Word Nerd

Word Nerd. By Susin Nielsen. Tundra Books, 2008. 256 pages. Tr. $ 18.95 ISBN 978-0887768750

Summary: Twelve-year-old Ambrose Bukowski lives with his single, overprotective mother in Vancouver, Canada. Within his lifespan, they’ve moved frequently, which hasn’t helped Ambrose make friends. Couple that his peanut allergy, his curious fashion sense, interest in words, and ability at choosing the worst words at the worst possible time, and you have the makings of a nerd. With his correspondence course beginning, Ambrose is even more removed from those his age. Will he ever develop the courage to stand up to his mother’s plans, or will his life forever be ruined by her neurotic protection?

Critical Review: Word Nerd is relatable to tweens whose lives differ from the majority, especially those who are home-schooled, nourish unusual interests or aspirations, and who find it difficult to make friends. Ambrose successfully develops friendships with members of all ages from the Scrabble Club. Through his neighbor, Cosmo, Ambrose learns the power that comes with looking beyond individual differences. Above all, Ambrose understands that we all have problems, but that we can learn to move beyond them.

Genre: Realistic Fiction; Humor; Friendship

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years

Awards: Winner of the 2010 Red Maple Award; Winner of the 2010 Rocky Mountain Book Award; Winner of the 2010 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards; Winner of ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year - Silver 2008 Juvenile Fiction; Nominated for the 2010 Golden Oak Award; Nominated for the 2009 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award; Shortlisted for the 2009 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award; Shortlisted for the 2009 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards; One of The Globe and Mail's "Susan Perren's Top 10 Children's Books for '08"; Shortlisted for the 2010 Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Willow Award

Reviews: School Library Journal (December 1, 2008)

Booklist (Nobember 1, 2008)

 Author Website: http://www.susinnielsen.com/

Similar Materials: Dear George Clooney: Please Marry my Mom - Susin Neilsen (2010)

Subject/Themes: loneliness; overprotective parents; peanut allergies; scrabble clubs; correspondence schools; mothers and sons; single parent families; conformity; friendship; Vancouver, British Columbia; Canada 

Character Names: Ambrose Bukowski; Irene Bukowski; Mr. Acheson; Mr. and Mrs. Economopouloses; Cosmo Economopouloses; Amanda Svecova; Silvio

Brief Annotation: A lonely twelve-year old Vancouver boy finds genuine friendship by joining a scrabble club.