Frindle (Paperback)

by Andrew Clements (Author), Brian Selznick (Illustrator) "IF YOU ASKED the kids and the teachers at Lincoln Elementary School to make three lists-all the really bad kids, all the really smart kids,..." (more)
Key Phrases: word frindle, Lincoln Elementary School, The Westfield Gazette, Judy Morgan (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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 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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689818769
• ISBN-13: 978-1111111113
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (359 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,516 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, February 18, 2001

By	Stephan Nance (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book in 5th grade; that was two years ago. I had almost forgotten I owned it, and what it was about. But I was alphabetizing my books earlier this year, and accidentally flipped to the first page. I started reading it without even really noticing, and it wasn't until I was almost done that I realized I had been sitting there for over an hour reading. I love this book. It is very creative and wonderful. Nick, the main character, sort of remind me of myself. Making up an alternate name for something seems like the kind of thing I might do. Me and my friends were saying "frindle" instead of "pen" after we read this spectacular book in 5th grade. We could relate to all the characters. We didn't especially like the teacher, whose name I can't remember at the moment. And we all wanted to read it again and again after finishing it the first time, and I did just that. It was one of my favorite books in 5th grade, and it is still a masterpiece today. A must-read for fans of "The Chicken Doesn't Skate" and other humorous fiction books along those lines.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best kid's books I've read, February 16, 2002

By	Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As an elementary school librarian, I can say that "Frindle" is one of the finest books for intermediate grades I have read in a long time. I only regret that I didn't read it years ago, so I could've been recommending it to teachers to read-aloud and to students who would like a humorous, yet thought-provoking, story.

Like most successful books for kids, "Frindle" works on many different levels. It's funny, fast-paced, and while the main character, Nick, is kind of a class clown, he has qualities that even a mean teacher like Mrs. Granger would like. And even though Mrs. Granger has a reputation for being strict, she also earns the respect of children and parents. While some situations are a bit far-fetched, this story is still quite realistic. We get a glimpse how a seemingly insignificant event at a small town elementary school through a media-frenzy becomes an international phenomenon. Can anyone say "fad?"

3rd through 6th grade teachers should consider reading this book about the invention of a new word, "frindle," to their classes. Both teachers and students will enjoy it.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Success!, February 29, 2000

By A Customer

Absolutely Wonderful! This book is engaging for all ages and a must read for every middle-grade class. A heart warming and funny story -- a parent's dream come true. It is about a student named Nick Allen, who decides to create a new word. His Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Granger has a real passion for the english vocabulary and the uses of a dictionary. But after Nick's insistence, his friends and schoolmates begin using his word ... frindle. Much to his teacher's dismay, it becomes so popular that everyone is using it. Many escapades ensue (after-school punishments, principal visits, local and national publicity, local entrepreneurial opportunities and finally, true acceptance of the word and inclusion in the dictionary. In the end, both student and teacher form a strong appreciation for one another and a bond that cannot be broken.