Product Description

Nicholas Allen is not a troublemaker -- he's just creative. When he decides to liven things up in Mrs. Granger's fifth grade language arts class, he comes up with the greatest plan yet. He invents a new word for a pen -- frindle. It doesn't take long for frindle to take root and soon the excitement spreads beyond the school and town and unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #813272 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-14
• Released on: 2004-09-14
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 5.81" h x .56" w x 5.14" l, .23 pounds
• Binding: Audio CD

From Publishers Weekly
Trying to aggravate a tough language-arts teacher, a fifth-grade boy invents a new word for pen: "frindle." Soon, the whole country is using it. "Dictionary lovers will cotton to this mild classroom fantasy," said PW. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Nick is an enterprising guy, maybe a troublemaker at times, definitely someone who pushes the limits at every opportunity. When he undertakes to introduce a new word, "frindle," into the English language, his fifth-grade language arts teacher, Mrs. Granger, plays devil's advocate. A battle of wits and wills ensues. John Fleming's delivery, announcer style, creates some distance from the characters; but as the story unfolds, a media circus ensues, politicians and lawyers come out from the wings, and the stylistic choice is entirely appropriate to the story. Fleming's deep, modulated, omniscient narration, without individual voicing, is ideal. In fact, the audio recording of this popular and funny novel is sure to find a ready audience among middle-grade kids, and it's a perfect choice for long family trips. T.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From 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. Kay Weisman