Superman and Me Summary

"Superman and Me"


 "Superman and Me" is an essay written by Sherman Alexie that talks about a 3 year

old, Spokane Indian boy, living a middle-class life, who learns how to read by Superman

comic books because of his father's large fascination with books. Alexie, curious about the

large collection of books, decides to open one up. Not knowing how to read, he figured out

how to determine what the words were trying to say by looking at the pictures. By that time,

the boy had figured out the purpose of paragraphs. And as a result, learned how to read and

keeps on reading beyond the average 3 year old capability. Alexie clearly states that being

smart and Indian at that time, was not something very common; therefore he was "widely

feared and ridiculed by Inidians and non-Indians alike." (6) Consequently, his classmates

began to look down on him. Alexie, still very proud of his capabilities, reads everything that

comes across him: cereal boxes, bulletins, junk mail, manuals, etc. Now as a grown man,

Alexie's talent and determination has saved his life. Alexie is now a writer. He not only

writes everything from novels to poems, visits schools to teach Indian children how to write

creatively, but also is help saving their lives by showing them, yes, you can make your dream

a reality.