Spelling It Out
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A rising seventh grader visits his grandmother in 1980s San Francisco for a whirlwind summer of spelling bee training, only to begin suspecting she has Alzheimer’s, in this witty and compassionate middle grade novel for fans of Al Capone Does My Shirts.
Ben Bellini didn’t mean to become a champion speller—after all, he’s not a nerd—but he sure does like spelling bee glory now that it’s found him. He might even be good enough for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC! And what better way to prepare than to train with a professional spelling coach in San Francisco, where his nan lives?
Through his adventures, Ben gets to know the city—and competitor Asha Krishnakumar, who’s equally determined to spell her way to victory. But Ben also starts having odd interactions with his nan that leave him feeling like he’s missing something. Where is Nan’s forgetfulness coming from? And will anyone even believe him if he tries to get help?
Between showing up for his loved ones and pursuing his own dreams, Ben will need to spend this summer figuring out what he owes others…and what he owes himself.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this quiet, retrospective novel set in 1985, Sicilian American sixth grader Ben Bellini decamps from the suburbs to his grandmother's home in San Francisco to train for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. According to Nan, Roger Nott, a former spelling bee champion who owns a used bookstore, coaches spellers in his spare time. But when Roger turns out to be a jerk, Ben looks for ways to escape the malicious adult's bullying. He soon finds himself spending time at the public library, where he befriends Indian American Asha Krishnakumar, an avid basketball player and similarly preeminent speller. As the summer progresses, Ben continues his path toward spelling bee stardom, even as he worries about others' perceptions of him. Though Ben often feels discouraged by those around him—his siblings are disinterested in his hobbies, and his classmates view spelling as being for nerds—Asha's motto, "Persist, persist, persist," introduces a calming internal mantra that helps Ben weather his challenges. Finnegan (Sunny Parker Is Here to Stay) touches on period-typical conversations regarding gender roles, prejudice, and masculinity across an introspective tale about finding and staying true to oneself. Ages 8–12.
