Frindle
| Frindle | |
|---|---|
 Nicholas "Nick" Allen holding a "frindle" (pen). |
|
| Author(s) | Andrew Clements |
| Illustrator | Brian Selznick |
| Cover artist | Brian Selznick |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Aladdin Paperbacks |
| Publication date | 1996 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 105 pp |
| ISBN | 0-689-81876-9 |
| OCLC Number | 38482602 |
Frindle is a 1996 children's novel written by American author Andrew Clements and illustrated by Brian Selznick.
Frindle is Clements's first novel. All his previous works had been picture books. The book has received more than 35 awards and honors, including the 1997 Christopher Award, the Georgia Children's Book Award, the Sasquatch Children's Book Award, the Zyakafoo Children's Book Award[citation needed], the Rhode Island Children's Book Award, and the Year 1999 Young Hoosier Book Award.[1][2]
Clements describes the idea as having come to him in the form of the thought, "What would happen if a kid started using a new word, and other kids really liked it, but his teacher didn't?"[3]
[edit] Plot
At the start of fifth grade, Nicholas "Nick" Allen is unhappy because his English teacher is the much-disliked Mrs. Granger. One day, to stall for time in class, Nick decides to question why every word means what they do. After hearing Mrs. Granger's explanation, and having to write an essay about it for homework, he creates a new name for the pen: "frindle".
Soon, every child in school is using the word, and it gains national attention. Mrs. Granger dislikes this new word because she thinks it is not respectful to the word pen, which has a long history. She makes children stay after school and write lines for saying the word "frindle", but this proves to be a problem, as almost every pupil has to stay after school. Parents complain, and the bus drivers that have to work overtime are also unhappy.
The principal decides to visit Nick's house to end the use of the word, but the situation is out of Nick's hands now, and the word's usage cannot be controlled.
The epilogue shows Nick as an adult in his own house. He becomes very rich from the fund of his dad's longtime friend, and Mrs. Granger sends him a new copy of the Dictionary, recently updated to include new words, including "Frindle". He sends back a present, a gold pen with Mrs. Granger's name on it saying, "This object belongs to Loreli Granger and she may call it any name she chooses to."
[edit] References
- ^ "Simon & Schuster: Frindle (Hardcover)". Simon & Schuster. http://www.simonandschuster.net/content/book.cfm?tab=22&pid=406954. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ "Andrew Clements - Frindle". http://www.andrewclements.com/books-frindle.html. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "EPA's Top 100 Authors: Andrew Clements". Educational Paperback Association. http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=48. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
[edit] External links
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