Module 7: Frindle & Tangerine

 Frindle

by Andrew Clements

Citation:

Clements, A., & Selznick, B. (1996). Frindle. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster
           Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Frindle is a story about a fifth grade boy named Nick who was a mastermind of stalling time in order to get out of doing work and getting homework. That is until he meets his match with a teacher who happens to be the queen of the Dictionary. Nick decides to create his own word for a pen (frindle) and first convinces his friends and eventually the whole school to use the word. He even made a lot of money on the marketing of the word. The word was eventually added to the Dictionary.

Impressions

In the beginning of the story I was trying to figure out if I liked Nick or not (from the teacher point of view). As I read the book, I started to find out more about him and started to like him. He seems to be that gifted kid that is testing limits and has great ideas that need an outlet. Overall, I enjoyed the story. It would be a great read aloud for 4th or 5th graders.

Professional Reviews

Gr 3-6-- Nick's idea to invent a brand new word is both a challenge and a tribute to his dictionary-loving, language-arts teacher. He devises ingenious ways to encourage people to start referring to pens as "frindles." Chaotic events follow as the word becomes a national phenomenon and, finally, an actual dictionary entry. Along with the humor, there are plenty of thought-provoking insights about the nature of words and their importance to the lives of regular people.

School Library Journal

Engelfried, S. (2004). Frindle [Review of book]. School Library Journal, 50(6), 56.

*****************

Can you imagine finding the word frindle in one of this century s newest dictionaries? I think that might have happened if Andrew Clements' book Frindle had won a Newbery award five years ago. Few young readers can resist identifying with fifth-grader Nicholas Allen, who coined a new word for pen-- frindle-and managed to give his dictionary-loving teacher, Mrs. Granger, a new challenge. Like countless readers who have honored this book with numerous state awards, I am amused by Nick's efforts to pursue getting this "new" word included in the dictionary. The author manages to tell a tale in which students respect their language arts teacher but are willing to assume consequences for minor acts of defiance. Eventually Mrs. Granger and Nick come to an understanding that has positive lifelong mutual benefits for the class as well as for readers who realize the power of language. This book makes a great read-aloud. In addition, it is an easy sell to elementary-school children, who readily recommend it to their friends. They always ask if there are more books like Frindle. -Judy Moburg, advisory board member

Book Links

Moburg, J. (2002, Apr). It should have won a Newbery!: Frindle [Review of book].
       Book Links 11(5), 15-16. 

Library Uses

This could be used as a book talk and/or read excerpts to introduce a lesson about dictionary skills then have students invent their own word to replace an old one. Then they could fill out what the dictionary entry would look like.

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of book cover]. Retrieved from

         http://www.amazon.com/Frindle-Andrew-Clements/dp/

         0689818769/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458331923&sr=8-  

         1&keywords=frindle+book

Clements, A., & Selznick, B. (1996). Frindle. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster 
          Books for Young Readers.

Engelfried, S. (2004). Frindle [Review of book]. School Library Journal, 50(6), 56.

Moburg, J. (2002, Apr). It should have won a Newbery!: Frindle [Review of book].
           Book Links 11(4),15-16.

Tangerine

by Edward Bloor

Citation:

Bloor, E. (1997). Tangerine. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.

  

Summary

Tangerine is about 12 year old boy named Paul that moves with his family from Houston to Tangerine, Florida. He is nearly blind due to something that happened when he was young, but he loves to play soccer and is really good at it. He was told that he looked at an eclipse too long, but had a nagging feeling that it was something else. He begins to have memories of what happened.  You will be very surprised to find out what really happened to him and who did it! Paul struggles with being new to a school and having a disability. He also struggles with being in the shadow of his brother. His parents show obvious favoritism toward Erik. Unfortunately his school will not play soccer for insurance reasons. After a sinkhole swallows part of his new school, he ends up going to a new school where he has to start all over again. Luckily, this school will let him play soccer. Throughout the story Paul has to deal with his brother Erick’s delinquent behavior and the fact that his parents ignore it. The story is full of suspense and tragedy, with a major revelation occurring at the end.

Impressions

This was a really good story. It was very interesting to see how Paul handles himself in each situation. You really feel for the character and the struggles he goes through. I wanted to grab the parents and say, “can’t you see what is going on?” The favoritism toward his brother and the obvious overlooking of his behavior were difficult to take. I wanted to stand up and cheer when it was obvious the grandparents felt that way too.

I like that even though he had a disability, he was still able to succeed at what he wanted to. There is some violence and even a death in the story, but it is important to the storyline.

  

Professional Reviews

Gr 6-8-Paul starts seventh grade after moving from Houston to a ritzy new development in Tangerine County, FL. Legally blind following some repressed childhood incident, he nonetheless sees familial, environmental, and social anomalies of the local landscape with greater acuity than the adults around him. His intense mother quickly assumes a leadership role in the Homeowner's Association. His civil engineer father is obsessed with his older brother Erik's football career. Lurking beneath their suburban veneer are real dangers that deepen the disquieting atmosphere: smoke from an unquenchable muck fire casts a pall over the area; lightning kills a football player during practice; a sinkhole swallows the school's portable classrooms; and Paul's conflicts with Erik, a truly nasty, probably psychotic kid. Paul is determined to do whatever it takes to make it on the soccer field, in the classroom, and with his peers. The difference between local people with knowledge of the land and ignorant newcomers who are perplexed by it is powerfully portrayed. Equally clear is that class consciousness and racism have built fences through which Paul chooses to blast holes. Mix a sensitive male protagonist reminiscent of Asa in Bruce Brooks's What Hearts (HarperCollins, 1992), ratchet the soccer scenes from Joseph Cottonwood's The Adventures of Boone Barnaby (Scholastic, 1990) up several degrees of intensity, and enjoy this satisfying family/healing, coming of-age struggle in which everyone takes some licks, but Paul keeps on kicking.Joel Shoemaker; Southeast Jr. High School, Iowa City, IA

School Library Journal
Shoemaker, J. (1997). Tangerine [Review of book]. School Library Journal, 
       43(4), 134.

**********************

Gr. 7-10. Paul and his dysfunctional family have just moved to Tangerine, Florida. Despite being legally blind since an ominous accident when he was little, Paul tries out for the school soccer team. But it's his relationship with his football star brother that puts Paul and his new friends in danger.

Book Links
Rebecca, H. W. (2006). Tangerine [Review of Book]. Book Links, 15(5), 47-48.

Library Uses
Middle School and High School

Tangerine is written in Journal Narrative. You could read an excerpt and show the book to explain what Journal Narrative is.  It could also be used for a book talk pointing out that he doesn’t let his disability get in the way of his dream.

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of book cover]. Retrieved from

         http://www.amazon.com/Tangerine-Edward-Bloor/dp/0152057803/ref=sr_1_1?
         ie=UTF8&qid=1460341094&sr=8-1&keywords=tangerine+book

Bloor, E. (1997). Tangerine. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.

Rebecca, H. W. (2006). Tangerine [Review of book]. Book Links, 15(5), 47-48. 

Shoemaker, J. (1997). Tangerine [Review of book]. School Library Journal, 
         43(4), 134.