Frindle

In the interest of wasting time, Nicolas Allen asked Miss Granger a question about her almighty dictionary.  She tells him to go find out, and when he does, he becomes curious about how words are made.  Miss Granger tells him he decides what things are called.  When everyone accepts a word, it becomes a real word.  He decides that a ballpoint pen shall henceforth be called a "frindle."  As per his plan, the word catches like wildfire.  Miss Granger makes her displeasure publicly known, but even she can't stop the English Language

Audience

I doubt this book would appeal below 4th grade.  The main protaginist is a 5th grade boy.  Frindle is realistic childrens fiction for elementary and middle school students

What I Love About This Book

I love watching Nicholas realize the power of a single idea.  The characters are so funny and they remind me of my students all the time.  This is just a charming book.  I love as his perception of adults begins to change.  This is just a charming book that I think kids and adults alike can't help but love.

Cautions

1) The parents are kind of clueless about the actions of the children

2) Nick's mishevious actions are winked at.  That usually bothers me, but as a teacher when my students get into mishief that will force them to learn what I'm teaching, I let them get away with it too.