Spelling It Out

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. (May)