Clements, Andrew, and Brian Selznick. Frindle. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Division, 1996. Print.
Summary
Nicholas Allen has always known how to stir up a little good-natured mischief at Lincoln Elementary School. When Nicholas starts fifth grade, however, he finds he just might have met his match in one Mrs. Lorelei Granger, the fifth-grade English teacher who treats the dictionary like a sacred text. It's a comment Mrs. Granger makes in class one day about how it's the people who determine what what words are acceptable for common use that gets Nick's greatest scheme yet going. Soon kids all over the school start calling their pens frindles, causing a sensation all over the small town of Westfeld, New Hampshire, and soon all over the country...
My Impressions
From the title, I thought this was going to be a fantasy story. Finding out instead that it's a sweet realistic (well, everything in this story could happen) school story made me enjoy it just as much, if even more. I loved following both the young boy who has no malevolent intentions learning probably one of the largest scale object lessons of all time and the stern but loving teacher who is his biggest cheerleader and guide, even if neither of them know it yet. This would be a great story to read aloud in a class. Clement's avuncular tone and the illustrations by Caldecott-winner Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) keep the proceedings light-hearted the whole time.
What Other Reviewers Said
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 (1)
The author has created a fresh, imaginative plot that will have readers smiling all the way through, if not laughing out loud. Nick, a champion time-waster, faces the challenge of his life when confronted with the toughest teacher in school, Mrs. Granger. Always counted on to filibuster the impending test or homework assignment away, Nick has met his match in "Dangerous Grangerous," who can spot a legitimate question in a second and has no patience with the rest. In answer to "Like, who says that d-o-g means the thing that goes 'woof' and wags its tail? Who says so?" she replies, "You do, Nicholas. You and me and everyone in this class and this school and this town and this state and this country." And thus is born frindle, Nick's new name for pen, promising and delivering a classic student-teacher battle along the lines of — but far funnier than — Avi's Nothing But the Truth (Orchard). The battle assumes the proportions of a tall tale, and although outrageous and hilarious, it's all plausible, and every bit works from the premise to the conclusion. The brisk narration is rapid-fire, and Nick is one of the most charming troublemakers since Soup. The merchandising future of this one is too terrible to contemplate; the cutting-edge gift this Christmas has got to be a frindle. (2)
Suggested Activity
Have young readers think of other things in their lives that in their opinion could use new or better names. Then have them write a definition down and include an illustration if possible. Combine the pages together to create your own dictionary!
Other Citations
(1) Warrell, Beth, et al. "It Should Have Won a Newbery!." Book Links 11.5 (2002): 15. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.
(2) Watson, Elizabeth S. "Frindle." Horn Book Magazine 72.6 (1996): 732. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.
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