Josh Meyers, a fifth-grade student at Hartfield Elementary School, has dedicated his life to sports. A sudden injury on the soccer field sidelines him for the rest of the season. Emily Ash lives to win spelling bees. Last year, she placed fourth in the National Bee. When her archaeologist parents and her younger brother fly to Egypt for a year to dig for artifacts, Emily stays behind in Hartfield with Uncle Max, an artist and paraplegic. She misses her family, but Emily is determined to return to the National Spelling Bee, where she plans to win first place.

Without sports to occupy his time, Josh soon becomes Emily's chief competition in the school bee. She must defeat Josh to continue her quest to win the national title. To reach her goal, Emily devises a series of plans to make Josh lose the bee. Josh creates plans of his own to beat Emily.

Who will win? Wild Josh Meyers? Or Spelling Bee Queen Emily Ash? Find out in this story of ruthless rivalry and unexpected friendship in the small, Southern town of Hartfield, Georgia.