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  • Published: 30 April 2018
  • ISBN: 9780143786696
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 288

The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery




India Wimple is off on another splendid spelling adventure!

India never wanted to enter the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, but with the encouragement of her town, her family and some newfound friends, she overcame her fears, made it all the way to the grand final at the Sydney Opera House and won!

Now that life is returning to normal, a special delivery arrives in Yungabilla, inviting India to the UK for the Stupendously Spectacular International Spelling Bee. But how can India go without her whole family by her side? The Yungabilla community might have a solution!

In London, India is reunited with her friend Rajish and a much more pleasant Summer. They meet new spellers, and are invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

But there is skulduggery afoot, with some rather mysterious goings-on and a series of accidents that seem to be not so accidental after all. They get so dangerous, in fact, that there is talk of cancelling the competition altogether.

India and her friends are determined to find out who the culprit is and get the competition back on track. There are words to be spelled, nerves to be overcome, and a champion to be found!

  • Published: 30 April 2018
  • ISBN: 9780143786696
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 288

About the author

Deborah Abela

After training as a teacher, Deb travelled to Africa where she was harassed by monkeys, caught in a desert sandstorm and thrown in jail . . . twice! She’s worked as a child wrangler and a rides operator at Luna Park, but her first real job was as writer/producer of a national children’s TV show at Network TEN. She has since become an internationally published and awarded author of 28 books including her cranky climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm. Her family’s survival in WW2 and migration to Australia inspired Teresa A New Australian. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery were inspired by her fantabulous Grade 4 teacher, Ms Gray. She’s also written picture books: Wolfie, An Unlikely Hero and the 2021 CBCA Notable, Bear in Space. The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is her love letter to books, booksellers, librarians and readers. Deb’s won awards for her work but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters. She’s a proud ambassador for the charities, Room to Read and Books in Homes. www.deborahabela.com

Also by Deborah Abela

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Praise for The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery

A story filled with words to spell, great friendships and of course a mystery to solve. You will be turning the pages to find who wants the competition cancelled, and whether India and her friends can save the day.

Vicki Thornton, Magpies

With incredible insight into the lives of children, Deborah Abela has crafted an engaging, unputdownable story that weaves the lives of India, Holly and Peter together as well as the familiar faces of Rajish and Summer as they compete while trying to get to the bottom of some mysterious mishaps ... Being able to put yourself in the shoes of the characters is the most important way to ensure the page is turned to see what happens to them and Abela has the ability to do this in spades.

Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, thebottomshelf.edublogs.org

Themes of friendship, confidence and self-belief, encouragement and overcoming insecurities, are the building blocks of this excellent, well-crafted middle grade novel. The fantastic characters sparkle with individual characteristics that endear them to the reader. Subtle emphasis is given to the importance of learning language and knowing how to use it well, which is what Deborah Abela has done with finesse.

Anastasia Gonis, kids-bookreview.com

This is a story that’s less about a spelling bee, and more about friendship, and standing up for one another, and most importantly standing up - and believing in - yourself.

Verushka Byrow, Reading Time

India is one of those great characters who wins your heart and stays with you . . . Kids who enjoy solving problems will relish this book. Kids who look for “something funny” will definitely find it here in Abela’s spot-on descriptions of life in our society, and adore the often slap-stick humour. Above all this is a feel-good story with a universal appeal, and I believe it will fly off library shelves.

thebookchook.com