cover image SPELLBOUND

SPELLBOUND

Janet McDonald, . . Penguin/Speak, $5.99 (144pp) ISBN 978-0-14-250193-1

A "housing project girl" sees her chance to gain independence and to carve out a better life for herself and her son in the form of a spelling bee. "A chorus of highly authentic, lively young voices convey heartbreak and dreams," wrote PW . Ages 12-up. (Dec.)