though... (full context)

When Dad and Junior walk inside, the house is full of family. Junior’s mom pulls him into her lap and tells him never to leave her. Then she slaps... (full context)

At the end of the school year, Junior goes to the cemetery with his mom and dad to clean the graves of Grandmother Spirit, Eugene, and Mary. They make it... (full context)