Word Nerd
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Andersen Press
Age 12+
Personal & Social Issues: Bullying, Violence & Abuse School Stories Family & Home Stories Humorous Stories
Ambrose Bukowski is a twelve-year-old with a talent for mismatching his clothes, for saying the wrong thing at the worst possible time, and for words. In short, he’s a self-described nerd. Making friends is especially hard because he and his overprotective mother, Irene, have had to move so often. And when bullies at his latest school almost kill him by deliberately slipping a peanut into his sandwich to set off his allergy, it's his mother who has the extreme reaction. From now on, Ambrose has to be home-schooled.
Then Ambrose strikes up an unlikely friendship with the landlord's son, Cosmo, an ex-con who's been in prison. They have nothing in common except for Scrabble. But a small deception grows out of control when Ambrose convinces a reluctant Cosmo to take him to a Scrabble club. Could this spell disaster for Ambrose?
Creators
Susin Nielsen got her start writing for popular television series, Degrassi Junior High. Since then, she’s written for many Canadian TV shows and her young adult novels have received considerable critical acclaim. Word Nerd and My Messed-Up Life won multiple Young Readers’ Choice Awards. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen won the UKLA Award, the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association’s Children’s Book of the Year and many Young Readers’ Choice Awards, while We Are All Made of Molecules was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Susin lives in Vancouver with her family and two extremely destructive cats.
Reviews
Ingenious and warm-hearted, Nielsen’s writing boasts believable, unpredictable characterisation
Guardian
A wonderfully funny and emotionally engaging story
The Bookseller
Ambrose’s voice is so authentic, endearing, kind and deliciously funny that he is totally believable. Readers will be swept up in his story and rooting for his success.
BookTrust
A feel-good story filled with memorable characters, and one that sneaks all sorts of truths about life past its readers too.
Lovereading4Kids
Ambrose Bukowski is the titular nerd and it’s in his delightful, disarming voice that Word Nerd unfolds … a funny, wry tale
Globe and Mail
This is a tender, often funny story with some really interesting characters. It will appeal to word nerds, but even more to anyone who has ever longed for acceptance or had to fight unreasonable parental restrictions
School Library Journal, starred review
Enlivened by the witty, articulate musings of a hyper-observant and eccentric protagonist, Word Nerd is also chock-full of valuable lessons about being yourself and giving second chances. A page-turner
Quill & Quire
A funny, tender and quirky story with lots of heart
Dundee Courier
With strong characterisation, an appealing narrative voice and wonderful writing, this is a book that you will struggle to put down.
The Bookbag
