Conversation so far:
Where did Sherman Alexie grow up?
As a little child Sherman Alexie lived on the Spokane Indian Reservation, located west of Spokane.
Was Sherman Alexie an only child?
Sherman Alexie was one of six children.
Was Sherman Alexie the youngest child in the family?
What activities did Sherman Alexie do during his childhood?
Alexie excelled academically, reading everything available, including auto repair manuals.
Tell me more about Sherman Alexie's health problems.
Alexie was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that occurs when there is an abnormally large amount of cerebral fluid in the nasal cavity.
Did Sherman Alexie over come this medical condition as he grew?
Sherman Alexie had to have brain surgery when he was six months old. Alexie's surgery was successful; he suffered no mental damage but had other side effects.
What were some of the side effects of Sherman Alexie's surgery?
Until the age of seven, Alexie suffered from seizures and bedwetting
Where was Sherman Alexie's father?
Sherman Alexie's father often left the house on drinking binges for days at a time.
Are Sherman Alexie's family members all alive?
Tell me some thing else noteworthy about Sherman Alexie's childhood.
Alexie has described his life at the reservation school as challenging.

Question: Why was life at the reservation challenging to him?
Self-contained rewrite: Why was life at the reservation challenging to Sherman Alexie?