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Title: Frindle
Author: Andrew Clements
ISBN: 0-689-81876-9

Nicholas Allen is a 5th grade student who is imaginative and also
sometime makes troubles. He made a new word, frindle, which is standard for apen. He also made a special campaign for using new words secretly.
It starts a war between Nicholas and his English teacher. Through that war, language, grammar, rules, and tradition are not closed but learning is growing by creative thought. Later, Nicholas became rich. Because of his word, frindle was selected on a new dictionary. Therefore, the war is over and Nicolas and his English teacher,　Mrs. Granger, have a good relationship.

I liked this book. First of all Nicholas Allen's thought is like mine. When I was young, I always had a question to myself about why we call that a pen instead of calling an instrument made of plastic used for writing with ink. He also had a question as same as me. Second, I liked this part where all students used frindle instead of pen.　How fun, if we call galga instead of cola. I want to make new words and then I want to use that new words with my all school students too. Finally, I liked a last part. I was moved by Nicholas and his English teacher. Ten years later, Nicholas Allen's English teacher, Mrs. Granger, sent a letter and a brand-new dictionary to her student Nicholas. She wrote that the winner is Nicholas because a word, frindle, was on a brand-new dictionary by Nicholas. Then he also sent a letter and a pen for her. I was glad that the war was over.

Mrs. Granger argued with frindle but in fact she helped that frindle became a well-known word to us. At the end of the story, we can know the Mrs. Granger's real purpose to help Nicholas. When I knew that, a lump was in my throat. I think the author describes Mrs. Granger well as a charming and peculiar teacher. You should read this book. You will like it too.

Andrew, Clements. Frindle. New York: Aladdian Paperbacks, 1996.
Joyce Shim