American Bee

May 1, 2006
To the fans-those who've caught the ESPN broadcast of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee or the documentary Spellbound, among other outlets for the increasingly popular competition-Maguire's efforts to enliven his esoteric subject matter may prove superfluous, but his deft portrayal of the heart-stopping competition the Bee inspires will certainly catch the attention of the uninitiated. His profiles of the young spellers are amusing, occasionally touching and always impressive. The spellers' affinity for language leads to some great feats: David Tidmarsh, the 2004 champion, studied the entire Webster's Unabridged dictionary; Samir Patel, the 2005 runner-up, studied word lists all day, even while eating. Maguire's adulation for the spellers at times leads to excessive description, a problem complicated by the number of competitors, though his focus does eventually hone in on ten spellers competing in the 2005 Bee. His portraits of these spellers' preparations and personalities-Samir Patel's charming on-stage presence or Kerry Close's latent competitiveness-gives the reader ample reason to play favorites, giving the book a welcome touch of suspense. In addition, an impassioned description of the evolution of language in America sheds a new light on the Bee, and the worthiness of these competitive spellers' alacrity for the subject.

Starred review from May 15, 2006
The ability to spell under pressure on public occasions is not typically considered a necessary skill, but for young spellers longing to win the National Spelling Bee, it is not only necessary but a source of pride and pleasure. From the nail-biting denouement of the 2004 Bee, Maguire ("Impresario: The Life and Times of Ed Sullivan") moves on to brief sketches of some past winners and then takes an informative and wryly humorous look at the English language itself and the evolution of the American spelling bee from Puritan pastime to major media event. The heart of the story, however, is the 2005 Bee and five of its top contenders. The Bee itself, with its electrifying finale, is graphically depicted, with the contenders and their families rendered fully human by Maguire's vivid prose and gift for characterization. Much to his credit, and despite obvious admiration for his subjects, Maguire does not fail to consider the less-than-positive possibilities of placing so much pressure on adolescents, even when the adolescents are placing this pressure on themselves. This unique glimpse at the meeting place of intellectual achievement and competitive spirit, a place where at least a share of the American dream is available to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, belongs in every public library." - M.C. Duhig, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2006
Maguire, author of " Impresario: The Life and Times of Ed Sullivan" (2006), gives voice to our current national obsession with spelling bees. Focusing on the annual National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C., which features 250 finalists chosen from an initial pool of 10 million, Maguire paints a vivid portrait of the unique culture surrounding the event and its "geek chic" overtones. In clear, accessible prose, he gives the contest the high drama of a sporting event while profiling five extremely bright, precocious participants and their diverse ethnic backgrounds. As the stress of the competition kicks in, spellers variously faint, shout their words, clutch talismans, and hyperventilate. Maguire also details the history of spelling bees and of the English language and reveals the logic behind the compilation of the master list used in the national competition. What comes through most clearly here is the truly democratic nature of the bee and its spellers--the kids come from all kinds of schools, towns, ethnicities, and class levels--and the impassioned love of language that drives them. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)