Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan

How I Came Across It... *I have been a huge fan of Margaret's books for quite some time. I was excited when I received a copy of her latest book from the publisher. As busy as the start up to the school year was, I tried to make time to read this great middle-grade story. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Ben never considered himself a nerd, but when he realizes he has a talent for spelling, he may just fit in the "nerdy" category.

*He is quite surprised when he qualifies for a national spelling bee, but knows he will need practice and training.

*Ben finds himself traveling to San Francisco to live with his grandmother and be coached by a talented spelling teacher.

*While working with his coach, with both good and bad interactions, Ben meets another spelling kid and they begin to spend time together.

*Even though Ben is focusing on his spelling training, he begins to see differences and changes with his grandmother and becomes quite worried.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *This was an enjoyable read from start to finish.

*Margaret Finnegan has a way of capturing the middle-grade character and bringing them to life.

*I so enjoyed getting to know Ben and rooting for him during the entire "ride".

*There were funny moments, along with some heart-warming and emotional scenes throughout the story.

*As a reader, I appreciated how the character was portrayed as a multifaceted young boy with many sides to him. Who Should Read It... *The perfect story for readers in grades three, four, and five. I think the novel would make for an excellent class read aloud. The book could also be put in the hands of readers in grades four through middle-school. If you know of a young person who enjoys spelling and/or is a strong speller, this would be the ideal story for them. Happy Reading!

Rating... 4 out of 5 stars