DiaryofaTechieKid

Frindle: A Very “Pen”-ly Book

Who could have thought a boy could add a word to the dictionary?  Frindle, which is a humorous modern tale, written by Andrew Clements, is about a boy named Nicholas, a kid who adds a word, ‘frindle,’ to the American Dictionary.  This book is very suspenseful which is a reason you should read it.

Nicholas, who is in 5th grade at an urban school in New Hampshire, is very determined to add a new word into the public use. He is very friendly, as well as curious and, restless. Janet, John, Pete, Dave, and Chris are “secret agents“ because they think it is an exciting idea. Nick and the other kids start a scheme to utilize a new word instead of pen: ‘frindle’.  Mrs. Granger, Nick’s teacher, wants them to use the dictionary’s vocabulary, instead of ones they create. Nick, on the other hand, wants to make new nouns.  She tries to enforce her methods, but later, she joins forces with the kids in order to help them.  She is happy that her students have patience and are very ambitious, and she writes, “A person can watch the sunrise, but he cannot slow it down or stop it or make it go backwards.  And that is what I was trying to do with your word.”  (p. 98) In the end, the kids were successful.

In this book, Nick learns how to organize people to make campaigns.  By the end of the book, Nick masters ambition.  Miss Granger is like an obstacle in an obstacle course producing a struggle for Nick when he tries to make a new word.  When she tries to stop him, he gains courage and learns new strengths.  Nick is a role model for many other kids, like me,  who try to design new products to improve people’s lifestyles.