The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Characters

Meet the Cast

Arnold Spirit, Junior

(Click the character infographic to download.) Arnold Spirit (a.k.a. Junior) is our witty and whipsmart narrator who takes us along on his journey as he transfers from his reservation high schoo...

Rowdy

(Click the character infographic to download.) Rowdy is Arnold's best friend, arch nemesis, and everything in between. And, as his name indicates, he's a pretty tough guy... most of the time.Row...

Mary Spirit

Mary, Mary, Quite ContraryMary is Arnold's older sister, who lives in the basement of her parent's house. While Arnold draws cartoons, Mary loves to read and write romance novels—though she hides...

Mr. and Mrs. Spirit

(Click the character infographic to download.) The Parent TrapAs Arnold's drawing tells us (figure 2.2), Mr. Spirit could have been a jazz musician and Mrs. Spirit could have been a community co...

Grandmother Spirit

(Click the character infographic to download.) Grandmother Spirit is powwow famous, and her greatest gift is tolerance. When she is struck by a drunk driver, her dying words ask that Gerald, the...

Gordy

(Click the character infographic to download.) Revenge Of The NerdsActually, Gordy's way too chill to want revenge. If there were a movie about Gordy, it might be called Enthusiasm Of The Nerds o...

Penelope

(Click the character infographic to download.) A Penelope For Your ThoughtsPenelope is the beautiful, perfect blonde girl and Arnold is the new Indian boy. How do they get together? Well, Penelo...

Roger

Roger is Reardan High School's star basketball player... who Arnold punches in the face. Yeesh.But Roger isn't all fists of fury. Roger comes to respect Arnold and even loans him money during the W...

Eugene

Eugene is Arnold's father's best friend who is shot in the parking lot of 7-11 in a drunken argument over the last drink from a bottle of booze. Eugene rode a motorcycle and once gave Arnold a ride...

Mr. P

(Click the character infographic to download.) Mr. P is the white teacher at whom Arnold throws the geometry book. But instead of being super-miffed and maybe even throwing the geometry book bac...

Billionaire Ted

Billionaire Ted is one of the white people who collects Indian art and culture. He shows up at Grandmother Spirit's funeral with a powwow outfit that he claims belonged to her—but in reality did...

Coach

Coach helms Reardan's basketball team. He's always quick to give Arnold words of encouragement and support.