Becoming a Superhero: Adventures of an American Superhero

by William D. Smith

For nine-year-old Billy, becoming a superhero is not going to be easy. Becoming a Superhero takes readers (8 - 12) back to World War 11 and its aftermath, as they look inside the life of Billy Smith, a 10-year-old living in a Pennsylvania coal mining town. Billy decides he wants to become an American superhero, yet the choices he makes often have disastrous consequences. The story is a tale of morals and values. A first-person narrative of a young...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1432720716
• ISBN13: 9781432720711
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Looking Back in Time

Smith, William D. "Becoming a Superhero: Adventures of an American Superhero", Outskirts Press, 2008. Looking Back in Time Amos Lassen Written for the 8-12 age group I found William Smith's "Becoming a Superhero" a book that has a lot to say to all of us. It's semi-autobiographical as it tells the story of Billy, a boy who wants to grow up and be a superhero. Billy Smith lives in a Pennsylvania cold-mining town during and after World War II. His world is one of heroes--those who returned from the war and those in his imagination. His announcement that is was his intention to become a superhero came as a surprise to no one. Smith gives us a feel for the atmosphere of America during the war as Billy does what he can for his family. When you are young, the world is yours (or so you think) and there is nothing that you cannot do. This is where Billy probably gets the idea that he can be a superhero. And it is here that we find the beauty of the book--in the innocence and beauty of youth. When we are young we are supposed to learn the importance of responsibility and how to make wise decisions. Many of us do learn this but a little help is always good. Smith finds the child in all of us. As we read we quickly remember the times when life was simpler. It is when we learn morals and values that things get complicated. When we leave the innocence of youth, we enter the world of grown ups and things are never quite the same. Such memories came back to me--catching "doodlebugs" and mosquito hawks, camp outs under make-shift tents made of blankets in the back yard, the taffy truck rolling in the neighborhood and ten cent allowances. I love this book for what it did to me. It made me once again realize the value of dreams.

A Heartwarming and Nostalgic Tale

In "Becoming a Superhero," the author William D. Smith writes a semi-autobiographical novel about his childhood in the coal mining town of Coaldale, Pennsylvania. In this story, we meet nine year old Billy, who has decided that he wants to become a superhero. It is the summer of 1945, and World War II is ending. Billy is haunted by his shadow self, William. Some of us might see William as his annoying conscience. William constantly ruins Billy's fun by reminding him of all the rules. Billy doesn't always listen to William, like when William insisted that he couldn't fly and he tried to anyway. After painfully realizing that he can't fly, even with his superhero's cape, Billy's mom convinces him to be a superhero for the war movement. Billy, William and his dog Bessie do this by collecting scrap metal. Billy lives in two worlds. During the week, he is with his parents where he only has two rules. On weekends, he is with his grandparents who are very strict and have lots of rules. Billy comes up with a list of rules for kids. They actually can apply to adults as well. As time progresses he starts a list for becoming a superhero. He is very serious about this. His teachers, who know that he is not the best student, still support his goal. You can tell that Billy kept his teachers very entertained, even if they didn't always appreciate what he was up to. Billy does learn that he is a superhero, and gets recognized for doing something from which he didn't view as heroic, it was just an act from his heart. I really loved reading "Becoming a Superhero." The lessons learned in it are timeless. The book is written for 8-12 year olds; however, I think that people of all ages will enjoy it. It is heartwarming and full of nostalgic memories. "Becoming a Superhero" should be in every family library. I personally recommended it to our local school's summer reading program.

Becoming a Superhero

This book is a gem that brightly shines with truth, humor, sensitivity, and - most of all - nostalgia. Skillfully written, it vividly recalled to me the simpler halcyon days of over a half century ago, and the joy of growing up in small town America. As I moved through each chapter, I found I couldn't put the book down, and when I came to the end, I was sorry. I wanted to read more. Bravo, author! I'll recommend your book to all my friends. Daniel B. Leonard, Jr.

Makes You Say, Tell Me Another Story!

Me and my 12-year-old son read this and absolutely loved it! To me, it was like sitting in the living room and chatting with my parents about life when they were kids. For my son, it made him feel like being a kid isn't much different now than it was back in the 1940s. It's warm, it's witty and it gives kids a great message.

A Must Read!

Becoming A Superhero inspires the child in all of us! Reading the pages brings to life memories of your childhood and a longing for simpler times. As a Principal of an elementary school, I am always looking for good works of literature to encourage my students to read. I have purchased a copy of this book for each of my fifth grade students! Take time to read this book, relish in your own childhood memories and find humor throughout the pages.