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A Seven Letter Word
by
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
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Paperback, 304 pages
Published
January 1st 2020
by Macmillan Children's Books
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Start your review of A Seven Letter Word
I absolutely loved this book. I feel as though I know Finlay personally. Gutted when the book ended.
Such a beautiful story. I fell in love with the main character Finley, and thought the storyline was just superb.
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.
I needed a easy read and this was perfect.
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.
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 reall ...more
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 reall ...more
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!
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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.
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.
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.
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 every
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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 i ...more
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 i ...more
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 fo
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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 be
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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 charac ...more
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 charac ...more
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.
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A gentle book about secrets, bullying, friendship and finding your voice.
Enjoyable, but not a touch on 'Smart'. Good for junior readers, but a little basic for teens. Worth the read, but not outstanding.
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I enjoyed this as I thought it had and interesting plot and a good ending
A very heartfelt novel, that I feel within it, it had a lot of life lessons. Amongst the many things I appreciated in this novel, I think what I appreciated the most was the honesty that seemed to be oozing out of this novel. It was clear that Finlay's stammer was a large focus of the novel, and the author never shied away from that, it is definitely a confronting issue to face, and the author wrote about it in a respectful and creative manner.
Throughout the novel, it was awesome to watch Finla ...more
Throughout the novel, it was awesome to watch Finla ...more
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 scho ...more
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 scho ...more
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 b ...more
At first, I really thought it was a middle grade book and that was until I was drafting up my b ...more
Kim Slater will be well known to readers for her previous middle grade titles, Smart, 928 Miles From Home and The Boy Who Lied. Her narrator is Finlay, a teenage boy who since his mother’s disappearance has been neglected and bullied. Her leaving left Finlay, who already had difficulties expressing himself, with a pronounced stutter; a feature that makes him a target at school. His place of refuge is the online game of SCRABBLE, a place where he can have success and express his thoughts. The opp
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When I found the book on the library shelf, I thought it was gonna be scrabble words clues littered throughout the span of the book that will lead to the finding of the missing mom. It wasn't what I expected but nevertheless still a great read. Not sure why it's classified under Young Adult fiction though, but it was a heartwarming short read. Not very deep, but touched on every aspects of love and caring. Finlay's dad's love for him, his love for his wife, of course Finlay's love for her little
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I always seem to find the best books when I’m not looking for them. I picked this one up because of the fact that the main character, Finlay, had a last name the same as someone I know.
This book I reckon is for any age really; it’s a mystery/reality about a teenage boy called Finlay McIntosh who has developed a stutter ever since his mum vanished. When Finlay meets Alex through online scrabble, he thinks Alex might have something to do with his Mum’s disappearance. The novel follows Finlay tryi ...more
This book I reckon is for any age really; it’s a mystery/reality about a teenage boy called Finlay McIntosh who has developed a stutter ever since his mum vanished. When Finlay meets Alex through online scrabble, he thinks Alex might have something to do with his Mum’s disappearance. The novel follows Finlay tryi ...more
This book was brilliant! It tells the story of a teenage boy who is left heartbroken when his mother leaves without a proper explanation or before he has a chance to say goodbye. He is a shy, reserved boy who often let's his stutter get the better of him in social situations. However, Finlay's determination grows throughout the book. He becomes a brave competitor in many respects as he progresses in his pursuits of friendship, acceptance, overcoming his stutter and searching for his mum. He come
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I can't overstate how much I loved this thoughtful, sensitive, warm book about a boy with a stammer who's looking for his mother. It also deals with racism and bullying very well. And if you like Scrabble, you'll be amazed at how intelligently Kim Slater uses the game throughout the book. Only mid-April and I've already found one of my favourite reads of the year. Now I want to read everything Kim Slater has written.
One quibble: The reference towards the end to a girl with long black hair and al ...more
One quibble: The reference towards the end to a girl with long black hair and al ...more
A light and heart-warming read. Exactly what I needed after reading a book that talks about heavy stuff. Even so, this is actually a sad story, kind of, if you can relate with the main character, Finlay. But I am glad the author didn't focus on that. I love all the characters development; Finlay, his dad, Maryam, and Oliver too. All in all it's a good story and im glad I've read it. It reminds me of my childhood.
Special thanks to my best friend, S, for giving me her copy of her favourite book. I ...more
Special thanks to my best friend, S, for giving me her copy of her favourite book. I ...more
3.5 stars. Next YTF book. A sweet story about Finlay, coping with the disappearance of his mother 2 years ago and living with a stammer. Scrabble is his outlet; it helps him make sense of the world. He meets an online player who seems to hold the key to his mother's whereabouts..but he ends up in a whole lot of trouble before things work out. A little far-fetched but Finlay is a likeable character and you really do end up rooting for him.
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This was such a cute, charming read, especially for someone who's obsessed with scrabble. This book really reminded me why I love scrabble so much, and I might've finished the book yesterday had I not been distracted by playing the game (lol). Finlay was such a little cinnamon roll and I really appreciated the mystery aspect that this story brought forward as well. Although not one of my favourite books, it was definitely an enjoyable read!
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This was such a sweet book!!! I loved Finlay, though his narrative did sound a bit younger for a 14 year old boy, but that's okay. I loved the plot and the twist that happened towards the end. Finlay's journey to overcome his insecurities about his stutter was amazing and he really did have a character growth. This is an easy, quick, and enjoyable read, do check it out!
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Librarian Note: Kim Slater is a pen name of K.L. Slater, at which site biographical information may be found.
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