Sherman Alexie

Like Jackson Jackson, the protagonist of “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” Sherman Alexie is a Spokane American Indian. He grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation with his mother and father, who were both alcoholics, although his mother later got sober. Alexie was born with hydrocephalus and suffered from various health issues throughout his childhood as a result, including seizures that prevented him from participating in different cultural rites of passage on the reservation. He was bullied at school but was academically gifted, which eventually led him to transfer to a high school off the reservation. He had more educational opportunities here, but he also struggled as the only American Indian student at the school. His acclaimed young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is semi-autobiographical and depicts a fictionalized version of a young Alexie navigating these hurdles. Outside of writing, Alexie supports various organizations and initiative focused on giving American Indian youth opportunities to explore the arts and develop stronger connections to their cultures. He currently lives and writes in Seattle, Washington with his wife and two sons.