Frindle
Frindle
Andrew Clements
Atheneum/S&S, 1996
105 pages
Grades 3-5
Realistic Fiction
Nick is a student with a scheme. He always has a great idea of how to liven up class and distract the teacher. In 5th grade he seems to have met his match. Seasoned language arts teacher, Mrs. Granger, is all about the importance of words and using the dictionary. She doesn’t approve of slang and takes the English language very seriously. Nick becomes curious as to how a word means what we say it does and how it gets into the dictionary in the first place. This curiosity leads to a little experiment. Nick convinces his classmates to start calling a pen a “frindle”. The students begin to use the made-up word in stores, at home, and in class. At first Mrs. Granger gives detention to anyone getting caught saying the word, but as it gains momentum, she eventually gives up. Just as the popularity of the new word starts to fade, the media picks up the story and Nick and his word go 1990’s viral. The experiment feels like it is spinning out of control and getting bigger than Nick, eventually impacting his future life in unexpected ways.
I have always loved this book. It consistently makes me cry at the end, through either the effects of a great teacher or the power of a child changing language in such a profound way. At any rate this short, yet tight, book packs a wallop. It is a great story, yet contains much food for thought for young readers. Themes include the importance of language, the power of the media, tenacity in reaching your goals, and that sometimes the strictest teachers are the best ones. It is a wonderful classroom read-aloud, especially in September, and provides much fodder for book groups. The large print and short length make it a perfect choice for children in that grey area of transitioning from easy chapter books to middle grade fiction. The extra bonus is black and white full-page illustrations by Caldecott winner Brian Selznick. They aren’t integral to the story, but enhance the experience. The book feels a little dated, having been written over twenty-five years ago, though one can easily imagine social media replacing the television news in spreading the word far and wide. Having spent time with my young nephews recently, I discovered that kids are developing a new vernacular disseminated through social media. Though old in years, the themes in Frindle remain relevant and this story is a solid recommendation. Clements passed away in 2019, yet a sequel to this beloved classic was just released posthumously titled The Frindle Files, which I plan on reading as soon as I can get my hands on it now that I have reacquainted myself with the original.