“Every seven-year-old deserves a superhero. That’s just how it is. Anyone who doesn’t agree needs their head examined” 

For Elsa, Granny is a real-life superhero who spent many years traveling war-torn countries, saving children’s lives. On a personal level, Granny is Elsa’s champion, taking her side when she is in trouble at school and embarking with her on zany adventures. Additionally, Granny protects Elsa by giving her the gift of her stories from the Land-of-Almost-Awake, which comfort Elsa in times of sadness or fear.

With Granny as her superhero, Elsa feels safe, and when Granny dies, Elsa feels vulnerable. However, Elsa later discovers that there are other real-life superheroes as well, and she starts to appreciate the positive qualities (or “superpowers”) in those around her. At the end of the novel, Elsa ultimately learns to be someone else’s superhero when she defends a small boy at school.

“She shouldn’t take any notice of what those muppets think, says Granny. Because all the best people are different—look at superheroes. After all, if superpowers were normal, everyone would have them.” 

Elsa knows that she is different from the other kids. Her sophisticated vocabulary, her penchant for reading, and her habit of correcting the grammar of adults all distinguish her from her peers. Only Granny considers Elsa’s uniqueness to be a wholly positive quality. This is because Granny herself doesn’t quite fit society’s expectations for women.