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Akeelah and the Bee

by James Ellison, Doug Atchison

3.65 · rating details · 65 ratings · 17 reviews

A novelization of the inspirational movie about an 11-year-old girl in South Los Angeles named Akeelah and her quest to make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee--with help from some very unexpected places.
"Akeelah and the Bee" is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer, "Barbershop 2" and "Madea's Family Reunion"), a precocious 11-year...more

Paperback, 192 pages

Published August 7th 2006 by Newmarket

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Dec 30, 2011

Hema rated it

I remember watching this movie in ABC Channel (I think), when I was in USA. It was a very motivating and uplifting story of a young black girl, winning big overcoming her trepidation and emotional struggles along her way. I did not know that it had a novel version and I normally don't read the novel after watching any movie (It just spoils the whole experience, in my opinion). For instance, "The DaVinci Code" was a better novel than a movie. Then there is Julie and Julia movie whic...moreI remember watching this movie in ABC Channel (I think), when I was in USA. It was a very motivating and uplifting story of a young black girl, winning big overcoming her trepidation and emotional struggles along her way. I did not know that it had a novel version and I normally don't read the novel after watching any movie (It just spoils the whole experience, in my opinion). For instance, "The DaVinci Code" was a better novel than a movie. Then there is Julie and Julia movie which was far better than the novel, "Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen". But it was interesting when I learnt that this novel was the screen play adaptation of the movie. The author has done full justice. Since I had already watched the movie, Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne, enacted the whole novel in my head. It was Dough Atchinson's (Film Director) 10 years work into this film and it has paid off well.

The story is about a 11 years old Akeelah Anderson, who is smart, brilliant, yet is scared to stand out and make a difference. She is scared because that would naturally make her the punching bag of her school and make her do other's home work. She knows well to blend in and never make that mistake. But her teachers find her gift and make her participate in the Scribbs National Spelling Bee contest. She is at first scared and reluctant, but she takes up the challenge just to avoid summer school. She trains hard under the guidance of the English Professor Joshua Larabee. He teaches her how to understand and appreciate the language and its words. He makes her understand the origin, the meaning, its suffixes and prefixes rather than just memorize each and every word like a machine. The two of them form a very friendly bond, and see their lost father and child in each other. Akeelah makes huge progress and goes all the way till the finals. She makes a lot of friends on the way, but she also loses her best friend who supported her even before the whole world. In the meanwhile she also has one tough competitor Dylan Watanabe who has come second in the nationals for two years in a row. She detest and despise him and they hold contempt for each other.

At one stage, Dr Larabee backs out from his coaching, leaving Akeelah to do the competition on her own. Akeelah is shaken and taken aback emotionally. She could not understand Dr.Larabee's decision but tries and prepares for the contest. In one eventful meeting between the coach and the student, they start to understand each other's feelings and emotionally warm up to each other.

Akeelah and Dylan at one stage understand the true meaning of a competition and do something so beautiful and mature that it goes to make history. It is a very beautiful story encouraging children to use their gifts, prove their talents in spite of the many hurdles they may come to face. Read the story to find out what happened in the finals of the competition; it was quite interesting. I have to quote a beautiful quote from the book which says the essence of the book.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Fear diminished you, and it diminished you because it made you face your shortcomings. And yet we ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be those things? Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same
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May 06, 2010

Shanjida Kibria rated it

When I first saw this book, I thought it was just going to be a book about a girl over coming racism, which believe me is great for her but I felt the issue was a little over done or common. But when I did read it, it was mostly about a girl who ended up wanting to prove people wrong and take her potential to the next level which was in spelling. After loosing her father and having her favorite and good brother leaving for the air force, she discovered it would be best to listen to her principal...more

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Feb 24, 2011

Melissa rated it

This is a short, easy read, and the story is pretty good. However, much like a picture that is sharp in the middle and blurred around the edges, some of the characters are fairly well-defined, and much information is available about them, whereas others are very general, almost two-dimensional in how they are portrayed. I realize that part of that is simply dependent on how much interaction Akeelah has with them, but in my opinion, there are too many characters like that, which takes away some...more

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May 15, 2009

Endah rated it

· review of another edition

Lomba mengeja, di negeri kita belum pernah diselenggarakan. Tetapi, di Amerika Serikat lomba tersebut diadakan setiap tahun dalam skala nasional. Pesertanya para siswa sekolah dasar dan menengah, berusia 10-15 tahun. Kedengarannya sepele, namun ternyata mengeja sebuah kata yang sulit dan “asing” tidaklah mudah. Butuh intelegensia tinggi, kemampuan menghapal, dan penguasaan kamus yang baik, bukan sekadar melek huruf.

Akeelah Anderson, seorang bocah perempuan kulit hitam berusia 11 tah...moreLomba mengeja, di negeri kita belum pernah diselenggarakan. Tetapi, di Amerika Serikat lomba tersebut diadakan setiap tahun dalam skala nasional. Pesertanya para siswa sekolah dasar dan menengah, berusia 10-15 tahun. Kedengarannya sepele, namun ternyata mengeja sebuah kata yang sulit dan “asing” tidaklah mudah. Butuh intelegensia tinggi, kemampuan menghapal, dan penguasaan kamus yang baik, bukan sekadar melek huruf.

Akeelah Anderson, seorang bocah perempuan kulit hitam berusia 11 tahun, tinggal di sebuah permukiman miskin di distrik Los Angeles Selatan, ditugaskan sekolahnya untuk mengikuti lomba mengeja tingkat nasional setelah memenangi lomba yang sama di tingkat distrik.

Ini adalah kali pertama Akeelah mengikuti lomba mengeja dan langsung menduduki peringkat ketiga di tingkat wilayah serta berhak maju ke tingkat nasional yang berlangsung di ibukota, Washington D.C. Di sana kelak, Akeelah akan berhadapan dengan para peserta dari seluruh Amerika Serikat, termasuk Dylan Watanabe, runner up tahun lalu.

Novel yang berjudul asli Akeelah And The Bee ini semula adalah naskah yang dibuat untuk film layar lebar oleh Doug Atchinson dan memenangi penghargaan Nicholl Fellowship tahun 2000. Atchinson sekaligus juga bertindak sebagai sutradara. Naskah ini kemudian diadaptasi menjadi novel oleh James W.Ellison, seorang novelis yang telah menerbitkan tujuh buah novel termasuk Finding Forrester (juga dari naskah film). Edisi Indonesianya diterjemahkan oleh penyair gaek Sapardi Djoko Damono. Sayangnya, penyuntingannya masih kurang sempurna, sebab masih terdapat banyak salah eja dan salah ketik yang cukup mengganggu pembaca.

Buku Akeelah ini memuat pesan, khususnya bagi anak-anak, agar tak cepat putus asa dalam meraih cita-cita dan kemenangan. Semua keberhasilan tidaklah datang ujug-ujug dari surga, tetapi mesti diperjuangkan sekuat daya dan upaya. Tokoh Akeelah yang berasal dari satu keluarga kulit hitam miskin mewakili kaum urban minoritas di Amerika yang termarjinalkan.

Akeelah dan ketiga orang kakaknya diasuh oleh orangtua tunggal (ibu) sebab sang ayah telah meninggal dunia. Dengan tanggungan 4 orang anak yang tengah meningkat dewasa, tentulah beban hidup menjadi tidak ringan bagi Tania Anderson. Ia harus membanting tulang bekerja sebagai perawat.

Belum lagi beban sosial dan psikologis karena salah seorang anak lelakinya terlibat pergaulan tidak sehat dengan para anggota geng narkoba serta anak perempuannya memiliki bayi di luar nikah. Itu berarti bertambah satu mulut lagi yang harus dihidupinya. Tidak mengherankan jika kemudian ia tak punya banyak waktu untuk hal-hal kecil bagi anak-anaknya, khususnya si bungsu Akeelah. Problema khas masyarakat kelas bawah yang banyak dijumpai bukan saja di Amerika tetapi hampir di setiap negara.

Lewat Akeelah, novel ini ingin menyampaikan, bahwa siapapun bisa jadi pemenang selama ia mau berusaha keras dan berlaku jujur.

Perjalanan Akeelah menuju ‘puncak’ penuh liku-liku dan hambatan. Mulai dari sang ibu yang tidak mendukung karena menurutnya lomba tersebut tidak ada gunanya sampai kepada kesulitan mencari pelatih handal untuk mengajarnya mengeja dengan benar. Dr. Larabee yang sempat bersedia melatihnya, di saat-saat terakhir malah mengundurkan diri.Namun, Akeelah pantang menyerah. Dia mencari upaya lain agar tetap bisa ikut lomba demi mendiang ayah tercinta yang darinya ia mengenal dan belajar mencintai kata-kata.

Sayang sekali, saya belum sempat menyaksikan filmnya, sehingga tidak bisa membandingkannya di sini dengan bukunya. Tetapi bahwa ia merupakan sebuah cerita yang inspiratif dan membangkitkan motivasi, saya harus sepakat, walaupun temanya klise. Proses Akeelah dari bukan siapa-siapa menjelma seorang juara menjadi teladan yang patut ditiru oleh kita semua, terutama anak-anak. Untuk para orangtua buku/film ini memperlihatkan betapa pentingnya memberikan dukungan, perhatian, dan cinta kepada anak-anak. Anak-anak itu tak bisa tumbuh dan berkembang sendiri. Mereka, konon, adalah amanat Tuhan yang kudu dijaga baik-baik dan penuh tanggung jawab.***

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Jul 02, 2009

Harun Harahap rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: pernah-punya, fiksi, terjemahan, anak-hingga-remaja

gw kesenengan banged waktu liat buku ni di pameran..karena diriku suka banged sama pelm "Akeelah"..tapi setelah gw baca bukunya..yah kurang greget gimana gitu..trus agak aneeh cara penerjemahannya..padahal penerjemahnya Sapardi Djoko Damono..tapi entah kenapa pilihan kata n cara bertuurnya terasa janggal...

3 bintang aja deh..tapi untuk filmnya..5 BINTANGGGGGGG....

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Jan 03, 2011

Mary rated it

Shelves: poc-protagonist, middle-grade

While this book was perfectly enjoyable, it's one of the few books I've read that isn't as good as the movie - probably because the book is an adaptation of the movie, rather than the other way around.

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Feb 11, 2009

Bunga Mawar rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: buku-perpus-smart, children-teens, fiction, translated-into-indonesian

Inti dari cerita buku ini: Jadi siswa pintar di sekolah memang tidak selalu menyenangkan karena banyak teman bisa iri dan ingin menjatuhkanmu. Tapi kalau kamu benar2 pintar, terima nasib dong, lalu berbuat baiklah sebanyak-banyaknya dengan kepintaranmu itu.

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Feb 25, 2009

M. Sahid Sundana rated it

· review of another edition

Spelling itu gampang-gampang susah-susah,,hehehehe

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Aug 12, 2009

Speakercoret rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: hasil-swap, indonesian

hasil swap di kampung rambutan ma harun dalam perjalanan menuju kopdar bogor :)

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Jun 28, 2009

Debbie rated it

loved it. read it!

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Sep 20, 2007

Ti3wi3 rated it

perjuangan seorang gadis cilik -akeelah anderson yang berusia 12 tahun dalam mengikuti perlombaan Spelling bee dari tingkat sekolah sampai akhirnya dia memenangkan lomba di tingkat nasional....

Novel ini merupakan novel dari naskah film yang berjudul sama yang disutradari oleh Doug Atchinson

· see review

Jun 02, 2011

Imas rated it

· review of another edition

Akeelah Anderson,gadis kecil penyuka kata2 berjuang dlm ajang kompetisi mengeja alias spelling bee.Biasanya buku dijadikan film,bukunya lbh bgs dari filmnya,tp kali ini filmnya lbh bgs daripd bukunya..Mungkin krn terjemahan,tp cerita nya tetap menarik..

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Nov 18, 2008

Punya rated it

Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Punya by: My English Teacher

I really like this book becuase it is about the dedication to a young girl to win the Scripts Regionals Spelling Bee and her two friends were also participating. Akeelah went from a gril who didn't care about the bee to a girl who won the Regional Bee!!!

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Oct 02, 2007

Mark rated it

Recommends it for: movie novelization enthusiast

Shelves: in-possessions, children-youngadults

What is more Starbucks-addict than reading a specific book, the novelization of Akeelah and The Bee, a movie sponsored by Starbucks, while sitting inside one of its store drinking caramel frappuccino and eating espresso brownies ?

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Sep 17, 2008

Evelyn rated it

I LEARNED THAT SPELLING BEES ARE REALLY BORING AND LONG AND PROBLEY ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO SPELL.

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May 06, 2008

Edziardo rated it

Shelves: inspiring, fiction

Bukunya biasa aja, mungkin karena novel translate-an kali ya, jadinya kurang menggigit aja...

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May 29, 2008

Yulia rated it

Mengubah diri sendiri berarti lebih banyak lagi yg berubah

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Feb 08, 2012

Underwood Family marked it as to-read

Feb 06, 2012

Laura Gibson rated it

Feb 06, 2012

Linda marked it as to-read

Feb 01, 2012

Mrs. Becker added it

Shelves: sixth-grade-ila-february

Jan 28, 2012

Amy Schroeder added it

Jan 12, 2012

Cammie rated it

Dec 14, 2011

Megan marked it as to-read

Dec 13, 2011

Leah Petty added it

Dec 10, 2011

Christina marked it as to-read

Dec 05, 2011

Andre added it

Nov 21, 2011

Brenna added it

Nov 04, 2011

Kasey rated it

Shelves: 6th

Oct 17, 2011

Maureen Stinger rated it

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