My Thoughts on Frindle by Andrew Clements—Six Years Later!

I first read Frindle six years ago, back when I was nine years old in third grade. I distinctly remember my teacher at the time, Mr. Flodstrom, a tall man with neat brown hair starting to thin on top, a clean-shaven face, and a presence that was both approachable and authoritative. He was very enthusiastic when introducing this book as a class read, and—something unusual for a group of third graders just given a ton of reading work—the class seemed to enjoy it too. Even I liked it, and rereading it now has given me a whole new perspective on the story, along with the many subtle lessons it contains.

Frindle is about Nick Allen, a curious and clever fifth-grader who, out of boredom, decides to make up a new word for pen: “Frindle.” Now that I’ve been a fifth-grader, I must admit this does indeed sound like something a fifth-grader would do. But unlike in the typical fifth-grade experience, Nick’s inside joke quickly spread from his classroom to across the entire nation, sparking debates everywhere about authority, creativity, and the power of words. When I first read the book, I thought it was funny, that Nick’s schemes were clever and maybe a little devious. This time, though, I realized just how much the book explores ideas about language and social influence. I absolutely love the field of socio-linguistics (if you couldn’t tell by my first blog post) and how everyone shapes culture in unexpected and unintentional ways, even through something as simple as a word or, effectively, a meme.

This time reading the book, I payed more attention to some of the characters, like Mrs. Granger, who is a strict and highly organized teacher. She is introduced as loving rules, using precise language, and having great respect for the dictionary. She expects her students to think carefully and follow instructions precisely. Despite her stern appearance, I now clearly see that she values learning and intellectual curiosity, as well as her students’ growth. And this also wasn’t obvious to my third-grade self, but I now realize how multidimensional of a character she is. The way she seems strict with Nick now seems like clever ways to help grow. I can’t emphasize just how much I adore Mrs. Granger now. She’s a well thought-out character with important values, and I appreciate that, especially in a novel for young readers.

One thing I hadn’t noticed before but is very obvious to me now is how the story accurately mirrors real life. If I hadn’t known how old the book was, I might’ve thought it was a book written in the modern day mimicking how slang and trends spread through social networks. Frindle foreshadows the way a small spark of creativity can ripple outward, making the story more relevant than ever in today’s world of viral memes and social media. Essentially, Nick’s “Frindle” is the equivalent of our “Six Seven.” Clearly, Frindle reflects well on human nature as a whole.

Overall, rereading the book surprised me on many levels, with its subtle lessons and faithful depiction of society, even today. There are SO many clever details hidden throughout with great foreshadowing. My third grade teacher was so rightfully enthusiastic and part of me wants to tell him how thankful I am that he chose the book for the curriculum. If you’re looking for a short and lighthearted but deeply reflective story, I would definitely recommend Frindle!!

-L.J. Lamera.