A 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.--goodreads

goodreads member May 6, 2010 Shanjida really liked it 4 of 5 Stars: When I first saw this book, I thought it was just going to be a book about a girl over coming racism, which believe me is great for her but I felt the issue was a little over done or common. But when I did read it, it was mostly about a girl who ended up wanting to prove people wrong and take her potential to the next level which was in spelling.

After loosing her father and having her favorite and good brother leaving for the air force, she discovered it would be best to listen to her principal and go for the national bee. In one part where Akeelah ran away after being made fun of for getting one very complicated word wrong, I thought Akeelah was just over reacting, but then I ended up putting myself in her shoes. If I grew up in a neighborhood like hers, grew up with a mother who wasn't supportive, and was in a school where standing out for something a little bad could be the worst thing ever, I would have run away too.

This book ended up teaching me a lot. One of those things being commitment and determination, which are also two of the most important character traits in Akeelah. This was a great book and I enjoyed the movie just as much.