“This is a tender, often funny story with some really interesting characters. It will appeal to word nerds, but even more to anyone who has ever longed for acceptance or had to fight unreasonable parental restrictions.”
– Starred Review, School Library Journal
“Nielson … crafts a … compelling story. You want to dislike Ambrose, with his narrow interests (Scrabble), his dire peanut allergy, his social ineptitude, and his clingy relationship with his horrible mother, but you can’t.”
– Recommended by CM Magazine
“This novel is about finding the right path.… This is a good story with characters who are all outsiders to the affluent world of the setting in North Vancouver. The author describes very accurately how Ambrose and his mother survive on a meager salary and how concern for his safety makes his mother unreasonable and reactionary.”
– Resource Links
“… a beautifully drawn character.… [A] funny, wry tale, a tale that involves a lot of Scrabble (at the championship level), the reformation of an ex-con/druggie, and the coming-into-himself of a boy. And there’s a bit of love, too, actually.”
– The Globe and Mail
“Word Nerd moves as fast as a World Scrabble competition and has a game sense of humor … Susin Nielsen has done a fine job in bringing to life a first-class nerd whose very limitations make him a most extraordinary person who young readers will want to see more of.… Nielsen has a lovely comic touch in creating around Ambrose an interesting circle of adult friends who are every bit as unique as he is!”
– Canadian Children’s Book News