The debut picture book from iconic voting rights advocate and #1 New York Times bestselling author Stacey Abrams is an inspiring tale of determination, based on her own childhood. 

Stacey is a little girl who loves words more than anything. She loves reading them, sounding them out, and finding comfort in them when things are hard. 

But when her teacher chooses her to compete in the local spelling bee, she isn’t as excited as she thought she’d be. What if she messes up? Or worse, if she can’t bring herself to speak up, like sometimes happens when facing bullies at school? 

Stacey will learn that win or lose . . . her words are powerful, and sometimes perseverance is the most important word of all. 

From School Library Journal
K-Gr 2—Abrams shares her love of words in this picture book drawn from a childhood memory. Young Stacey loves to read and write, collecting unique words in a notebook dedicated just to that purpose. When her teacher nominates her to represent the class in the school spelling bee, she isn't sure she can do it. Not only will it mean talking in front of a lot of people but it also means standing up to the kid in her class who uses words to hurt others. She knows that she will be nervous, but with lots of preparation and practice, she is ready for the bee and a showdown with the class bully. Readers familiar with Abrams, the public speaker and politician, will see the beginnings of a lifelong fascination with words, as well as the passion for fighting for others. Using clever layouts and eye-catching fonts, this book will draw in readers to the many words that fascinated the author. The tension between spellers will also come to life as words dance around the page; the struggle is visible on each speller's face. At times, the size and color of the text get lost in the dark hues of the digital illustrations, but the message of perseverance and the power of words will not be lost on the young. A word list and extensive author's notes are included at the end. VERDICT A great addition for collections looking for stories about current political figures, as well as story time with a biography emphasis.—Louie Lauer, Jefferson Elem. Sch., Fargo, ND


Publisher: ‎Balzer + Bray (December 28, 2021)
Language:‎English
Hardcover:‎32 pages
ISBN-10:‎0063209470
ISBN-13:‎978-0063209473
Reading age‎: 4 - 8 years
Grade level:‎Preschool - 3
Item Weight:‎14.9 ounces
Dimensions:‎9.25 x 0.25 x 11.25 inches