From School Library JournalGrade 4-6–Akeelah Anderson, 11, is accustomed to hiding her intelligence from the other students at Crenshaw Middle School. All this changes when she is coerced into participating in the school's first spelling bee. Words have always fascinated the seventh grader, a passion she shared with her late father. When she wins and moves on to the district competition, her principal's old friend, university professor Dr. Larabee, begins to coach her. Both are stubborn, and they take some time warming up to one another, but their sessions begin in earnest once Akeelah qualifies for the next level. Beyond learning thousands of words, she has a major problem–her mother wants her to concentrate on summer school instead of entering the competition. Determined to go, the girl forges her father's signature on the application. Of course Mrs. Anderson discovers the truth, but is persuaded to let her daughter continue. Along the way the girl finds that she has become a symbol of pride to her South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. This novel, based on the screenplay of the same name, tends to tell rather than show much of the action, but this will probably not deter young readers._–Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA_ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Product DescriptionA novelization of the inspirational movie about an 11-year-old girl in South Los Angeles named Akeelah and her quest to make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee—with help from some very unexpected places. Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer, Barbershop 2 and Madea's Family Reunion), a precocious 11-year-old girl from South Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother, Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal; and the proud residents of her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl. 8-page color photo insert.

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