Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's lifetime isn't easy her mom blows off herbrother runs with the local gangbangers. She's smart, but her environment threatens to encircle her dreams. Responding to a threat with the main of her school, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to prevent detention due to her most absences. Much to her embarrassment and surprise, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor called Dr. Larabee for the prestigious regional bee. Akeelah might provide someone to her community to rally round and be proud of -- but only when she could overcome her insecurities and her homelife that is distracting as of making everything the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the possibility looms. She also must acquire beyond Dr. Larabee's demons, and a field of experienced and privileged fellow spellers.