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About The Book

Is Nick Allen a troublemaker?
He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Topics
Describing his novel, Andrew Clements writes that Frindle "is about discovering the true nature of words, language, thought, community, learning." Take each of these ideas one at a time. How is each explored in Frindle? What do you think is the true nature of each?
The frindle is just one of Nick's great ideas. Brainstorm about ways you could improve your own school. How can you turn your ideas into action?
"Every good story," Mrs. Granger writes to Nick, "needs a bad guy, don't you think?" Do you agree? Does every good story have a villain? Can you think of any that don't?
Brian Selznick's illustrations add their own sly humor to Frindle. Discuss a few of your favorites in detail. For example, how does his first illustration, opposite the title page, help set up the novel? How do you know from his fullpage portrait of Mrs. Granger that she can't be pushed around?
Although Nick didn't know it until he turned twenty-one, his new word earned him a huge amount of money. Do you think his parents were right in setting up a trust fund for him? What do you think he might have done with the money if he could have spent it earlier? What would you do if you suddenly had a lot of money of your own?
"School," the author writes in Frindle, "was the perfect place to launch a new word." Why? What makes schools such good breeding grounds for fads? Do companies or community organizations ever use your school for promoting products or services? How?
Years after he leaves Mrs. Granger's class, Nick finds a perfect way to show her how important she was to him. What's your teacher's idea of a perfect gift from a former student? Has he or she received it yet?
Activities and Research
Create and define your own new word. Think of an object, a situation, or behavior that you think needs a single new word all its own.
When Nick decides to call a pen a frindle, he creates a new synonym for a word that has few. But many words, such as friend or attractive, already have several common synonyms. On your own or with a group, make a list of words with many synonyms. What's the largest number of synonyms you can come up with for one single word?
New inventions and ideas or changing cultural influences continually add new words to our language. With the help of your parents or another adult, assemble a list of new words or new meanings for old words that have entered common usage within the last generation. Ask them as well about common words from their own childhood that are now seldom used.
Nick makes his mark on the world even though he's just a fifth grader. Research and report to your class on other individuals who made significant contributions to literature, science, music, or other fields while still very young. If possible, bring in examples of their work.
Interview a parent or a close adult friend about the teacher who meant the most to them when they were young. Did they always admire that teacher or did they grow to respect him or her more over time? What did they learn from that teacher? How did they learn it? Have they kept up with the teacher since leaving school?
Mrs. Granger is a firm believer in improving vocabulary by studying word lists, but there are also playful ways to boost your word power. Look for board games based on words, crossword puzzles, or any books that feature word games. And, of course, reading more good books is another sure way to increase your vocabulary.
News about Nick's new word spreads fast. First within his class, then in his hometown newspaper, later on television news shows and entertainment talk shows. Track a current news story through the media. Where did you first learn about the story? Keep a record of all the media outlets -- newspapers, magazines, the Internet, radio and television newscasts, or entertainment shows -- that also feature the same story.

About The Author

Photo Credit:

Andrew Clements has written a number of books for children, including three novels about school life. He taught in public schools near Chicago for seven years before moving east to begin a career in publishing. The idea for Frindle grew out of a talk that he gave to second graders. He says that "Frindle is about discovering the true nature of words, language, thought, community and learning, and about the life that surges through the corridors and classrooms every day." Andrew Clements now writes full-time and lives in central Massachusetts with his wife and their four children.

Why We Love It

Frindle is a phenomenon with over 8 million copies sold, and just one of dozens of beloved books that Andrew Clements published with Atheneum. With this 25th anniversary edition with a special cover treatment and bonus material from Clements’s files, we celebrate his legacy, and we hope the book will inspire a new generation of Frindle fans to start making up their own words.”

—Sophia J., Associate Editor, on Frindle

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (August 1, 1999)
  • Length: 112 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780689832505
  • Ages: 8 - 12

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Raves and Reviews

**Winner of the 2016 Phoenix Award**

"Will have readers smiling all the way through...hilarious."

– The Horn Book, starred review

"If there's any justice in the world, Clements may have something of a classic on his hands. . . . A captivating tale--one to press upon children, and one they'll be passing among themselves."

– Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Awards and Honors

  • Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award
  • California Young Reader Medal Nominee
  • Horn Book Fanfare
  • Garden State Children's Book Award Nominee (NJ)
  • Virginia Young Readers List
  • Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List
  • William Allen White Children's Book Award (KS)
  • NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
  • Georgia Children's Book Award
  • Young Hoosier Book Award (IN)
  • Christopher Award
  • Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award (MN)
  • Oregon Battle of the Books List
  • Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best
  • Maine Student Book Award Reading List
  • Nutmeg Book Award Nominee (CT)
  • Arizona Young Reader Book Award Nominee
  • NAPPA Gold Award Winner
  • Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children's and Teens (DC)
  • Great Stone Face Book Award (NH)
  • Parents' Choice Silver Honor Winner
  • Children's Sequoyah Book Award Master List (OK)
  • Prairie Pasque Award Nominee (SD)
  • Land of Enchantment RoadRunner Award Nominee (NM)
  • Golden Sower Award Nominee (NE)
  • Sunshine State Young Readers' Award List (FL)
  • Texas Bluebonnet Master List
  • Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List (VT)
  • Prairie Pasque Award Nominee (SD)
  • Phoenix Award Winner
  • Crown Award Nominee (TX)
  • Nevada Young Readers' Award
  • Judy Lopez Memorial Award Honor Book
  • Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • Black Eyed Susan Book Award (MD)
  • Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (AR)
  • Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (IL)
  • Family Fun Magazine - Best Kids Books
  • North Carolina Children's Book Award
  • Rhode Island Children's Book Award
  • Sasquatch Book Award (WA)
  • Utah Children's Choice Award
  • Utah Children's Book Award

Resources and Downloads

More books from this author: Andrew Clements