Spelling it Out: A Summer of Words, Wonders, and Worries
Spelling it Out by Margaret Finnegan offers a compelling look at family dynamics and personal growth.
The thought-provoking story explores themes of competition, compassion, and Alzheimer’s.
Compassion and Competition in Margaret Finnegan’s Spelling it Out
Margaret Finnegan’s latest middle grade novel, Spelling it Out, is a truly wonderful and thought-provoking read that will resonate with young readers and adults alike.
We follow rising seventh grader Ben Bellini, a reluctant spelling bee champion, as he embarks on a summer adventure to San Francisco to train with a professional coach, his grandmother.
Beneath the surface of spelling drills and city adventures, a more poignant narrative unfolds.
Ben begins to notice inconsistencies in his nan’s memory, little moments of forgetfulness that prick at his awareness.
The book offers valuable lessons about empathy, responsibility, and the complexities of family in a way that is both accessible for young readers and deeply moving.
Add Spelling it Out to Your Home Library
Ready to experience Ben’s summer of spelling and self-discovery?
Order your copy of Margaret Finnegan’s wonderful novel, Spelling it Out, today!
Spelling it Out
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
isbn 9781665930116
Pub Date 5/13/25
Synopsis
A rising seventh grader visits his grandmother in 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.
Author
Margaret Finnegan
Suggested Ages
8 to 12 years old
3rd to 7th Grade
Genre
Juvenile Fiction
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