Module 7, Book 1: Frindle

Frindle

by Andrew Clements 

Illustrated by Brian Selznick

Clements, A. & Selznick, B. (illustrator). (1996). Frindle.  New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks

Is it more than just a fad?

Summary:

Nick, a well-read fifth grader, is known for his excellent delay tactics, posing just the right question at the just the right time to throw a teacher's entire schedule off.  Nick forms a plan to challenge the formidable Mrs. Granger, his English teacher.  He decides to rename an object to prove a point.  What follows is a humors tale of how one word can change everything.  Has Nick finally met his match?  Will he win the battle of words?  Or, will Mrs. Granger prevail?

Impressions:

My first thought after reading this book is how deep it was.  It reaches the reader on many levels.  The surface being the challenge of a precocious young boy and the evolution of his experiment.  But, underneath there is a moral about the value of language and a good teacher.  It's also a message from the writer to the reader about the power of words.  In addition, the characters are well-rounded and likable, and the story moves at a fast pace.  I loved that the teacher was portrayed as stern, but in a positive light.  Making her be the "villain" was unexpected and clever.    

Reviews:

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4-6--Nicholas Allen, a sharp, creative, independent thinker starts fifth grade looking for a way to sabotage his Language Arts class. The teacher, Mrs. Granger, is a legend, and he believes her when she states that it is the people who decide what words go into the dictionary. Picking up a dropped pen triggers a brilliant idea. He coins a new word for pen-frindle. It's all for fun, but frindle catches on and Nick finds himself on the "Late Show" and "Good Morning America" explaining his new word. Readers will chuckle from beginning to end as they recognize themselves and their classrooms in the cast of characters. A remarkable teacher's belief in the power of words shines through the entire story, as does a young man's tenacity in proving his point. Outstanding and witty.--Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA

Citation: Jones, T. E., & Toth, L. (1996). Grade 3-6: Fiction. School Library Journal, 42(9), 201. 


From Horn Book Magazine:

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.

Citation: E.S.W. (1996). Frindle. Horn Book Magazine, 72(6), 732-733. 

Library Activity:

The theme of this book is the power of language.  Use this book to kick of a library "Dictionary Day" celebrating Noah Webster's birthday, October 16th.  Set up word games in the library and encourage teachers to do the same in their classrooms.  Highlight and display books in the 400's.  Display the covers of different kinds of informational word books.   Invite students to bring devices and have them visit the online versions of print dictionaries.  Use this opportunity to encourage students to check out something new from the language section of the library.