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Cover of The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman

The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman

Meg Wolitzer (2011)

SubgenreHigh Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG
Pages (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age10
Goodreads3.65
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Content levels

ViolenceNone
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Not yet tagged

Positive tags

FriendshipComing of AgeSelf-DiscoveryHopeful Ending

Hero archetypes

Bookish / Nerdy Hero

Heroine archetypes

Outspoken Heroine

Protagonist archetypes

Multiple POVsComing-of-Age Protagonist

Tropes

Coming of AgeFound FamilyFish out of WaterQuest

Themes

CompetitionSelf-DiscoveryFriendshipIdentityPurpose Beyond WinningPersonal Growth

Synopsis

Twelve-year-olds Duncan Dorfman, April Blunt, and Nate Saviano meet at the Youth Scrabble Tournament where, although each has a different reason for attending and for needing to win, they realize that something more important is at stake than the grand prize.

Is The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 10 and up.

A wholesome middle grade story about three kids competing in a Scrabble tournament who discover friendship and personal growth matter more than winning. No content concerns.

What to know going in

This book has no graphic violence, no sexual content, and clean language.

Who'll love this

Three kids meet at a big Scrabble tournament and find out that making friends and figuring out who they are matters more than the trophy.

Tags

Contemporary FantasyTournament StoryMiddle Grade Competition