Book Review: Frindle

Our family has been reading a really cute book called Frindle, by Andrew Clements. It reminds me a lot of The Great Brain. So cute!

We first meet Nick Allen. He has charisma and knows how to play the school system. If the bell is about to ring and the teacher is handing out a homework assignment, well, ask a lengthy question (one that's good) and distract the teacher so there's no homework! Find a way to make sounds travel in class so the teacher never knows where it's coming from. The funny lists of Nick antics are endless. But then Nick gets to fifth grade and Mrs. Granger's class. She loves words and dictionaries and when Nick tries to pull his trusty stunts on her, she beats him at his own game. But soon, Nick has invented his own word, Frindle, and it catches on like wildfire. And then more hilariousness ensues.

My family loved reading this book together. It was cute and had a fresh and unique perspective on school that made us laugh. I loved the play on words and making up a new word. That was fun to try ourselves! A great before-bedtime read with a sweet ending.

Here's the back copy:

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.

You can download your copy here