Spellbound

Author: Janet McDonald

ISBN:978-0142501931

Publication Information: Speak

Plot Summary:Raven and Raven's mother's dream has always been for Raven to go to college. Raven's mother has spent her life working double shifts to ensure that Raven will have tuition money, and Raven has always studied hard to get top grades. But this plan is destroyed when Raven discovers that she is pregnant. Or is it? Raven's sister convinces Raven to sign up for a city wide spelling bee. The winner of the bee gets automatic admission to a college prep program, and eventually wins a full ride scholarship to college. The only problem is that spelling is Raven's worst subject. But when Raven gets her mind on something, she can be unstoppable. Maybe Raven's dream isn't gone, maybe she can be a mom and a college student.

Critical Evaluation: Spellbound is a great book for reluctant readers, its relatively short in length, but also engaging and easy to read. The subject matter is interesting, it deals with a girl who made a mistake, and whose life is potentially altered forever. More importantly, it also deals with the community that gather around and support Raven when she decides to take her fate into her own hands and give the spelling bee a shot. It is a heartwarming story about love and friendship, and most importantly, not letting your dreams slip away. Highly recommended to be included on book lists for reluctant readers.

Reader's Annotation: Raven always want to go to college, until she got pregnant and the thought of college went out the window. Until Raven's sister convinces her to enter a spelling bee. The prize; a college prep program and full ride scholarship to college. Maybe Raven's dream isn't gone just yet...

Author Information: Janet McDonald grew up with six brothers and sisters in a small apartment in Brooklyn. She went on to receive degrees at Vassar (for French Literature), Columbia (for Journalism), and New York University (for Law). She has worked as a proofreader, paralegal and a lawyer. She passed away from cancer in 2007. (Information taken from http://us.macmillan.com/author/janetmcdonald and http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6434296.html)

Curricular Ties:English

Genre: Issues, Urban Life

Book talking ideas:

• How could Raven have prevented her pregnancy?
• Why is going to college to important to Raven and her mother?
• Why does Aisha continue to have unprotected sex?
  

Challenge issues:Sex

• Familiarize yourself with the book and its contents.
• Check the library for specific policies on challenged books.
• Check the ALA website for advice on how to respond and react when a book has been challenged. (http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm)
  
• Find positive reviews from reputable websites.
• Ask the challenger for their specific objections and try to address them using information from the above research.

Interest Age: Grades 8 and up

Why I selected this piece: This book seemed really accessible to reluctant readers, because it seemed short, easy to read, and engaging. I wanted to have a well rounded list, with books that anyone could read, so I decided to include this one.