Module 4:Frindle

Book Summary:  This book was about a boy named, Nick,  who was average and saw himself as a person who did not get into a lot of trouble but also was not easy to get along with.  He would challenge his teachers with questions in order to procrastinate the task given.  Nick decided that he would try his infamous "open ended question, five minutes before its time to go" on the meanest teacher in the school, Mrs. Granger.  Being that she was a veteran teacher, she knew what he was trying to do and still gave homework assignment.  His assignment was to find out where the dictionary came from and give a presentation on it.  After doing his assignment he realized that he would not be able to get away with his antics with her as he did in his previous years of school.  He then began a trend of using the word frindle for pen because she told him that anyone could make up a word, as long as it had a meaning.  Nick always called a pen frindle but it was his little secret that know one else knew.  After convincing his friends to begin using frindle for pen in school, he then began to irritate his teacher.  She tried to make him stop by giving everyone detention but that did not work.  After years and years of back and forth battle with the students and teachers, the word became a real word in the dictionary and he was famous.  He did not like the fame at first, but soon accepted and realized that what he did may not have been the greatest idea.  The money he made from the different products put him through college.  In the end he learned that although Mrs. Granger was upset about him using the word, she was also appreciating his drive and determination and proud that his word was finally published.

Reference: Clements, A. (1998). Frindle. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impression: I would have to say that this book was entertaining.  As a teacher, I was annoyed by his antics but by the end I appreciated Mrs. Granger's note to him about being proud of him and that she really was supporting him all along.  The characters in this book are very realistic.  This is a perfect example of realistic fiction because the author gave an authentic situation and made it real.  All teachers can name a student like Nick and all children can name a teacher like Mrs. Granger.  I also like that Clements did not stop when the boy got to middle school with the story, but that she took it all the way until he was an adult.  This made you feel as if you are growing up with him as well.

The illustrations in the book were black and white and looked as if they were done with a pencil or "pen and ink" technique.  It gave you a visual of how certain characters or situations looked in the book.

I would recommend this book to ages 3-12 and grades 3-8 because of the nature and theme of the book.

Professional 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 an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Nicholas is a bright boy who likes to make trouble at school, creatively. When he decides to torment his fifth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Granger (who is just as smart as he is), by getting everyone in the class to replace the word ``pen'' with ``frindle,'' he unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control. If there's any justice in the world, Clements (Temple Cat, 1995, etc.) may have something of a classic on his hands. By turns amusing and adroit, this first novel is also utterly satisfying. The chess like sparring between the gifted Nicholas and his crafty teacher is enthralling, while Mrs. Granger is that rarest of the breed: a teacher the children fear and complain about for the school year, and love and respect forever after. With comically realistic black-and-white illustrations by Selznick (The Robot King, 1995, etc.), this is a captivating tale--one to press upon children, and one they'll be passing among themselves. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

References:

Frindle. (1996). [Review of the book Frindle, by A. Clements]. Kirkus reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/andrew-clements/frindle/

Frindle. (1998). [Review of the book Frindle, by A. Clements]. Publishers weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-80669-8

Weisman, K. (n.d.). [Review of the book Frindle, by A. Clements]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Frindle-Andrew-Clements/pid=1018944

Library uses: This book could be used in the following ways: realistic fiction appreciation week, teaching students how to use a dictionary and preparing teachers on classroom management.