Module 7 - Realistic Fiction

Clements, A. (1996). Frindle. New York, NY:
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary:
This is a story about a 5th grade boy who coins a new word and convinces his classmates to use it.  One of Nick's teachers objects to the use of the word and the battle of wills continue throughout the story.  Nick's new word creates quite a stir of events.

My Impression:
This story is a very realistic story of events that could happen.  The students portrayed are typical of 5th grade students seeking to become independent and trying to be the center of attention.  Students will enjoy seeing the turn of events in this great realistic fiction story.

Review:
Frindle
Booklist

Gr. 3-6. Ten-year-old Nick Allen has a reputation for devising clever, time-wasting schemes guaranteed to distract even the most conscientious teacher. His diversions backfire in Mrs. Granger's fifth-grade class, however, resulting in Nick being assigned an extra report on how new entries are added to the dictionary. Surprisingly, the research provides Nick with his best idea ever, and he decides to coin his own new word. Mrs. Granger has a passion for vocabulary, but Nick's (and soon the rest of the school's) insistence on referring to pens as "frindles" annoys her greatly. The war of words escalates - resulting in after-school punishments, a home visit from the principal, national publicity, economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and, eventually, inclusion of frindle in the dictionary. Slightly reminiscent of Avi's Nothing but the Truth (1991), this is a kinder, gentler story in which the two sides eventually come to a private meeting of the minds and the power of language triumphs over both. Sure to be popular with a wide range of readers, this will make a great read-aloud as well.
Weisman, K. (1996). Frindle. Booklist, 93(1), 125.

Suggested Library Use:
Frindle could be used to introduce the exploration of the use of the dictionary.  Take time to Look at word orgins and how new words are formed along with the dictionary's organization including entries and their different parts.