Spelling It Out

“Finnegan offers a story with a big heart about the drama of spelling bees and brings to life a cast of characters to care about while highlighting major themes of life: loneliness, wanting to be seen, dreams, memory, and family and friends.” – Horn Book“Finnegan touches on … gender roles, prejudice, and masculinity across an introspective tale about finding and staying true to oneself.” – Publishers Weekly“A sympathetic character, Ben struggles to prove himself to those around him, while becoming increasingly aware that they have troubles too… . Timeless in its portrayal of a middle-school boy trying to find his way.” – Booklist“In his well-drawn character arc, Ben shoulders responsibilities beyond his years to help Nan: His growth signals the champion he’s becoming in his personal life. A thoughtful coming-of-age story.” – Kirkus Reviews

Margaret Finnegan is the author of the Junior Library Guild Selections Sunny Parker Is Here to Stay, New Kids and Underdogs, Susie B. Won’t Back Down, and We Could Be Heroes, which was a USA TODAY bestseller. Her other work has appeared in FamilyFun, the Los Angeles Times, Salon, and other publications. She lives in South Pasadena, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, and baking really good chocolate cakes.