A Seven Letter Word

by Kim Slater

Finlay's mother vanished two years ago. And ever since then his stutter has become almost unbearable. Bullied at school and ignored by his father, the only way to get out the words which are bouncing around in his head is by writing long letters to his ma which he knows she will never read, and by playing Scrabble online. But when Finlay is befriended by an online Scrabble player called Alex, everything changes. Could it be his mother secretly trying to contact him? Or is there something more sinister going on? 

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Middle Grade, Family, Realistic Fiction, Friendship

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Librarian Note: Kim Slater is a pen name of K.L. Slater, at which site biographical information may be found.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I feel as though I know Finlay personally. Gutted when the book ended.

[Hollybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story. I fell in love with the main character Finley, and thought the storyline was just superb.

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆

This was so good. I felt like it was everything I needed at the moment. A quick, entertaining mystery book. Some things were just not for me, but overall, it is worth it.

[libbyy ꨄ︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely heart warming!!

[Chey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved how easy this read. Finley is maybe somewhat naive but he is only fourteen.

I needed a easy read and this was perfect.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating = 3.5/5

A Seven-Letter Word is a fun and quick read about a 14-year-old buy suffering from a stutter so the story is also quite sad at times. I did find the idea of the story pretty original, especially the way the story revolved around the board game, Scrabble. There is a different rule, tip or fact about Scrabble at the beginning of each chapter so it was actually quite interesting. The story also highlights certain words and the points they would gain a player in Scrabble.

I really liked the main character, Finlay. He's just really sweet and does have a hard-time of it (especially with bullies). It was amazing to see how much his character develops throughout the story. To begin with, he barely speaks (even to his dad), but as the story progresses he slowly gains the confidence to speak out more. However, I did think he was a bit naive, but he is 14 so I'm going to let that slide.

I also liked Maryam. She's definitely the person that gives Finlay the confidence to start speaking again. She even helps Finlay with techniques to help his stammer. They really do become great friends. I think Maryam is just a genuinely lovely person.

A Seven-Letter Word is told from Finlay's perspective. This was fantastic as showing how he fights with himself to get words out. It makes you realise just how much of a struggle living with a stammer is. I didn't find Finlay's story predictable at all either. I was completely wrong with who I thought Alex really was. It came as quite a surprise to me.

The short chapters that make up A Seven-Letter Word made the story progress at a nice, quick pace. I read it so quickly. The plot doesn't lag either. It has a nice pace that is maintained steadily throughout.

I also thought the ending was lovely. Most of the plot points are tied up nicely and it appears that Finlay will receive the answers he has been needing over the past two years.

I enjoyed A Seven-Letter Word. It's a very different book, in my opinion. It highlights a speech disorder that I haven't seen highlighted in a book before. As the characters are quite young and the story is an easy read, I think I'd recommend A Seven-Letter Word to younger teenagers. Though I think many others would enjoy the story too.

I received a copy of A Seven-Letter Word via Netgalley.

This review and many more can be found at My Expanding Bookshelf.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A Seven-Letter Word was a quick and fun read that still got me thinking about certain things. It just didn't completely blow me away or anything, which is why I only give it 3 stars.

The main character Finlay stutters. And when his mother disappeared two years ago the stutter got even worse. He is bullied for it and avoids speaking most of the time. He used to play Scrabble with his mother and he is still very passionate about it. He plays it online and eventually starts playing it at the club in his school.

There were things I absolutely loved in this book; for example the side character Maryam. She is a Pakistani girl who used to play Scrabble at tournaments and she ends up 'coaching' Finlay to become better at Scrabble. I really enjoyed their friendship and her just in general. The way she helps him with his stutter and supports him warmed my heart.

Something I wasn't a big fan of was how most of the adults treated Finlay because of his stutter. Or how the teachers disregarded the bullying Finlay and Maryam suffered from??? I'm pretty sure someone must've noticed? I don't know, it just didn't sit well with me.

Overall I think this was a good book but maybe just not for me.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Seven-Letter Word is such a heartwarming story about friendship, family and being confident to overcome all obstacles that may arrive on one's path. For fourteen year old, Finlay who stammers and stutters with his speech, he has to deal with bullies and the person he loves walking away from his life. Its a journey of rediscovering himself along with the people around him through scrabble and mystery.

At first, I really thought it was a middle grade book and that was until I was drafting up my book review post for this story that it states that this is in fact a Young Adult. For me, I always see a certain light when it comes to middle grade books so I suppose thats why I thought this book was one. It just has the quality of the past middle grade books I've read in the past, full of conflict and realistic issues and most of all the ending that is always bright and full of happiness.

I mainly picked this book up because I wanted a light book to read but what I got instead was a warm book about a boy who is passionate about scrabble and the motivation to find his mother who walked out of his life two years ago. He uncovers the mystery that was so much more than what appeared as it is. I had so much fun reading this story and it was such an interesting book through games, fighting off bullies and solving the mystery through clues.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When his mother disappeared two years ago, Finlay McIntosh was lost. He had always struggled with his stutter, and playing scramble with mam was a way of improving it. Now though, his stutter is worse than ever, and his days are filled with bullies at school, and then being ignored by his dad. Finding a new friend on an online Scrabble forum, Finlay feels happy for once. But soon it seems his new friend, Alex, knows a lot about him mam, and what started out as friendship might have taken a turn for the sinister.

This book was so strange. I honestly didn't know what to expect from it, but definitely not where it eventually went. I felt sorry for Finlay, and felt like his school really needed to step up for him. Luckily, he had the school librarian to help him, and a few people who grew to be friends with him. The plot line with Alex was one that started as a nice one, where he had someone who he could talk too, but he obviously had no idea of stranger danger, because he gave them too much information, too quickly, and it was bound to turn bad. From then, though, it took a turn for the ridiculous, and I ended up skimming the final few chapters. I think younger readers would enjoy it, but it wasn't a hit for me.

[Oana Crâmpeie de suflet · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Un cuvânt din șapte litere” este o poveste extrem de emoționantă despre puterea cuvintelor, a curajului de a te ridica deasupra celorlalți și a continua să lupți pentru ceea ce îți dorești, indiferent de ceea ce ți se întâmplă în viață. Este o carte a prieteniei și a urmării unui fel de fir al Ariadnei pentru a afla adevărul despre cele întâmplate și nu este vorba de unul comod, pentru că un părinte a dispărut fără a oferi vreun motiv familiei sale, iar un copil a rămas în urmă. În același timp, este un îndemn pentru persoanele care suferă de orice fel de incapacitate să iasă din carapace și să își urmeze visele. Nu există imposibilul atunci când privești totul cu sufletul.



https://crampeiedesufletblog.wordpres...

[Niyati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a book which was about a boy who had a stutter but ironically he had a stutter! It was a mystery book and it definitely had a very unpredictable end with a twist. I have now read 2 books by this author, Kim Slater. She is a very skillful writer whom I would certainly recommend to anyone who enjoys reading mystery books. I would rate this book 3/5!

[annie furness · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot and how you saw the characters progress through a game but at points the plot was very drawn out and sometimes dull to read. In my opinion, the best bit was the beginning and the first few chapters where you are introduced to everyone and the plot is only just starting.

[Emily White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice and short, easy read which was very much needed after reading quite a few heavy, tense books recently. I managed to finished this book in two days! I loved the characters and how everyone had their own struggles - even if some are more obvious than others. Next time, I would like the ending of the book to be slower rather than come to the abrupt halt that it did.

[c ♡Aliutza♡☕︎︎୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se putea mai bine...m

[LoisReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finley McIntosh is a scrabble genius with a severe stutter. He is a changed lad to the one that his mother left behind. One day she just vanished and now his Dad won’t even mention her name. The only things that are left behind for Finlet to remember his Mum by is a bag of scrabble tiles and an empty journal. Finley meets an online scrabble player that makes a chance remark that changes everything. Finley thinks he has found a major clue that might help him find his missing Mum. He will do everything that he possibly can do to find out the truth. Question is can he find his voice before it is too late.

This is such an inspirational story of a teenager trying to find his voice. Finley has to cope with so many problems, much more than any teenager should. His Dad chain-smokes, his Mum has just left him, he is getting bullied, all on top of his having a severe stutter.

This book covers a wide range of topics ranging from racism and bullying to family issues. I think this book is the perfect coming of age story because of the wide range of topics that it covers.

This is the first of Kim Slater’s books that I have read but now I cannot wait to read her debut book “Smart”. Kim Slater tells this story beautifully, she really captivates you and takes you into Finley’s world.

The variety of characters in this book I feel works really well. Finley is an extremely inspirational character who you empathise with throughout the book. Finley’s father again is someone you empathise with, he has just lost his wife and the struggles he faces because of this are really well written. Maryam is also an inspirational character she has to deal with a lot of racism being thrown her way and how she deals with this is incredible.

However, I would have loved to see more development of each of the characters. I got so drawn into this world that I really wish I had learnt more about each of them. Also I would have liked a bit more development of Finley’s mothers story arc.

Overall, this book is one I would recommend to many teenagers who are dealing with the many struggles of teenage life. Kim Slater tells this story beautifully and I can’t wait to read more of her books.

Check this review and more on my blog http://loisreadsbooks.wordpress.com

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finlay is a young teen with a stammer and a talent for playing scrabble. It was him and his mum's thing to do but as his mum disappeared two years ago from him and his dad's lives and hasn't made contact since.



So when online playing scrabble, Alex, a stranger, starts talking to Finlay and coincidentally mentions they have had a new stepmum for the past two years and she walked out on her family, Finlay wants to investigate believing she could be his mum.



Meanwhile, he has to contend with the school bully Oliver whom is a part of the school scrabble team Finlay ends up joining where he befriends Maryam, a refugee girl whom has to put up with bullying from Oliver also.



Then Finlays house gets broken in to, clues on his mum's things become apparent and suddenly, Finlay finds out his mum wasn't as perfect as he first believed...



The book deals with a lot of serious topics from racial bullying to the pressure of making friends and of course the book's main topic, of stammering. It's ironic Finlay is so good with written words as he can't articulate himself clearly verbally. It was great combining a mystery with a medical/life problem and stammers are rarely written about in children's fiction too which makes it even better and hopefully if anyone reads it whom had a stammer will feel at ease with a relatable character written about.

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finlay has got more than one PROBLEM. He lives alone with his father, who chain-smokes in between trips out to do odd jobs for people, and seems to have reduced his worth to just one recipe since his wife, Finlay's mother, vanished two years ago. Things are still bitter with him – he says she might as well be dead – but the issue manifests itself badly with Finlay, and he has grown into suffering quite a severe STUTTER, which leads to no end of TEASING at school. His one way out, it seems, is for a change an eight-letter word, SCRABBLE – he can hide away from the mismanagement of words that his speaking implies he has over a set of tiles and can play a decent game. But what happens when he is contacted online by a mysterious Alex – is this possibly a way to combine his love of the word game with his quest for the truth about his mother's ABSENCE?

Please feel to read the rest of my very positive review, at http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...

[Fiona Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second fantastic book by the author of Smart, which was one of my top reads in 2016. Finlay stammers, and this has gotten worse since his mother took off 2 years ago. He is being bullied and this is increasing in severity, but his dad is only just coping and doesn't really notice anything. There are two good things in Finlay's life - his hamster Neville, and online Scrabble, which has replaced the board version he and his mum played. Finlay makes a new friend, Alex, through this, as well as becoming involved with the school's Scrabble club, where he meets senior student Maryam. But are these new friends really interested in him?
A great read which I will be promoting, and hooray, a male protagonist with a fairly positive ending!

[Chloe]

I really love the book, I could almost feel what Finlay- the 14-year-old boy with a stutter that got worse when his mum left. he goes through trials an hard ships while he tries to discover more about why his mum left.

Its hard with a stutter for him because he is bullied, as people believe that since he has a stutter- he is dumb. that is not the case as Finlay is an intelligent boy that is really good at scrabble.

Finlay has many questions and worries as he makes his first friend, and also worry about a person who he met on line, by the name of Alex whose dad is connected to the disappearance of his mum.

I really love this book and hope that I might be able to read it again in the near future.

[Miriam Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Seven Letter Word is one of the most astounding books I have read for a long time. Author Kim Slater uses a seeming simply story about teenager Finlay playing scrabble and trying to find out why his mum left her family, to weave together many complex and challenging subjects found in society in this book for teens and young readers. A Seven Letter Word highlights the issues of: bullying, racism, hints of domestic abuse and intimidation, corruption, and the risks of befriending a stranger on the internet, all of which are dealt with carefully and maturely.

Although A Seven Letter Word is advertised as being for readers 10+, I can see no reason why people of all ages would not find this story interesting and compelling.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a case of what happens when a book tries to be too much. I would have really loved this book if it had just been a story about a boy with a stutter, who learns to be heard while playing Scrabble and making new friends.

But, alas, it wasn't just that story. Instead, there are missing mothers, suspicious goings-on, and everything else that went on in this book to make it a mishmash of weird storylines the affair! the stolen information! the whole subplot with crazy man! the pregnancy! OH MY GOD it was insane!!!! . I really feel that this book could have been great if it was a lot less. Instead, I didn't find myself liking it much at all.

[Mollie Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I personally felt like I was Finlay's friend! He is such a loveable character and I was always excited to read more and more each day!
This book really does stand out to me as I believe it is promoting the idea that just because people are different, it shouldn't stop them doing what they want and enjoy and it shouldn't stop them being friends with certain people.
The bond between Finlay and Maryam in this book is really wonderful and I definitely recommend reading 'A Seven Letter Word'.

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read that will have you rooting for Finlay from the start.
Finlay has a stammer, but, ironically, is also a great Scrabble player. He uses Scrabble to remember his mum, who upped and left with no explanation some time ago.
There's a mystery there and, unsurprisingly, Finlay sorts everything out. One or two tense moments, and yet you always feel that things will be okay.
Like 'Smart', in this novel Slater manages to keep us engaged throughout and introduce us to an interesting cast of characters. We're also given some scares, while keeping everything relatively safe.

[Ms Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and think lots of others would like it too. I was pleased that the author did not find a simplistic cure for the main character's stammer. Kim Slater gives a good main plot and thought-provoking sub-plots involving the peripheral characters.

[Woff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scrabble rang truer than Susin Nielsen’s ‘Word Nerd’. But the foreshadowing fell a little flat when everything turned out so nicely. I probably shouldn’t complain about this when I keep reading kids’ books though lol.

[Roxana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story, full of learnings about love, family, sacrifice and perseverance.
Keen to reach the end, a very pleasant story, full of encouragement.
Easy to read, and food for the soul.
Touches sensitive topics about the bullying reality in schools.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle book about secrets, bullying, friendship and finding your voice.

[Rebecca Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but not a touch on 'Smart'. Good for junior readers, but a little basic for teens. Worth the read, but not outstanding.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as I thought it had and interesting plot and a good ending

[Daniela Began · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fapt: nu lăsa un cuvânt din 7 litere să te definească!
O carte tristă, dar plină de motivație. Merită citită!