Curtis Sittenfield's award-winning novel, Prep, and Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian illustrate the theme importance of isolation in the life of an adolescent to come. In Prep, the reader is taken through Lee Fiora's traumatized journey through a renowned institution known as Ault. In the novel, Lee faces many life challenges such as heartbreak, betrayal, and trying to fit in, all while trying to navigate and adapt to the institution's alien environment. In Alexie's work, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the audience is taken through the story of a young Indian teenager named Junior who escapes the confines of his reservation by attending a school in predominantly white and wealthy outside the reservation. In the absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian man, Junior also faces many of the same challenges as Lee, such as being part of a low-income household, losing friends and family, and trying to fit in. These two works gracefully demonstrate the difficulties and importance of isolation in the life of a young adolescent in the making. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Both novels are quite successful in expressing the theme of isolation by introducing the obstacles of poverty and lower social class into the storyline. In Sittenfield's Prep, this is accomplished through the various references to Lee's reliance on her scholarship and her family's lack of financial stability that she often thinks about. Lee continually feels disconnected from her peers and embarrassed due to her financial situation. As University of Wisconsin professor Valerie Laken said, "She (Lee) has none of the social or financial assets that would allow her to fit in among the sons and daughters of senators and bankers." " This further causes Lee to feel isolated among her and her peers due to her social status and lack of financial stability. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the depiction of poverty and lower class status exudes a sense of isolation in a manner similar to that of Prep. In the story, Junior is a poor Indian boy who attends a rich white school in hopes of a better education in order to have a better life. Isolation due to poverty is illustrated in moments throughout the novel, such as when Junior repeatedly attempts to hide his poor background from his Reardan peers; however, the truth is revealed later. One of Junior's denials of his lack of wealth is found in the conversation between him and Penelope in chapter seventeen, where he specifically states that he could no longer lie to her when she asked him if he was poor . This denial of his true self can be seen as Junior's self-induced feeling of isolation. By adding the element of social class and wealth conflicts, the audience gets a sense of how and why the adolescent may struggle with isolation, especially with those who may have more financial stability. Similar to the previous paragraph, both novels display the theme of isolation by establishing the notion of division through discrimination of others. These actions alone can result in feelings of isolation, because by discriminating against others, a line is drawn between people. Additionally, race has been shown to have an effect on social relationships between groups of people (Omi and Winant 56). An example of this in Prep is the indirect allusion to racism presented to Ault. In abrief section of the novel, it is said that in the past no students of color attended Ault (Sittenfeld 190). Separating students on the basis of race could imply that even if the school accepts students of other ethnic backgrounds, potential bias is still present within the institution. In the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, prejudice against others is evident throughout the novel and gives the audience a sense of isolation between Junior and those around him. An example of the role race plays in Junior's life is his torn sense of belonging to the Indians, as well as to the white population at his school, which provides an explanation for the phrase "a part-time Indian" . The mixed feelings Junior experiences come from both the students at his school, as well as his friends and family back home. In chapter six, Junior asks his parents, "Who is more hopeful?" Hesitant at first, his parents then replied: “White people”. With his parents reinforcing the notion of racial hierarchy, Junior finds himself uncertain about comparing himself to others, particularly his white peers. Another example of Junior being discriminated against by others due to his background is the insensitive and racist comment made by Roger during Junior's career at Reardan. Although the comment is not mentioned here, Junior states that the insult was by far "the most racist thing I have ever heard in my life" (Alexie 64). Overall, it is safe to say that the theme of isolation resulting from discrimination is prominent in both of these novels. Death and loss are powerful elements in life, especially in these novels. After the loss of a loved one, the victim(s) may go through a phase of longing to be reunited with the lost person, as well as feeling a deep sense of hopelessness and despair, which are symptoms of isolation (West 283). The novels Prep and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian illustrate an element of isolation by including scenarios of death and relationship loss, both of which induce feelings of isolation in the victim. In Prep, Lee has several opportunities to break ties with his friends and lovers; while Junior has moments with both, a loss of friendship and the death of loved ones. In Prep, Lee develops various relationships throughout his time in Ault; however, many of them end in tragedy as the story continues. An example of Lee's struggle occurs early in his freshman year when Lee meets one of his dorm mates, Little Washington, and a friendly and reliable bond forms between the two. Following this, thefts were repeated in his dormitory. Lee then comes home early one day and is greeted by Little going through the belongings of her other roommate, Sin-Jun. This led Lee to report the loss of Little and that friendship. Another example of Lee's loss was that of a fellow freshman at his school. Lee develops a crush on a freshman named Cross Sugarman after several nights secretly spent together. To the reader's surprise, this love is cut short, as Cross loses interest and "leads" Lee on. Following these and many other similar events, Lee exhibits symptoms of isolation and depression, as his grades and attitude plummet. That being said, it is fair to say that Lee's experiences of loss and his reaction to these events illustrate the theme of isolation. In the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior is repeatedly confronted with heavy family losses, as well as the loss of his childhood best friend, Rowdy, making Junior feel.