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Product Description
Quill & Quire
It isn’t easy being different, particularly when your Value Village clothes and severe peanut allergy make you the number-one target of every mean kid in school. Word Nerd, the latest novel from veteran Degrassi screenwriter Susin Nielsen, details the life of 12-year-old Ambrose, a bright and awkward boy who just doesn’t fit in, no matter where in Canada he and his overly protective single mom move. After a trio of bullies purposefully slip a peanut into Ambrose’s sandwich, sending him into anaphylactic shock, his mother promptly pulls him out of school to be educated at home. Lonely and bored, Ambrose befriends Cosmo, the 25-year-old son of his Greek landlords, who has a dark and mysterious past. Together, the two discover a shared appreciation for Scrabble. When Ambrose discovers a flyer for a local competitive Scrabble club, he and Cosmo enter a new world where fitting in has nothing to do with wearing the right clothes or battling bullies. Replete with surprisingly helpful Scrabble tips and enlivened by the witty, articulate musings of a hyper-observant and eccentric protagonist, Word Nerd is also chock-full of valuable lessons about being yourself and giving second chances. The swift, fully developed plot, advancing in short, action-packed chapters, makes the story a page-turner. Today’s young readers will likely be able to identify with some of the heavier themes, such as single-parent families, loved ones overcoming addiction, and the pre-adolescent’s blossoming fascination with the opposite sex. And any young reader who has ever faced the cruelty of pre-teen bullies will appreciate Ambrose’s gutsy attitude in the face of adversity, and his refusal to allow his passion to be squashed by social disapproval.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Review
“This is a tender, often funny story with some really interesting characters. It will appeal to word nerds, but even more to anyone who has ever longed for acceptance or had to fight unreasonable parental restrictions.”
— Starred Review from School Library Journal
“…a beautifully drawn character…. [a] funny, wry tale, a tale that involves a lot of Scrabble (at the championship level), the reformation of an ex-con/druggie and the coming-into-himself of a boy. And there’s a bit of love, too, actually.”
— The Globe and Mail
From the Hardcover edition.
— Starred Review from School Library Journal
“…a beautifully drawn character…. [a] funny, wry tale, a tale that involves a lot of Scrabble (at the championship level), the reformation of an ex-con/druggie and the coming-into-himself of a boy. And there’s a bit of love, too, actually.”
— The Globe and Mail
From the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A total treat,
By Ian Weir (Langley, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Word Nerd (Hardcover)
I actually bought this book as a gift for my 13-year-old daughter, Amy. But I started reading and got so hooked that I decided she'd better wait until I'd finished. (When she got her chance to read it, Amy loved it as much as I did.)It's a terrific novel -- funny and quirky and genuinely poignant -- about the outsider in all of us. Twelve-year-old Ambrose is nearly murdered by a peanut as the story begins. By the time we're partway through, he's immersed in the world of competitive Scrabble -- which actually turns out to be enthralling. Ambrose is a great character, plucky and resourceful, never giving in to self-pity no matter how much life dog-piles on top of him. If you're a parent, buy it for your kid. But read it first -- seriously.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews) 8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not for elementary school,
By L. Cross - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Word Nerd (Hardcover)
This was a good story, but the language and themes are definitely more appropriate for middle school students. It is rated for age 9 and up, but pedophilia (with graphic description of what this could involve), the words "boner", "f____ing" and "sh___" (written like this, not in full), as well as more than one passing references to breasts and arousal, are not what I would expect to see in elementary school novels. The specific nature of the less desirable aspects of this book distracted me from the well-constructed story. It should be rated for 11 or 12 and up.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Story - Language might be an issue for younger readers.,
By Saz - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Word Nerd (Hardcover)
This is a wonderfully funny heartwarming book. The characters are very real and likable. Anyone who grew up poor or was viciously teased as a youth can relate to the main character, Ambrose. He's a sweet kid and I was very sad to see the book end. I wanted to continue on his adventures. Without giving away the plot Ambrose is a very goofy kid with a good heart, nowhere to fit in, and an intensely overprotective mother. Bullying, autism, unlikely friendships, grief, and second chances are themes in this book.This book is written honestly and doesn't talk down to its audience as some children's novels do. The language in this story is a little mature and I can't help but think very realistic for a boy Ambrose's age. Nothing is ever crass or used for shock value, potty humor, etc. but this story is being told through the eyes of a 12 3/4 year old and it's told realistically. If the idea of your child reading a book that contains the word 'testicle' or a censored "F___" (written out like that in the book) makes you uncomfortable... Then I suggest you read the book before you let your child. (You won't regret it.) I read this book out of curiosity because I liked the cover. I'm very glad I did. I enjoyed every page. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A total treat,
By Ian Weir - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Word Nerd (Paperback)
I actually bought this book as a gift for my 13-year-old daughter, Amy. But I started reading and got so hooked that I decided she'd better wait until I'd finished. (When she got her chance to read it, Amy loved it as much as I did.)It's a terrific novel -- funny and quirky and genuinely poignant -- about the outsider in all of us. Twelve-year-old Ambrose is nearly murdered by a peanut as the story begins. By the time we're partway through, he's immersed in the world of competitive Scrabble -- which turns out to be enthralling. Ambrose is a great character, plucky and resourceful, never giving in to self-pity no matter how much life dog-piles on top of him. If you're a parent, buy it for your kid. But read it first -- seriously. |
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