Word Nerd

By Susin Nielsen

Book Overview

Twelve-year-old Ambrose is a glass-half-full kind of guy. A self-described "friendless nerd," he moves from place to place every couple of years with his overprotective mother, Irene. When some bullies at his new school almost kill him by slipping a peanut into his sandwich -- even though they know he has a deathly allergy -- Ambrose is philosophical. Irene, however, is not and decides that Ambrose will be home-schooled.

Alone in the evenings when Irene goes to work, Ambrose pesters Cosmo, the twenty-five-year-old son of the Greek landlords who live upstairs. Cosmo has just been released from jail for breaking and entering to support a drug habit. Quite by accident, Ambrose discovers that they share a love of Scrabble and coerces Cosmo into taking him to the West Side Scrabble Club, where Cosmo falls for Amanda, the club director. Posing as Ambrose's Big Brother to impress her, Cosmo is motivated to take Ambrose to the weekly meetings and to give him lessons in self-defense. Cosmo, Amanda, and Ambrose soon form an unlikely alliance and, for the first time in his life, Ambrose blossoms. The characters at the Scrabble Club come to embrace Ambrose for who he is and for their shared love of words. There's only one problem: Irene has no idea what Ambrose is up to.

In this brilliantly observed novel, author Susin Nielsen transports the reader to the world of competitive Scrabble as seen from the honest yet funny viewpoint of a boy who's searching for acceptance and for a place to call home.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088776990X
• ISBN13: 9780887769900
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Excellent Story - Language might be an issue for younger readers.

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 addressed in this book. This book is written honestly and not talking down to the 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.