Launching into its 7th annual program, Spokane Is Reading will welcome nationally-acclaimed author Sherman Alexie and his latest award-winning novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.”

Spokane Is Reading, sponsored and organized by Spokane Public Library, Spokane County Library District and Auntie’s Bookstore, will host two special appearances with Mr. Alexie on Thursday, October 16. Times and locations will be announced at a later date.

Mr. Alexie won the 2007 National Book Award for Literature for “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.” Alexie is also a 2008 PNBA Book Award winner for “True Diary”; it was also selected as one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year and one of The New York Times Notable Books of the year.

In his first book for young adults, Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.

Over the years, Alexie has won various awards and accolades for his short stories, poetry collections and for several of his novels including his first two, “Reservation Blues” (1995) and “Indian Killer” (1996). In addition to his writings, Alexie is known for his exceptional humor and performance ability. For more information on Mr. Alexie, visit www.fallsapart.com.