Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring tale of Black speller's triumph despite racism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
At the beginning of HOW DO YOU SPELL UNFAIR?: MACNOLIA COX AND THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE, we meet young MacNolia, who loves words and reads the dictionary for fun. In 1936, she becomes the first African American to win the spelling bee in her city of Akron, Ohio, and her prize is $25 and a train trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. But once she crosses into the segregated Southern state of Maryland, she and her mother are forced to move to a Blacks-only train car. And when they arrive in D.C., they have to stay at a Black doctor's house because the hotel where the other spellers are staying is for White customers only. MacNolia and the one other African American speller have to sit at a separate table onstage at the bee, apart from the table for White contestants. "Can you spell racism? R-A-C-I-S-M." The judges even violate the stated rules to keep MacNolia from winning. "Can you spell unfair? U-N-F-A-I-R." Even though she doesn't win, the book celebrates her achievement in breaking barriers and getting as far as she did. She inspired African American kids who came after her, including, an epilogue explains, the one who eventually did win the National Spelling Bee—but not until 2021.
Is It Any Good?
This inspiring biography celebrates an African American girl's impressive achievement while revealing the discrimination she faced in the segregated South. How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee shows the impact of racism with clear and simple examples that kids can understand. Illustrator Frank Morrison effectively uses close-ups on faces to amplify the emotional twists and turns, and his amazing art perfectly captures the era, with spreads featuring African American heroes of the day: dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, jazz musician Fats Waller, boxing champ Joe Louis, and track star Jesse Owens. Carole Boston Weatherford deftly weaves the spelling theme into her story. Even though MacNolia didn't win, she held her head up high. "Can you spell proud? P-R-O-U-D."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the discrimination in How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee. Why do you think White people wanted to keep Black people out of their train cars, hotels, and spelling bees?
How is MacNolia Cox a model of courage and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Which picture in How Do You Spell Unfair? is your favorite? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Frank Morrison
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : April 11, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 7 - 10
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Selection , Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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