Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz

Having always faltered during the final round of spelling bees, thirteen-year-old Karlene's luck changes when she is coached by an inspiring Latin teacher, but when her father returns to drinking and she develops a crush on her best friend, Karlene's old habits resurface as the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. quickly approaches. Reprint.