Akeelah Anderson, a precocious eleven-year old girl from south Los Angeles has a gift for words and despite the reservations of her mother she enters pretty much every spelling contest she comes across. When Akeelah's ability earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee it brings not only hope to her stern tutor but manages to unite the whole neighbourhood. Akeelah and the Bee is a touching and well performed feel good drama.