I Hate Superman is a story about a boy named James who idolizes Superman. James idolizes his other protector, his older brother Mike. However, Mike hangs out with "wanna-be gangsters" and likes to spray paint ugly pictures of Superman. James tips Superman off to a robbery that it turns out Mike is involved in. Mike is put in jail and James feels terrible for ratting out his big brother. He turns his frustration and anger towards Superman, tagging "I Hate Superman" all over Metropolis. At the end Superman confronts him and lays some strange father-figure like advice on him along with a hug, winning back James's admiration. "It's good to love your brother, but you don't have to act like him. Or me."
I thought that this book would maybe interest a child that loves Superman, especially if they have an older sibling that is going through a patch of bad choices. I found that the overall message was to do the right thing and to learn from the mistakes of others, especially within one's own family. ( )