Module 7: Frindle

Summary

Andrew Clements, a well-renowned juvenile fiction author, relays the tale of Nick, a 5th grade student who invents a new name for an ordinary ink pen while studying the origins of words in the English language. His new word is "frindle," and it catches on fast. Despite the threat of detention and writing sentences, Nick and his friends persist and the popular new word eventually replaces the ordinary word "pen" around their town. It ends with a letter from his teacher congratulating him for the induction of "frindle" in to the Oxford English Dictionary. The entire debacle was really just a ploy on her part to get the word inducted.

Personal Impressions

This was a very quick and fun read for me. Since I am an English teacher, I personally am interested in the formation of new words and how those words just seem to "take." I think Andrew Clements probably did some research because what happens sort of makes sense and is seemingly possible. I mean, the slang term "bling-bling" was added into the Oxford English Dictionary within the past five or so years! So why not! Really, this is one I would recommend to 4th-6th graders. Some of the annoying things Nick does, such as the bird chirp in the middle of class, are hilarious and exactly like things my own students do. Clements is such a great writer anyway. His books are very popular amongst upper elementary and middle school because they can relate to his characters. The same thing is true about the characters in this book. I personally can relate to the teacher; the kids can relate to Nick; and it peaks everyone's curiosity as to whether they could actually invent a new word and have it catch on entirely.

Professional Reviews

Booklist (Vol. 93, No. 1 (September 1, 1996))

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.

Horn Book starred (November, 1996)

Nick's teacher explains that a word means something only because people decide it does. And thus is born frindle, Nick's new name for pen, promising and delivering a classic student-teacher battle. 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.

Library Uses

This book in particular would be great to co-teach a lesson on word study. In an elementary school setting, or at least in the ones in my school district, students typically visit the library once a week. I think it would be interesting for the librarian to divide the book up in to about 5 or 6 sections, and read aloud one of the sections a week until the book is completed. The classroom teacher could then conduct a mini lesson on dictionary skills, vocabulary, or even do a Q & A to test reading comprehension. The reverse of the lesson, where the classroom teacher reads the book and the librarian helps with the mini-lessons could also happen. Another use would be for the librarian to do a book talk over the book and have the students discuss word origins. Librarians have a lot more to offer than simply making book recommendations. Some of the librarians at the schools in our district have intervention periods, where they are responsible for working on particular skills with a small group of students in an effort to boost comprehension. I think it would be great to see more librarians pair with classroom teachers for lessons such as the one I mentioned.

References

Clements, A. (1996). Frindle. New York, NY: Aladin Paperbacks.

E.S.W. (1996). Horn Book Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2012 from: www.hbook.com.

Weisman, K. (1996). Books for youth: Books for middle school readers. Booklist, 93(1). Retrieved 23 November 2012 from: www.booklistonline.com.