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Frindle

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    A surefire winner with kids.

updated 01.28.10

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Encourages children to explore the creative side of language.
  • Role models:

    Nick respectfully disobeys his teacher and causes trouble at school.
  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Frindle was written by Matt Berman

Parents need to know that perfect plotting, lively writing, and clever though minimal drawings add up to a surefire winner with kids that may inspire children to explore language creatively. Nick politely stands up for his beliefs in a media onslaught.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about language, media, and culture. Is the media reaction to Nick's new word realistic?
  • How is Nick affected by his growing celebrity?
  • Families can also talk about the role of dictionaries as records of culture and how words are continuously added.
  • Have you ever made up a new word?
Did this review help you decide?

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More on Frindle

Book Summary

Nick's creative troublemaking brings his school to a standstill and causes a national uproar. The new word he's invented is sweeping the country. But he may have met his match in his fifth-grade teacher, Dangerous Grangerous.

Frindle is a word Nick makes up just to bug his fifth-grade teacher, who's a dictionary demon. This is nothing new for Nick, who has made a career out of wreaking creative havoc in school. But in Mrs. Granger he has found someone just as bright as he is, and they wage an evenly matched war of wits like a chess game.

Nick is just as determined to get everyone to use his new word as Mrs. Granger is to stop it. When their "war conference" fails, Mrs. Granger deploys her black queen (the principal), and Nick counters with his white queen (his mom). But the prank spirals out of control as the word catches on all over town, and when it spawns a national fad frenzy, Nick is in way over his head. But Mrs. Granger, who seems to have lost, may know more than she's telling.

Is It Any Good?

This cleverly subversive story with solid values will have kids racing to the perfect finish. Author Andrew Clements never makes a misstep. Every single event is perfectly plotted and perfectly timed. The reader is torn between page-turning excitement -- don't be surprised if your children won't go to sleep until they finish it -- and the deep satisfaction of everything happening just the way it should.

The characters are unusually well drawn: Nick, the creative troublemaker; his bewildered but supportive parents; and, best of all, Mrs. Granger. Even though FRINDLE is never predictable, each moment unfolds just the way it should. This is a book that makes you start over on the first page as soon as you've finished the last just because it makes you feel so good. Read it one evening when you're depressed or worn out or fed up -- it's a tonic.

Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Publication date: 1/1/1996
Number of pages: 105, Price: $4.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 9+, Read Alone: 9+

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Not for my oldest, or my youngest, good story, but not ready yet.

    ok, my son's second grade teacher read this to his class, and when he told me this, I read it. THIS WAS NOT FOR 7 YEAR OLDS! Parents, it was a good story but James didn't understand it. At least it told him he could do anything he set his mind too.

  2. I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Not for my oldest, or my youngest, good story, but not ready yet.

    ok, my son's second grade teacher read this to his class, and when he told me this, I read it. THIS WAS NOT FOR 7 YEAR OLDS! Parents, it was a good story but James didn't understand it. At least it told him he could do anything he set his mind too.

  3. I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Not for my oldest, or my youngest, good story, but not ready yet.

    ok, my son's second grade teacher read this to his class, and when he told me this, I read it. THIS WAS NOT FOR 7 YEAR OLDS! Parents, it was a good story but James didn't understand it. At least it told him he could do anything he set his mind too.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 1
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    rock on!!!

    andrew clements books rock!!!!!!!! this is about his first book: More on Frindle Book Summary Nick's creative troublemaking brings his school to a standstill and causes a national uproar. The new word he's invented is sweeping the country. But he may have met his match in his fifth-grade teacher, Dangerous Grangerous.Frindle is a word Nick ma ...

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Why This Book Is Good To Read... my story

    I am a fifteen year-old girl who just loved this book. I am also very imaginative and creative and love to make up funny words. Now i only use the word "Frindle" instead of well... the P-E-N word. I think this book is a definite buy because it has a good plot and story and really keeps you into it and you just want to read more. I really enjoyed this book. Thank You :)

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