Andrew Clements’ chapter books for 3rd to 7th graders are relatable and interesting to the target audience. Along with the fun, surprising twists and adventures, these books bring subtle messages that help build character.
Frindle (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $6.99)
Is Nick Allen a troublemaker?
He really just likes to liven things up at school — and he’s always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he’s got the inspiration for his best plan ever…the frindle.
Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle.
Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn’t belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there’s nothing Nick can do to stop it.
Lunch Money (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99)
Meet Greg Kenton, billionaire in the making.
Greg Kenton has two obsessions — making money and his long-standing competition with his annoying neighbor, Maura Shaw. So when Greg discovers that Maura is cutting into his booming Chunky Comics business with her own original illustrated minibooks, he’s ready to declare war.
The problem is, Greg has to admit that Maura’s books are good, and soon the longtime enemies become unlikely business partners. But their budding partnership is threatened when the principal bans the sale of their comics in school.
Suddenly, the two former rivals find themselves united against an adversary tougher than they ever were to each other. Will their enterprise — and their friendship — prevail?
The Jacket (4/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99)
Phil is on a mission. His absentminded little brother forgot his lunch money. All kinds of thoughts are running through Phil’s mind as he searches for Jimmy in the throngs of fourth and fifth graders crowding the school hallway:…if I’m late for math today, then I might not be allowed to take the test — and then I could flunk math! I might even flunk sixth grade and get left back!
Then Phil spots Jimmy’s one-of-a-kind jacket and rushes to the corner of the hallway. Except the person wearing it isn’t his brother; it’s some black kid Phil’s never seen before — wearing Jimmy’s jacket! Phil makes an accusation, tempers flare, and both kids wind up in the principal’s office.
How will Phil react when he finds out how Daniel came to be the owner of this unique jacket? Will Daniel be able to forgive Phil for an accusation that was based on racial prejudice?
What will each boy learn about the other, and most important, about himself?
The Last Holiday Concert (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99)
A moving holiday story from New York Times bestselling author Andrew Clements.
For Hart Evans, being the most popular kid in sixth grade has its advantages. Kids look up to him, and all the teachers let him get away with anything — all the teachers except the chorus director, Mr. Meinert.
When Hart’s errant rubber band hits Mr. Meinert on the neck during chorus practice, it’s the last straw for the chorus director, who’s just learned he’s about to lose his job due to budget cuts. So he tells the class they can produce the big holiday concert on their own. Or not. It’s all up to them.
And who gets elected to run the show? The popular Mr. Hart Evans.
Hart soon discovers there’s a big difference between popularity and leadership, and to his surprise, discovers something else as well — it’s really important to him that this be the best holiday concert ever, and even more important, that it not be the last.
Click here to browse the full catalog of Andrew Clements books.
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