Review by Booklist Review
Abrams, former member of the Georgia House of Representatives, longtime voting-rights activist, and best-selling author here focuses on her childhood fascination with words and her realization of how powerful they can be, using a grade school spelling bee to anchor a lesson in perseverance. Abrams' fictional story--inspired by how she lost her first spelling bee by one word, and what that loss, and her later comeback victory, taught her--is both exciting and relatable (little Stacey finds words and reading a refuge when she feels awkward, out-of-place, or has been bullied). The digital illustrations highlight the nervous drama of a spelling bee, while the hand lettering throughout makes Stacey's favorite words look vibrant and exciting. In the first bee, the class bully wins by a word, but Stacey wins in her own way by giving a polite but crushing comment, learning that words can be used to speak up for others. After the defeat, Stacey's mother reminds her of an important word, "perseverance," which becomes Stacey's comeback word, until she finally wins a bee three years later. Charming and powerful.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With warmth and candor, politician and voting rights activist Abrams tells a fictionalized story of her first spelling bee, emphasizing the value of education, of focusing on effort over result, and of standing up to bullying. Narrating in the third person, Abrams describes schoolgirl Stacey's fascination with words ("Persnickety tickled her tongue"), including terms that comfort her when she is teased or lonely, and those that help her "explain what she was feeling." (Throughout, Abrams revels in multisyllabic words: "The days of the week were monotonous, torturous, and sluggish.") Alluring digital spreads by debut artist Thomas give Stacey, who is Black, curly pigtails and sparkly eyes filled with interest and curiosity. When an alert teacher notices Stacey's prowess and invites her to participate in a local spelling bee, the competition is intimidating, and so is her rival--Jake, a white bully who uses his knowledge to make other kids feel small. A dramatic spelling bee sequence distributes triumph and defeat in unexpected ways, and Thomas's spreads give the proceedings cinematic suspense. In competition, Abrams reminds readers, victory can take years to arrive--and integrity and courtesy are always more important. Ages 4--8. (Dec.)Correction: A previous version of this review mistakenly referred to the author as the current Georgia gubernatorial candidate.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Before Stacey Abrams became today's leading voting rights activist and the first Black woman in American history to become a gubernatorial candidate, she was a spelling bee hopeful. Stacey is a kid who understands the power of language. Ushered from infancy into the world of books by her librarian mother, she is a devoted student of the dictionary and a diligent young linguist in her own right, squirreling away words in a dedicated notebook. Quiet and awkward, she finds refuge and clarity in reading and writing. When she is nominated by her second grade teacher, Mrs. Blakeslee, to participate in the school spelling bee, Stacey is thrilled. However there is one problem--she will be competing alongside Jake, the class bully, whom she has always shrunk from; but, "perhaps at this spelling bee she would be braver." Readers follow Stacey as she painstakingly prepares, steps onto the competition stage--not once, but many times--and ultimately finds her voice with the loving support of her wise momma. The text is well turned, delivering both emotional resonance and compelling, albeit unromanticized, messages about the value of perseverance and the importance of speaking up for what is right. Thomas' bold, vibrant digital illustrations use spotlights as a motif, subtly foreshadowing young Stacey's future as a public speaker, and excel at depicting multiple scenes on the same page to create a sense of parallel action. Jake is White, and several illustrations include diverse representation. This engaging, edifying, delightfully nerdy childhood retrospective from one of today's inspirational leaders speaks volumes. (Picture book autobiography. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
