Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lively, heart-filled tale of words, ciphers, family secrets.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As FINAL WORD: THE WINTERTON DECEPTION, BOOK 1 opens, narrator Hope, 13, her twin brother Gordon, and their single mom Betty, who live in poverty in a motel room, are surprised to be invited to participate in a wealthy family's spelling bee. But because the prize money could keep them housed and the twins out of foster care, they agree. Complicating things are at play -- Hope and Gordon have recently discovered that their unknown dad, who their mom never mentions, is the wealthy family's long-dead son, and while Hope wants nothing to do with the lot of them, Gordon is hungry for more family connection. Once they get to the family mansion in the woods, they face ferocious, obsessive competition from their newfound secret relatives, at least one of whom is willing to use violence. Will Gordon find the connections he dreams of? Will the kids stay out of foster care? Will the Wintertons turn out to be friends or foes -- or maybe both? Plenty of surprises and plot twists as all this plays out.
Is It Any Good?
Janet Sumner Johnson spins a wild, heart-filled tale of ciphers, puzzles, spelling bees, and long-buried secrets as poor teens meet their wealthy long-lost relatives at the family's forest mansion. Before the Final Word has been spelled and Jane Austen's manuscript rediscovered, there are plot twists and perils galore, plus lots of poignant moments as twins Hope and Gordon, 13, who've always been a unit, start to seek new friends -- and discover that people who seemed scary, perfect, and snobby have relatable troubles of their own. The fast-moving plot keeps surprises coming right up to an ending that sets up further adventures in the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories involving long-lost relatives, and what happens when they reconnect. How do you think the way Final Word deals with the theme compares with other such tales?
Have you ever competed in a spelling bee? How did it go? What is the word you will remember forever?
Do you know any adults who have a problem with gambling (or any other "vice")? How does it affect them and their loved ones?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Pixel+Ink
- Publication date : October 31, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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