Bookverdict.com

Gr 4–7—Three kids meet at a youth Scrabble tournament and help one another work through various issues. Nate has an overly competitive father, while April wants to get noticed by her sports-obsessed family. Duncan's situation is more complicated: he has the power to see things with his fingers, a potential secret weapon in Scrabble games. This fantastic element fits awkwardly into an otherwise realistic novel, and the fact that Duncan barely uses his talent for anything but Scrabble seems odd. The boy's eve...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Twelve-year-old Duncan's unexplained ability to read printed material by touch makes him good at cheating while pick...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

The discovery of Duncan’s special “power,”the only magical detail in an otherwise realistic story, is an engaging start to this enjoyable, often humorous, read. Duncan’s moral dilemma is explored in a convincing way: though he tells schoolmates about his power in order to gain popularity, he struggles with his conscience about how he’s willing to use the power. It’s gratifying when Duncan has a chance to see if it is “actually useful”or “just ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More