TUESDAY: Frindle

[grades 4-6] By fifth grade, Nick Allen has become a master of the "teacher stopper," the comment or question that can pull a teacher off topic for just enough time to avoid unpleasant lectures or even homework assignments. But Nick Allen has met his match in Mrs. Granger. She takes his teacher stopper and turns it into extra homework for Nick! Nick has to research the origin of words. Through his research, and some of Mrs. Granger's comments in class, Nick starts to question why things are called what they are - who says a pen is a "pen?" Why couldn't it be a "frindle?" This idea sets Nick, Mrs. Granger and the entire school on a course that will take "frindle" so much farther than anyone ever expected.

I love a good school story. Especially ones with curious and creative children and teachers who give them space to explore. I have read this book countless times. I am reading it to my family for the first time and I think my husband is enjoying it as much as my son!I especially like how the relationships grow and transition throughout the story. Andrew Clements is a master of the school story. If you love Frindle like I do, you'll want to try some of his other school stories.