<B>A novelization of the inspirational movie about an 11- year-old girl in South Los Angeles named Akeelah and her quest to make it to the Scripps National Spelling Beewith help from some very unexpected places.</B><br/><br/><I>Akeelah and the Bee</I> is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer, <I>Barbershop 2</I> and <I>Madea's Family Reunion</I>), a precocious 11-year-old girl from South Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother, Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal; and the proud residents of her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl. 8- page color photo insert.