Skip to Main Content

Spelling It Out

LIST PRICE ₹627.00

PRICE MAY VARY BY RETAILER

About The Book

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 nerdbut 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.

About The Author

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. Visit her online at MargaretFinnegan.com.

Why We Love It

“If you’ve never been to San Francisco in the summer, get ready to be transported there by this funny, heartfelt story! From the bay to the public library to the crowded buses (where you’ll need to keep your city face on), Ben Bellini’s world is so real that you’ll feel like you’re right there with him. But the real magic here is Ben himself: smart, clever, and determined to find spelling bee glory (without revealing himself as a nerd), you’ll be rooting for him from start to finish.”

—Feather F., Editor, on Spelling It Out

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2025)
  • Length: 272 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781665930130
  • Ages: 8 - 12

Browse Related Books

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Margaret Finnegan