Spellbound [Hardcover]

Janet McDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2001

A fresh new voice on the YA scene.

Raven's life has been derailed. She never expected she'd be a mother at sixteen like her best friend, Aisha, and she's afraid she's going to be just another high school dropout, a project girl with few prospects. And although Raven is ambitious, when is she going to find the time to finish school in the few minutes she's not looking for a job or caring for her infant son, Smokey? Then her older sister, Dell, tells her about a spelling bee that promises the winner enrollment in a college prep program and a scholarship. But spelling? There isn't a subject she's worse at! Still, Raven is fiercely determined to win, and so she starts memorizing words.

In Janet McDonald's powerful and funny novel, a smart and resilient young woman whose life isn't what she dreamed it would be learns that there are many ways to spell SUCCESS.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her first book for young adults, McDonald (Project Girl, for adults) uses a chorus of highly authentic, lively young voices to convey heartbreaks and dreams reverberating in a Brooklyn ghetto. From the outside, Raven appears to be just another "housing project girl," whose prospects are as bleak as those of her best friend, Aisha. Both teens are high school dropouts, unwed mothers and virtually unemployable but, unlike Aisha, Raven is not content to rely on "the system" for support. Her chance to gain independence and to carve out a better life for herself and her son comes in the form of a spelling bee. If Raven wins the contest, she will be able to enter a college prep program, then go on to college on a full scholarship. Offering balanced portions of humor and drama, the novel traces how Raven gradually gains confidence in herself and her future as she prepares for the spelling bee. McDonald paints Raven's path to success as realistically rocky, obstructed by such complications as the reappearance of her baby's father and the disturbing news that Aisha is pregnant again. If the story's resolutions seem a little too pat, the heroine's passionate determination remains admirable. Her ability to turn her life around defies the notion that girls like her and Aisha are stuck on a dead-end street. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Sixteen-year-old Raven, a once-promising student in spite of her impoverished home and single mother's limited education, has been derailed by the birth of a baby conceived during her first sexual encounter. The father of her child was a stranger to her when they met at a party and doesn't know the extended ramifications of their meeting. Raven finds herself teetering on the brink of forgoing any life beyond her Brooklyn-project apartment, the baby, the only sort of job open to a high school dropout, and her best friend's brash "welfare recipient" influence. Then Raven's older sister hears about a college prep and scholarship program and goads her into studying for the spelling bee through which program participants are identified. In spite of the baby, in spite of a fast-food job, in spite of her best friend's loud mocking, and in spite of the reemergence of the baby's father into her life, the African-American teen decides to learn to spell so that she can compete, so that she can win. McDonald has created a vital cast of characters, giving them authentic voices and motivations. Even while cheering for Raven, readers will understand her best friend's hesitancy. The baby's father is depicted in both his lack of maturity and his desire to get beyond his parents' prejudices. Raven's mother is strong and reliable, clearly able to cope with the crises life hands her and hers. Among the shelves of novels about teenage girls dealing with unplanned babies, this is a standout.

Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (October 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374371407
• ISBN-13: 978-0374371401
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,148,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone Can Enjoy this Quick Read, September 19, 2002

By 

Blue Jean Online (Boston, Mass.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spellbound (Hardcover)

...This is the story of Raven Jefferson, a bright 16-year-old girl who lives in a Brooklyn housing project. Raven has always been determined to move out of the projects and go to college like her older sister Dell, but her goal is put on hold when she becomes pregnant and drops out of high school to have the baby. After the birth of her son, Raven spends her days at home with occasional visits from her best friend, Aisha, another high school dropout and single mother. Raven starts to lose hope that she will ever leave the projects but then she learns of a spelling bee with a grand prize of a college scholarship. She spends all of her waking hours preparing for the bee and eventually realizes her dream because of her hard work.

This is a classic story of a young woman who has a goal and doesn't let a few bumps along the way stop her from achieving it. Raven's ability to defy the odds is inspirational. The plot is a bit weak, but the laugh-out-loud funny moments make it a worthwhile read.

McDonald should be congratulated for brilliantly capturing the voices of two young women from the Brooklyn projects. Spellbound is geared towards the 11-and 12-year-old crowd, but anyone can enjoy this quick read...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spelling Your Way To Success, June 22, 2002

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spellbound (Hardcover)

Raven Jefferson is a very bright sixteen year old high school student, who lives in the projects with her mom. Her mom just knew Raven would make something of herself and get out of the projects. But one night at a party Raven meets Jesse and her whole life changes.

Raven becomes pregnant and gives birth to her son, Smokey. She drops out of high school and goes on public assistance. Raven and her best friend Aisha, who is also a teen mom and high school dropout, have been friends since elementary school and have a lot in common including both being teen moms. The main difference is Aisha is comfortable with her situation and Raven wants something better for herself.

Raven's older sister, Dell made it out of the projects and graduated from a 2 year college and has a job at a law firm working as a paralegal. Dell hates to see her sister in the predicament she is in and wants to do everything she can to help Raven change her life around.

Dell hears about this program called Spell Success, it's a spelling bee and the winner attends a college prep class as well as gets a scholarship to a 4 year college. Dell thinks this is Raven's ticket out of the ghetto.......but Raven's not so sure, afterall spelling was her worst subject in school.

Spellbound is a lighthearted yet humorous book that looks into life as a teen mom in the projects. Spotlighting on ambition, motherhood, friendship, heartbreak and the need to succeed. Spellbound is a book that looks at real life situations. This was an enjoyable read and I am looking to read more of the author's books.

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Predictable, but still a fine story., May 20, 2002

By 

Meaghan Good "meggilyweggily" (Venedocia, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spellbound (Hardcover)

Raven was a project girl, but a great student with high ambitions who was sure she'd make it into college. But then one day when she was sixteen and at a party, she just couldn't say no to the young man she met and she ended up pregnant. That seemed to be the end of everything: she'd be just like her mother, living in the projects on public assistence, with no money or future or hope. Then Raven's older sister found out about a program called Spell For Success, where the winner of a spelling bee was awarded a full college scholarship. She talked Raven into trying out.

A lot of stuff happens in the book besides the spelling bee. Maybe a little too much. Raven's best friend, Ai, is also a single mother high school dropout, and Raven finds out that she's pregnant with her second child. Raven also has a chance encounter with her baby's father, who is only fifteen.

The book was rather predictable, and I kind of wish I hadn't bought it in hardcover, but it was still good. I particularly liked the way Raven and Ai talked. Their language sounded very real to me.