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  • Published: 1 August 2016
  • ISBN: 9781925324822
  • Imprint: Random House Australia Children's
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • RRP: $14.99

The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee




A heart-warming story about a girl who's too afraid to follow her dreams, and the family who help make them happen.

India Wimple can spell. Brilliantly. Every Friday night, she and her family watch the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. When the Wimples suggest she enter the next Bee, India says she’s not good enough – but her family won’t hear it and encourage her to sign up.

There are plenty of obstacles to reaching the finals: something in India’s past has made her terribly shy, and moving on to each round involves finding the money to make it happen.

And finally, there’s Summer Millicent Ernestine Beauregard-Champion, a spoilt rich girl who is determined to win – and isn’t afraid to step on anyone who gets in her way.

  • Published: 1 August 2016
  • ISBN: 9781925324822
  • Imprint: Random House Australia Children's
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • RRP: $14.99

About the author

Deborah Abela

After training as a teacher, Deb travelled to Africa where she was harassed by monkeys, caught in a desert sandstorm and thrown in jail . . . twice! She’s worked as a child wrangler and a rides operator at Luna Park, but her first real job was as writer/producer of a national children’s TV show at Network TEN. She has since become an internationally published and awarded author of 28 books including her cranky climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm. Her family’s survival in WW2 and migration to Australia inspired Teresa A New Australian. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery were inspired by her fantabulous Grade 4 teacher, Ms Gray. She’s also written picture books: Wolfie, An Unlikely Hero and the 2021 CBCA Notable, Bear in Space. The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is her love letter to books, booksellers, librarians and readers. Deb’s won awards for her work but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters. She’s a proud ambassador for the charities, Room to Read and Books in Homes. www.deborahabela.com

Also by Deborah Abela

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Praise for The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

There is something quintessentially Australian about this ripping yarn, perhaps attributable to The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee’s wholehearted championing of the underdog and its embrace of the spectacularly silly gesture . . . It demands to be adapted for film, containing as it does, all the desired elements for a successful Australian film including a quirky humour, exaggerated characters and projecting an image of ourselves as a generous-minded nation.

Tali Lavi, Magpies, Vol 31

A most heart-warming, spirit-lifting story of a family and a community getting together to overcome all sorts of obstacles and hardships to make a dream come true . . . This is an inspirational story that would make a great read-aloud and a wonderful read-alone . . . Deborah Abela has written a most profound book, very different from much that is available to younger readers today, and created not only an engaging, what-happens-next story but one built around a family who will be readily recognisable by readers.

Barbara Braxton, thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/

In small country towns there is often a vigorous community spirit, especially for the ‘battlers’ and this story exemplifies that . . . Sending a really positive message about striving for dreams and having a support network [The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee] is a great read for children from around 9 years upwards. It would also make a terrific ‘read aloud’.

Sue Warren, losangzopa.wordpress.com

Highly recommended . . . With each chapter heading being a new complex word along with its meaning and use in a sentence, the emphasis on words is given an extra boost in this wonderfully charming story about a spelling competition . . . At each turn, India's path to the finals is blocked, but help from sometimes unexpected quarters always come along, reflecting the common goodness in people's hearts. This is a sympathetic and likable tale of a young girl overcoming her fears to achieving her goal, and meeting some supportive people along the way.

Fran Knight, http://www.readplus.com.au

There is a lot to like about this story for mid to upper grade primary kids. The hero, India Wimple, is a shy kid from the small country town of Yungabilla . . . [The] theme of being able to succeed with the support of family and friends is underscored throughout the book. India does suffer from anxiety, but she is able to overcome it with the constant support of her family and a boy, Rajish, who she befriends in the competition. As part of the spelling competition, readers will be introduced to tricky words they might not already know. Cleverly, each chapter is headed by a new word and definition which foreshadows what will follow . . . I really enjoyed the small twist at the end too.

Heather Gallagher, CBCA Reading Time

Writing an engaging story about a spelling bee could be a daunting task but Deborah Abela has done an excellent job . . . I think The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee is her best yet. This Australian novel for children will be a great Christmas present and holiday read for girls and boys.

Joy Lawn, blog.boomerangbooks.com.au

Awards & recognition

REAL Children's Choice Awards

Shortlisted  •  2019  •  Younger Readers

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