Are you competitive and / or very confident when it comes to the English language? If so then So You Think You Can Spell?: Killer Quizzes for the Incurably Competitive and Overly Confident, by David Grambs and Ellen S. Levine, is the book for you. Inside is a challenge to your psyche over knowing and understanding English and its word meanings.

As I began reading the front pages, I was told to be ready for what was called "quizzicles, fluster clusters, killer bees and formats." What I found was a classroom on the study of linguistics, something I had had before in college. Little did I know the instruction I had received did not prepare me well for the book. Grambs and Levine really do challenge you on not just the English language but linguistics too. Have you ever seen words written in pronunciation format, like jee-OD-es-ee or SHAN-dee-gaf? Like you, I don’t pay much attention to the dictionary pronunciation guide. But this book gives you quizzes that test you on what you see, not just what you would hear.

I worked very hard on the tests and quizzes. But sadly to say, I am not the spelling bee champion I thought I could be. If you think you’ve got the English language down pat, inside and out, then pick up So You Think You Can Spell?: Killer Quizzes for the Incurably Competitive and Overly Confident, by David Grambs and Ellen S. Levine. Test your knowledge and see if you are truly what Grambs and Levine call excellent at understanding what spelling is truly about. Yes, they do provide a guide to follow with each challenge. By the way jee-OD-es-ee is the word "geodesy"—a mathematical branch dealing with the dimensions and shape of the earth, and SHAN-dee-gaf is the word "shandygaff"—a drink, beer mixed with ginger beer or lemonade.

If you ever want to be in a championship-level spelling bee, or you have a child who wishes to be in one, I think So You Think You Can Spell?: Killer Quizzes for the Incurably Competitive and Overly Confident, by David Grambs and Ellen S. Levine, would be a good book to prepare for the contest. Just don’t even think the "quizzicles, fluster clusters, killer bees and formats" will be a breeze to conquer.