Frindle

by Andrew Clements

illustrated by Brian Selznick

1998
Age ranges: Grades 4-7
Genre(s): fiction
Story summary:  Nick is an expert at throwing teachers off-track and getting the class out of homework.  Some teachers see him as a trouble-maker.
When Nick learns the power of words, he decides that things are called what they are just because we decide it is so.  With this in mind, he decides to call a pen by another name, frindle.  Soon the words spreads all over town and then all over the country. It becomes a battle between Nick and his teacher.  The best part is the outcome.
My reaction: This is a great book for showing students to use what they learn and that teachers may be teaching them something even when they are not aware of it.