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The Way I Say It
Rory still can’t say his r’s, but that’s just the beginning of his troubles. First Rory’s ex-best-friend Brent started hanging out with the mean lacrosse kids. But then, a terrible accident takes Brent out of school, and Rory struggles with how to feel.
Rory and his new speech teacher put their heads together on Rory’s r’s (not to mention a serious love of hard rock and boxing legend Muhammad Ali), but nobody seems to be able to solve the problem of Rory’s complicated feelings about Brent. Brent’s accident left him with brain-damage and he’s struggling. Should Rory stand up for his old friend at school–even after Brent failed to do the same for him?
Rory and his new speech teacher put their heads together on Rory’s r’s (not to mention a serious love of hard rock and boxing legend Muhammad Ali), but nobody seems to be able to solve the problem of Rory’s complicated feelings about Brent. Brent’s accident left him with brain-damage and he’s struggling. Should Rory stand up for his old friend at school–even after Brent failed to do the same for him?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2022
16 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Tandon
3 books44 followersNancy Tandon loves to share stories that entertain and encourage young readers. Her debut middle grade novel, The Way I Say It (Charlesbridge) was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, an Indies Introduce and Kids’ Indies Next pick, a Georgia and Maryland Book Award nominee and an Indiana Read Aloud selection.
She is also the author of The Ghost of Spruce Point (Aladdin), nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet and Hawaii Nēnē state book awards, and a forthcoming companion novel, The Haunting of Walker Pond (Aladdin).
Nancy is a former teacher, speech-language pathologist, and adjunct professor of phonetics and child language development, all of which helped plant seeds for stories about awesome kids doing brave things. A transplant from the Midwest, Nancy now lives in Connecticut and is a fan of literacy outreach programs of all kinds.
She is also the author of The Ghost of Spruce Point (Aladdin), nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet and Hawaii Nēnē state book awards, and a forthcoming companion novel, The Haunting of Walker Pond (Aladdin).
Nancy is a former teacher, speech-language pathologist, and adjunct professor of phonetics and child language development, all of which helped plant seeds for stories about awesome kids doing brave things. A transplant from the Midwest, Nancy now lives in Connecticut and is a fan of literacy outreach programs of all kinds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 10, 2021
I started this book thinking that it was about a kid working to overcome a speech impediment. While it is that, Nancy Tandon's THE WAY I SAY IT is about so much more. It's about the way friendships change during middle school, and the way those changes can really, really hurt. It's about the complicated feelings that result from that kind of hurt, and the very real ways a kid might deal with those complicated feelings. It's about the unseen weights people carry with them in everyday life, and the ways friends can help one another bear those loads. And it's about bravery... the exquisite bravery of standing up for a friend, even when, lately, that friend hasn't been especially... friendly. All that, and OH! It's laugh-out-loud funny, too! Rory is a character that young readers will cheer for, and I can't wait for THE WAY I SAY IT to be out in the world so that I can cheer for him, too. My thanks to Nancy Tandon and to Charlesbridge for the advanced review copy.
August 8, 2021
"I've finished reading my first digital arc from NetGalley, The Way I Say It, by Nancy Tandon, which, I am relieved to say, is a beautifully written book about real child situations. I say "relieved," because Nancy is a member of my writers' group, this is her debut novel, and things could have been awkward, since my followers here are aware that I'm a little picky in my reading. (To be honest, in my head I talk about books the way the legendary Roy Kent on Ted Lasso talks about soccer.)
In our writers' group, we are all working on a number of things. Some of these projects go back a while and as new members come into the group, they may not be aware of what individuals were working on in the past. And some of us, yes, I mean me, may be a little irregular in our attendance. So while I was aware of this book and that it was being submitted to agents and when agents got involved and when it was sold, my knowledge was what you might call superficial.
For instance, I thought The Way I Say It was about a kid with a speech impediment and how he deals with it. I would argue that's not the basic story here. The basic story, to me, is far more sophisticated. It's about a kid, who happens to have a speech issue, dealing with his anger and guilt over a failed relationship and how that impacts his world during sixth grade.
I hate to go into too much detail, since there were a couple of points where I actually exclaimed while reading this book, because I am so lazy that I didn't even read all the flap copy. I don't want to take that experience away from other readers. (Don't read the flap copy!)
So I'll talk about some other things.
What Do I Mean By Real Child Situations?
Over the years, I've found that many middle grade novels, especially the ones that are warmly embraced by gatekeepers, deal with situations adults find...uh, shall we say...terrifying? Dead parents, siblings, relatives, and friends, divorce, terminal illnesses, chronic disease, war, and the ever popular demented old people, for example. I'm not saying these aren't terrifying situations or that they never happen within children's families. But there's a whole other category of issues that are important to children and focusing on the major life problems that adults find important all the time suggests that children's problems are not valuable enough to showcase in books for them.
In The Way I Say It, Nancy Tandon deals with a school year full of these types of issues. Fear of humiliation and not being included, struggles to deal with uncomfortable interactions, beginning to want to spend time with members of the opposite sex, getting started on a new school year and having to rebuild relationships or make new ones. Starting a new school year is like starting a new job, people. We think starting a new job is important, don't we? Why isn't starting the new school year enough without killing someone off or breaking up a marriage to go along with it?
Write Who You Are
I don't like to use the expression "write what you know," because, first, it's a cliche and, second, it has become somewhat controversial. People get very hot under the collar about what it means and what it has to do with them. I prefer "write who you are." Nancy Tandon is a speech therapist. I believe that's why the great deal of speech therapy talk in her book sounds natural and normal to the moment where it takes place. She drew upon who she is to create details for her main character and the teacher who plays a big part in his sixth-grade life and for various situations she puts them into.
It's true you can research whatever you want to write about. But there used to be an expression I'd see in book reviews, "don't let the research show." That can be difficult to do if you haven't had an opportunity to live with or maybe work with that research for a while. It can create information dumps or at least sound forced. The Way I Say It illustrates the value of writing who you are.
The Way I Say It will be published Jan. 18, 2022 by Charlesbridge. I'm excited to see how it will do."
Review originally appeared at Original Content.
In our writers' group, we are all working on a number of things. Some of these projects go back a while and as new members come into the group, they may not be aware of what individuals were working on in the past. And some of us, yes, I mean me, may be a little irregular in our attendance. So while I was aware of this book and that it was being submitted to agents and when agents got involved and when it was sold, my knowledge was what you might call superficial.
For instance, I thought The Way I Say It was about a kid with a speech impediment and how he deals with it. I would argue that's not the basic story here. The basic story, to me, is far more sophisticated. It's about a kid, who happens to have a speech issue, dealing with his anger and guilt over a failed relationship and how that impacts his world during sixth grade.
I hate to go into too much detail, since there were a couple of points where I actually exclaimed while reading this book, because I am so lazy that I didn't even read all the flap copy. I don't want to take that experience away from other readers. (Don't read the flap copy!)
So I'll talk about some other things.
What Do I Mean By Real Child Situations?
Over the years, I've found that many middle grade novels, especially the ones that are warmly embraced by gatekeepers, deal with situations adults find...uh, shall we say...terrifying? Dead parents, siblings, relatives, and friends, divorce, terminal illnesses, chronic disease, war, and the ever popular demented old people, for example. I'm not saying these aren't terrifying situations or that they never happen within children's families. But there's a whole other category of issues that are important to children and focusing on the major life problems that adults find important all the time suggests that children's problems are not valuable enough to showcase in books for them.
In The Way I Say It, Nancy Tandon deals with a school year full of these types of issues. Fear of humiliation and not being included, struggles to deal with uncomfortable interactions, beginning to want to spend time with members of the opposite sex, getting started on a new school year and having to rebuild relationships or make new ones. Starting a new school year is like starting a new job, people. We think starting a new job is important, don't we? Why isn't starting the new school year enough without killing someone off or breaking up a marriage to go along with it?
Write Who You Are
I don't like to use the expression "write what you know," because, first, it's a cliche and, second, it has become somewhat controversial. People get very hot under the collar about what it means and what it has to do with them. I prefer "write who you are." Nancy Tandon is a speech therapist. I believe that's why the great deal of speech therapy talk in her book sounds natural and normal to the moment where it takes place. She drew upon who she is to create details for her main character and the teacher who plays a big part in his sixth-grade life and for various situations she puts them into.
It's true you can research whatever you want to write about. But there used to be an expression I'd see in book reviews, "don't let the research show." That can be difficult to do if you haven't had an opportunity to live with or maybe work with that research for a while. It can create information dumps or at least sound forced. The Way I Say It illustrates the value of writing who you are.
The Way I Say It will be published Jan. 18, 2022 by Charlesbridge. I'm excited to see how it will do."
Review originally appeared at Original Content.
November 11, 2022
Engaging MC gets swallowed up by wildly harmful representation of TBI... from an author who should know better.
When a friend lent me this book, I was so excited to read it. Like Brent (the quasi-antagonist, quasi-secondary main character) I have a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and have never seen a character with my disability reflected on the page.
I started loving Rory's funny, sensitive voice and keen observations about adolescent life. I do understand from a "increase the stakes in storytelling" perspective why he had to learn to ally/empathize with a bully (who'd once been his BFF!)
Ultimately, Tandon's true superpower is her ability to pack as many harmful, inaccurate, and damaging stereotypes against TBI patients possible into one not-that-long book.
First, is the "you must have done something to deserve it" trope. Everyone with a TBI has heard it. (It's a *traumatic* brain injury, not a "spontaneously happened while I was at the spa" injury. Brent is a wholly unsympathetic character throughout the book, and Tandon's choice of him as the TBI patient feeds that damaging narrative.
Brent is violent, erratic and combative when Rory initially tries to visit him... He had numerous skeletal injuries due to being hit by a car while on a bike, and we're supposed to believe he's jumping and lunging at people ready to kick some butt?
While it is true that SOME (a minority) of people with TBI become violent/aggressive... it seems to be poorly studied and a small minority. But of course due to the fun/colorful stereotype of "violent monster with brain damage" that Tandon gleefully perpetuates, everyone with TBI is treated as a worthless, Jeffrey Dahmer waiting to happen.
Brent has little redemption, and backmatter does absolutely nothing to educate the reader about TBI and how to be inclusive of people with our disability.
As a disabled person who IS worthy of love and respect, I am horrified that Junior Library Guild and Kirkus gave this book such high praise.
I understand Tandon is a speech therapist - as alluded to in the book not ALL speech therapists work with people with TBI or know anything about it (It's a dynamic disability that can present very differently from one person to another). It shows that Tandon has not worked with our population - her ignorance and contempt for us shines through in every line.
I do not have enough words to express how harmful, inaccurate, and damaging this book is. It saddens and frightens me that a child could pick up this volume and form such a negative prejudice against people with TBI.
Check my post history - I've never left a one-star review on a book in my life, but this book is so terribly harmful that it needs to be called out.
As a creator with TBI, my own voices narratives never seem to be welcome at the publishing table. But it's better to have nothing than this hateful propaganda.
When a friend lent me this book, I was so excited to read it. Like Brent (the quasi-antagonist, quasi-secondary main character) I have a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and have never seen a character with my disability reflected on the page.
I started loving Rory's funny, sensitive voice and keen observations about adolescent life. I do understand from a "increase the stakes in storytelling" perspective why he had to learn to ally/empathize with a bully (who'd once been his BFF!)
Ultimately, Tandon's true superpower is her ability to pack as many harmful, inaccurate, and damaging stereotypes against TBI patients possible into one not-that-long book.
First, is the "you must have done something to deserve it" trope. Everyone with a TBI has heard it. (It's a *traumatic* brain injury, not a "spontaneously happened while I was at the spa" injury. Brent is a wholly unsympathetic character throughout the book, and Tandon's choice of him as the TBI patient feeds that damaging narrative.
Brent is violent, erratic and combative when Rory initially tries to visit him... He had numerous skeletal injuries due to being hit by a car while on a bike, and we're supposed to believe he's jumping and lunging at people ready to kick some butt?
While it is true that SOME (a minority) of people with TBI become violent/aggressive... it seems to be poorly studied and a small minority. But of course due to the fun/colorful stereotype of "violent monster with brain damage" that Tandon gleefully perpetuates, everyone with TBI is treated as a worthless, Jeffrey Dahmer waiting to happen.
Brent has little redemption, and backmatter does absolutely nothing to educate the reader about TBI and how to be inclusive of people with our disability.
As a disabled person who IS worthy of love and respect, I am horrified that Junior Library Guild and Kirkus gave this book such high praise.
I understand Tandon is a speech therapist - as alluded to in the book not ALL speech therapists work with people with TBI or know anything about it (It's a dynamic disability that can present very differently from one person to another). It shows that Tandon has not worked with our population - her ignorance and contempt for us shines through in every line.
I do not have enough words to express how harmful, inaccurate, and damaging this book is. It saddens and frightens me that a child could pick up this volume and form such a negative prejudice against people with TBI.
Check my post history - I've never left a one-star review on a book in my life, but this book is so terribly harmful that it needs to be called out.
As a creator with TBI, my own voices narratives never seem to be welcome at the publishing table. But it's better to have nothing than this hateful propaganda.
February 5, 2022
This is the best middle grade book I’ve read in a long time. I love how three-dimensional the main character is, with all his complicated experiences. I also loved the adults in the story and the ways in which they interacted with and empowered the kids. Great writing and a great story made this one a total pleasure. Highly recommend.
February 26, 2024
I’m browsing for new book to put on my reading list when I found this audiobook. At first i assuming this book about a kid who have different opinion towards something turns out that its totally wrong. It more than that.
Rory having difficulty to pronounce the “R” that makes him sound as a baby. While becoming one of the victim for the bullies, Rory also have his own conflict with his bff (breant) that lead him as guilty when breant involved with car accident lead him to something more worse after that.
What i like in this book :
❤️The relationship between Rory with his speech therapy touches my heart. How he help Rory dealing with his nightmare not to mention his addiction of Muhammad Ali.
❤️The tricks that we can refer and what to do when facing difficulty to speak.
❤️Surrounded by a supportive support system really could help you dealing with trouble that you facing. Sometimes what you need to do is share your feelings with them..you will feel the burdens disappear.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
Rory having difficulty to pronounce the “R” that makes him sound as a baby. While becoming one of the victim for the bullies, Rory also have his own conflict with his bff (breant) that lead him as guilty when breant involved with car accident lead him to something more worse after that.
What i like in this book :
❤️The relationship between Rory with his speech therapy touches my heart. How he help Rory dealing with his nightmare not to mention his addiction of Muhammad Ali.
❤️The tricks that we can refer and what to do when facing difficulty to speak.
❤️Surrounded by a supportive support system really could help you dealing with trouble that you facing. Sometimes what you need to do is share your feelings with them..you will feel the burdens disappear.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
January 8, 2022
The Way I Say It is a wonderful, heartfelt story not only about a boy who struggles to pronounce the letter "R" (which is especially unfortunate because his name is Rory), but also about the very real struggle that comes with navigating friendships in middle school. Rory has a wonderful speech therapist that helps guide him, but that doesn't make the sting of Rory's former friend turned bully hurt any less. When the former friend is injured and left to struggle with his own disability, Rory has to decide what kind of kid, and friend, he wants to be.
August 28, 2021
I was so excited to read this book. Having dealt with a speech impediment myself, I was looking forward to reading Rory's journey. However, I quickly discovered a lackluster and confusing plot. The main gist is that Rory and his best friend Brent had a massive falling out. So when Brent has a bad accident resulting in brain damage, Rory acts like he could care less. This led me to believe that Brent must have done something truly horrible. The lack of empathy and compassion was surprising for me to read, especially in a book that's supposedly about understanding differences. I kept reading thinking that Brent and his friends were deplorable and everything would become clear. But the grand reveal?
EVERYTHING WAS RORY'S FAULT.
He was jealous and insulted Brent first, announcing to everyone that Brent still sleeps with a stuffed animal. This led Brent to defend himself and tell everyone that Rory wet the bed. This entire argument is extremely juvenile. I know they are children... but is a silly spat like that really worth claiming that you don't care that your "best friend" was hit by a car? When Rory tells his mother the whole story, he isn't held accountable for any of his actions. There was no clear lesson. Because of that, I can't recommend this book to a single child.
Another part that bothered me was the amount of times Rory felt compelled to call out the school bully. Not for anything the school bully did... but for his mother's occupation. To quote: "I think about what it would feel like to walk around knowing your mom has to clean floors instead of being a manager at a big company because she stole money." The blatant classism in this statement shocked me. Stealing money is horrible. It sucks his mother did that. But the fact she has to mop floors? WHO CARES. My mother mopped floors and I didn't walk around with a dark cloud of shame. When Rory and his friends are at the hospital and they see the bully's mother mopping floors, they act like its such a dark secret. It's not. It's a job that deserves just as much respect as anything else. I didn't understand why Rory was so focused on the occupation. I don't see how I'm supposed to see Rory as a sympathetic character. I just don't.
#netgalley
EVERYTHING WAS RORY'S FAULT.
He was jealous and insulted Brent first, announcing to everyone that Brent still sleeps with a stuffed animal. This led Brent to defend himself and tell everyone that Rory wet the bed. This entire argument is extremely juvenile. I know they are children... but is a silly spat like that really worth claiming that you don't care that your "best friend" was hit by a car? When Rory tells his mother the whole story, he isn't held accountable for any of his actions. There was no clear lesson. Because of that, I can't recommend this book to a single child.
Another part that bothered me was the amount of times Rory felt compelled to call out the school bully. Not for anything the school bully did... but for his mother's occupation. To quote: "I think about what it would feel like to walk around knowing your mom has to clean floors instead of being a manager at a big company because she stole money." The blatant classism in this statement shocked me. Stealing money is horrible. It sucks his mother did that. But the fact she has to mop floors? WHO CARES. My mother mopped floors and I didn't walk around with a dark cloud of shame. When Rory and his friends are at the hospital and they see the bully's mother mopping floors, they act like its such a dark secret. It's not. It's a job that deserves just as much respect as anything else. I didn't understand why Rory was so focused on the occupation. I don't see how I'm supposed to see Rory as a sympathetic character. I just don't.
#netgalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2021
Rory and Brent. Best friends forever…until they aren’t. Sixth grade is definitely not the same when best friends don’t even speak to one another anymore. And for Rory, the year is going from bad to worse as Danny, the one who instigates most of the derisive comments and name-calling connected to his continuing fight to pronounce the letter “r” correctly, seems to be Brent’s new bff. Everything changes when Brent is injured and left with struggles far more severe than just saying some words incorrectly and is now Danny’s newest target instead of his friend. Like middle grade kids everywhere, Rory must make serious choices in class and out and readers will relate mightily as friendships change and significant decisions are made. Nancy Tandon’s characters are well-developed and the plot progresses briskly with enough variation to other MG school stories that readers will not feel like they have been there before. Brain injury and speech difficulties are not the usual battles in other realistic fiction and the target age group should come away with new understanding of those around them. Added bonus? The life of Muhammad Ali and the rock of the 80s is sprinkled liberally throughout!! Highly recommended for collections focused on grades 4-7 with no red flags in areas of profanity and sexual content and violence is limited to one fight that is crucial to the characters’ growth. Thanks for the e-ARC, NetGalley and Edelweiss.
August 10, 2021
Nancy really nails Rory's situation as a kid who has a speech problem, likely because of her experience in working with kids like Rory. When she adds in a love of music, Muhammad Ali and many of the middle grade issues that kids face, you get a great read for all kids who will see their insecurities reflected in the pages. As a Children's Librarian I highly recommend!
(I read as a manuscript before publication)
(I read as a manuscript before publication)
February 4, 2022
My 12-year-old son and I read this book at the same time and both absolutely loved it. Rory’s story feels so authentic as he navigates his first year of middle school and the friendship changes/challenges that come along with it. Don’t let the comic-y cover fool you; the pages inside will transport you right back to what if felt like to be a tween learning to be true to yourself.
August 8, 2024
A Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl book that took me by surprise- who knew a book with an 11 year old boy who can’t say his /r/ sound would hit me in all the ways?!?
April 16, 2025
Rated by my 10 year old son. Our favorite Battle of the Books selection!
August 17, 2025
I really loved this book!!
October 22, 2021
Sixth grade is a transition year for most students as they navigate the changes that occur between elementary and middle school. From new friendships and passions to more challenging coursework and independence, this year can be particularly challenging. Rory Mitchell has the added complication of not being able to say the letter R, and with multiple presentations looming ahead of him, he is determined to do the work to not only speak with confidence, but also to finally know how to say his own name. As he settles into the school year and his former friend Brent is in a terrible bicycle accident, Rory must expand his approach to the world while becoming a more mature participant in it.
This middle grade story tackles several weighty topics within an elegant framework. Using the boxer Muhammad Ali as a frequent reference, Rory connects with a well-known leader who also had struggles despite his fame. Though Rory’s inability to say the letter R is a primary focus of the beginning of the book, the story transitions to highlight the myriad challenges Brent faces after his accident and Rory’s response to them. Bullying often occurs as well, and while these moments can be difficult for Rory, time and attention is spent to help readers understand the bully’s background and potential explanations for his behavior.
Short, concise chapters keep the plot moving quickly, developing the story through the course of a complete school year. The dialogue between characters is engaging and approachable, especially for middle grade readers. Each layer of the story unfolds in an intentional manner, constructing a compelling structure that is interconnected in myriad ways. No matter a reader’s age, connections to sixth grade are palpable in this narrative as Rory works to establish his place in his world.
Beautifully designed, this is an important and engaging book for middle grade readers. Rory has his own challenges, but he is not the only one who must navigate the complications that come with sixth grade. The struggle between empathy for Brent’s plight and anger for past behavior is a constant thread in the plot, showing readers how relationships can often be more complicated than they might initially seem. Readers of all ages will come away with important lessons from Rory’s story, and this is an especially noteworthy addition to libraries for middle grade readers.
This middle grade story tackles several weighty topics within an elegant framework. Using the boxer Muhammad Ali as a frequent reference, Rory connects with a well-known leader who also had struggles despite his fame. Though Rory’s inability to say the letter R is a primary focus of the beginning of the book, the story transitions to highlight the myriad challenges Brent faces after his accident and Rory’s response to them. Bullying often occurs as well, and while these moments can be difficult for Rory, time and attention is spent to help readers understand the bully’s background and potential explanations for his behavior.
Short, concise chapters keep the plot moving quickly, developing the story through the course of a complete school year. The dialogue between characters is engaging and approachable, especially for middle grade readers. Each layer of the story unfolds in an intentional manner, constructing a compelling structure that is interconnected in myriad ways. No matter a reader’s age, connections to sixth grade are palpable in this narrative as Rory works to establish his place in his world.
Beautifully designed, this is an important and engaging book for middle grade readers. Rory has his own challenges, but he is not the only one who must navigate the complications that come with sixth grade. The struggle between empathy for Brent’s plight and anger for past behavior is a constant thread in the plot, showing readers how relationships can often be more complicated than they might initially seem. Readers of all ages will come away with important lessons from Rory’s story, and this is an especially noteworthy addition to libraries for middle grade readers.
March 26, 2022
As a parent to a child with speech issues, I was really looking forward to reading "The Way I Say It," for myself and with my son. (It became a family book, as my husband ended up reading a few chapters with us along the way.)
My son was really happy to see a protagonist--THE Main Character--with speech that wasn't perfect. Seeing someone center stage with challenges similar to his own was an affirmation. I know my son felt seen.
Tandon weaves a complex story, in that there's an everchanging emotional landscape all of these newly minted middle schoolers must navigate. In addition, circumstances and alliances are in flux --sometimes by the minute. The immediacy of this felt realistic to the middle school experience.
In addition to overcoming challenges associated with speech, issues like inclusion, bullying, and socioeconomics are all at play here -- at times in subtle ways (as part of a character's backstory), and other times in up close and personal ways.
This layered book is one any child could relate to, as these struggles of acceptance are ones we all face. I've recommended the book to my son's SLP to share with her other clients. My son highly recommends "The Way I Say It," especially for the ending. :) (No spoilers here!)
(I won a copy of the book through a random drawing on Twitter, but would have happily bought it and am already recommending it.)
My son was really happy to see a protagonist--THE Main Character--with speech that wasn't perfect. Seeing someone center stage with challenges similar to his own was an affirmation. I know my son felt seen.
Tandon weaves a complex story, in that there's an everchanging emotional landscape all of these newly minted middle schoolers must navigate. In addition, circumstances and alliances are in flux --sometimes by the minute. The immediacy of this felt realistic to the middle school experience.
In addition to overcoming challenges associated with speech, issues like inclusion, bullying, and socioeconomics are all at play here -- at times in subtle ways (as part of a character's backstory), and other times in up close and personal ways.
This layered book is one any child could relate to, as these struggles of acceptance are ones we all face. I've recommended the book to my son's SLP to share with her other clients. My son highly recommends "The Way I Say It," especially for the ending. :) (No spoilers here!)
(I won a copy of the book through a random drawing on Twitter, but would have happily bought it and am already recommending it.)
November 23, 2021
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC!
I was honored to receive an advance reader copy of Nancy Tandon’s “The Way I Say It.” I saw this book on Twitter and requested an ARC for it. Luckily I got it!
Rory has a speech impediment, which is bad enough for a sixth-grade boy, but even worse when he can’t even pronounce his own name. Now he’s in middle school, dealing with fake friends, bullies, speech therapy, presentations, and more. When a terrible accident occurs, though, Rory has to rise to the challenge in a way he never expected.
I read this book is one sitting, which is not something I usually do for longer books! I also rarely read contemporaries, which tells you how much I like this story! An early novel twist caught me very off guard, and this story went places I never expected. The characters pop off the pages, especially the speech therapist. Rory, too, feels very real with his conflicting feelings over his friend Brent. As a teacher, this book really spoke to me.
This book is sweet and perfect for a middle grade audience. It teaches acceptance and understanding towards others on top of being educational. I learned a lot about Muhammad Ali myself! I highly recommend this story to anyone.
I was honored to receive an advance reader copy of Nancy Tandon’s “The Way I Say It.” I saw this book on Twitter and requested an ARC for it. Luckily I got it!
Rory has a speech impediment, which is bad enough for a sixth-grade boy, but even worse when he can’t even pronounce his own name. Now he’s in middle school, dealing with fake friends, bullies, speech therapy, presentations, and more. When a terrible accident occurs, though, Rory has to rise to the challenge in a way he never expected.
I read this book is one sitting, which is not something I usually do for longer books! I also rarely read contemporaries, which tells you how much I like this story! An early novel twist caught me very off guard, and this story went places I never expected. The characters pop off the pages, especially the speech therapist. Rory, too, feels very real with his conflicting feelings over his friend Brent. As a teacher, this book really spoke to me.
This book is sweet and perfect for a middle grade audience. It teaches acceptance and understanding towards others on top of being educational. I learned a lot about Muhammad Ali myself! I highly recommend this story to anyone.
May 7, 2022
The Way I Say It opens with Rory standing at the front of his classroom on the first day of sixth grade. All eyes are on him as everyone waits for him to introduce himself. His new teacher doesn’t realize his speech impediment makes this a daunting challenge.
Nightmare!
Along with his speech troubles, Rory juggles problems with a bully and his ex-best friend, and tries to figure out his changing relationship with a girl. The start of middle school is a tough time and Nancy Tandon totally captures that. The Way I Say It is great for kids who’d like insight into what it’s like to live with a speech impediment or who are looking for a story that takes someone through the ups and downs of middle-school friendships.
Highly recommended.
I received a free advanced reader copy of The Way I Say It in exchange for an unbiased review.
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Nightmare!
Along with his speech troubles, Rory juggles problems with a bully and his ex-best friend, and tries to figure out his changing relationship with a girl. The start of middle school is a tough time and Nancy Tandon totally captures that. The Way I Say It is great for kids who’d like insight into what it’s like to live with a speech impediment or who are looking for a story that takes someone through the ups and downs of middle-school friendships.
Highly recommended.
I received a free advanced reader copy of The Way I Say It in exchange for an unbiased review.
At TheWingedPen.com we have dozens of reviews of middle-grade and young-adult books. Check out our reviews at:
thewingedpen.com/category/books/
or just click on Book Recommendations on our home page where you can search by category!
July 28, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This is a fantastic book for middle grade students. I listened to the audiobook and the narration held my attention throughout. The main character of the book, Rory, has a speech impediment and can't say his r's correctly. This is especially trying for him since his name has so many r sounds. Unfortunately, Rory is picked on by bullies and the author does a really nice job of showing why the bullies act the way they do. I loved how the author also used classic rock to add some fun to the story as well.
Rory plays a guitar and his speech teacher uses his love of music to help him. In the story, another student has a bike accident and has a brain injury. The author used the obstacles that Muhammad Ali faced to help Rory make connects and overcome his obstacles.
I would highly recommend this book for any middle grade student. There are so many themes that can be covered in discussion of this book: speech issues, friendships, bullying, and overcoming obstacles.
Rory plays a guitar and his speech teacher uses his love of music to help him. In the story, another student has a bike accident and has a brain injury. The author used the obstacles that Muhammad Ali faced to help Rory make connects and overcome his obstacles.
I would highly recommend this book for any middle grade student. There are so many themes that can be covered in discussion of this book: speech issues, friendships, bullying, and overcoming obstacles.
March 17, 2024
I resonated with Brent, the boy in this book who suffers a brain injury, as I have experienced two major head injuries in my life, and went through speech therapy after each one. I am an adult woman, who now speaks publicly about recovery from brain injuries as well as from mental illness. Yes, I still have speech deficits and organizational challenges but I have won a national award for writing and talking publicly about recovery. I am grateful for Nancy Tandon who wrote this book as a speech pathologist and hope she will write more such books for young people and inspire others to do so. I appreciated the tie into Muhammad Ali's life story. I wish I had been able to read this book when I was a teenager recovering from my first head injury. I listened to this book on audible, which I thought added to the experience as I heard the characters struggle to overcome speech deficits and behavioral challenges.
August 15, 2021
As if starting middle school wasn't hard enough, Rory can't say his own name because he still has trouble pronouncing his r's. It also doesn't help that his ex-best friend, Brent now hangs out with the lacrosse team who never passes up the opportunity to bully Rory. He gets some reprieve from his new speech therapist who shares his love of Metallica and introduces him to Muhammed Ali. When Brent suffers a brain injury after a bicycle accident, Rory struggles with his feelings about it. Why should he care about his ex-friend when Brent never stood up for him? Fans of OUT OF MY MIND, WONDER and FISH IN A TREE will enjoy this compelling story of friendship, courage and empathy. Highly recommend this to librarians and teachers looking for their next great read aloud book. #thewayisayit #nancytandon
October 1, 2021
Thank you to author, Nancy Tandon, and Charlesbridge Publishing for an e-ARC of this wonderful book!
I was immediately hooked by the very first line, “I can’t say my name.” From there, we quickly learn that the main character, Rory, struggles with saying his R’s and has been in speech therapy for years. As he starts sixth grade, Rory meets his new speech pathologist (and one of my favorite characters). Rory also deals with the middle school challenges of bullying, friendship breakups, and first crushes. I especially love the use of 80s/90s heavy metal music (Yay! for Metallica and Guns N’ Roses) and the life of Muhammed Ali to help Rory move through his difficult feelings and to help grow his confidence and empathy. The relatable characters and fast pace will connect with young readers, especially fans of FISH IN A TREE.
I was immediately hooked by the very first line, “I can’t say my name.” From there, we quickly learn that the main character, Rory, struggles with saying his R’s and has been in speech therapy for years. As he starts sixth grade, Rory meets his new speech pathologist (and one of my favorite characters). Rory also deals with the middle school challenges of bullying, friendship breakups, and first crushes. I especially love the use of 80s/90s heavy metal music (Yay! for Metallica and Guns N’ Roses) and the life of Muhammed Ali to help Rory move through his difficult feelings and to help grow his confidence and empathy. The relatable characters and fast pace will connect with young readers, especially fans of FISH IN A TREE.
July 21, 2022
Loved this debut novel by Nancy Tandon and am now eagerly awaiting her 2nd novel which I’ve preordered. The Way I Say It is a perfect book for middle-grade readers who
1. Struggle with articulation or other oral language challenges,
2. Know other kids who struggle,
3. Are the target of mean kids,
4. Know others who are the target of mean kids
I bought the book for my Speech Language Pathologist sister and recommend for all SLPs. This author speaks with authority as an SLP herself, but more importantly—she tells a great story and has nailed the main character’s voice and grit. The teacher in this book is exceptionally cool and the music/sports references will resonate with middle-grade readers. Really loved this read! Highly recommend. A must for school and public libraries.
December 1, 2021
I was lucky to be able to read an early version of this perfectly middle-grade novel by author, Nancy Tandon. I was completely drawn into the characters and the incredibly relatable story. The main character Rory struggles through a speech impediment as well as the normal challenges of middle school. The author, a speech pathologist, does such an amazing job of explaining the science behind is impediment as well as the emotional ramifications Rory faces. I learned so much! I wish I had this book when someone close to me was facing his own speech challenges. I felt it was so relatable not only to kids, but to us parents trying to navigate this very real struggle. THE WAY I SAY IT should be a read-aloud in every middle grade classroom!
June 23, 2022
Nancy Tandon has written a moving and greatly needed discussion starter of a story! But besides that, Rory and his cast of characters will engage young readers and their adults as they witness the kids navigating through challenges of friendship that are relatable, multi-faceted, and sometimes quite humorous. Rory is a unique protagonist, one not represented in kids lit often, in that his speech impediment adds to his middle school troubles. His speech teacher, Mr. Simms, works with Rory in a new way by using lessons from the life of Muhammad Ali. I was immediately drawn to Mr. Simms and his creative problem-solving that not only gets Rory working on his Rs in a new way, but also facilitates mending the friendship between Rory and Brent. This was a fun and informative read!
March 20, 2022
This book is an absolute gem of a story! I adored the main character Rory and really related to his complicated feelings about a friend-turned-not-friend-turned-kid-who-needs-help. I also knew nothing about what speech therapy is like and how some kids have to cope with speech challenges all the way into middle school, so it was really eye-opening. I think I would have insisted on changing my name in Rory's situation! (It's really neat that the author works as a speech-language pathologist, so everything she's describing is rooted in experience an knowledge.) I would highly recommend to any readers who love a well-told contemporary realistic story with a character facing real challenges with real decency.
August 15, 2021
*I am part of Nancy Tandon's Street Team, so I received an ARC copy from her.*
"The Way I Say It" is an informative book, but also will appeal to many different students. The book revolves around Rory, a 6th grader who struggles with saying his /r/s, which is unfortunate because he has two in his name. He also has the typical middle school struggles with bullies, friends, homework, and parents. Music and Muhammed Ali are prominently mentioned, which helps Rory become the strong character he is. Another character deals with a brain injury and this is portrayed well. Nancy Tandon has a great use of descriptive language and humor to round out the book. A great read and I highly recommend!
"The Way I Say It" is an informative book, but also will appeal to many different students. The book revolves around Rory, a 6th grader who struggles with saying his /r/s, which is unfortunate because he has two in his name. He also has the typical middle school struggles with bullies, friends, homework, and parents. Music and Muhammed Ali are prominently mentioned, which helps Rory become the strong character he is. Another character deals with a brain injury and this is portrayed well. Nancy Tandon has a great use of descriptive language and humor to round out the book. A great read and I highly recommend!
August 28, 2021
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of this fabulous book!
Debut author Nancy Tandon has created a story centered on middle grade boys that's both entirely unique and entirely relatable. While protagonist Rory's struggle to pronounce his Rs plays a prominent role, this is really a book about complicated and changing friendships, confidence, empathy, and growth set against a realistic middle school background. The characters are thrown challenges that require hard work to overcome, but there's plenty of fun, from heavy metal to crushes, and a fast pace that will keep readers eager to turn the pages.
Debut author Nancy Tandon has created a story centered on middle grade boys that's both entirely unique and entirely relatable. While protagonist Rory's struggle to pronounce his Rs plays a prominent role, this is really a book about complicated and changing friendships, confidence, empathy, and growth set against a realistic middle school background. The characters are thrown challenges that require hard work to overcome, but there's plenty of fun, from heavy metal to crushes, and a fast pace that will keep readers eager to turn the pages.
January 4, 2022
Bullying and the angst of changing friendships during the middle school years are important, and well-represented, themes in modern literature for this age group — as they should be. HOWEVER, this is the first book I have read about a kiddo with a speech impediment, and, happily, it is perfection. Perfection! Whether or not they identify with the main character’s specific experience, kids will see themselves in his struggle to blend in, stand out, be a good friend, and stand up for himself. Much love.
May 11, 2022
This compelling story about a boy named Rory who can't pronounce his Rs will draw you in immediately. It's moving and realistic, with memorable characters and dialogue that sounds exactly like 6th grade boys talking. Rory's predicament hit home with me, because both of my sons had speech therapy in elementary school. But even without that, I would enjoy this great MG read, and despite the subject matter there are plenty of humorous moments too. I love Rory, his friends, and the Speech teacher. I learned a lot, and that's saying something, because I'm not even the target audience.
November 24, 2021
The Way I say It was an incredible middle-grade novel with brilliant themes and thoughtful messages. Rory was a well-rounded protagonist with flaws and made me root for him. Watching his and Brent's friendship evolve was very heartwarming to read about. The concept and plot were brilliant and so was the writing. I thought that this was an extremely emotional read and would definitely recommend it!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!
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