The Frindle Files

July 15, 2024
Clements' last book, a posthumously published sequel to his belovedFrindle (1996). Sixth grader Josh Willett loves all things to do with computers--coding, creating, even doing his homework on his school laptop and submitting it online. But his hopelessly outdated English language arts teacher, Mr. N, requires students to bring physical books to class, uses a chalkboard instead of the SMART Board, and continues to insist that all assignments be handwritten, in "blue or black ink." And neatness counts! When Josh's search for an actual pen uncovers an old one of his mother's from when she was in sixth grade, marked "Frindle," Josh looks up the unfamiliar word online and finds a photo of 11-year-old Nicholas Allen, who looks a lot like a young Mr. N. Josh and his friend Vanessa investigate the mystery--and quickly discover that Mr. N. doesn't want his past revealed. Written with Clements' trademark humor and featuring his classic straightforward, persistent protagonists, this work takes on the modern digital world, both good and bad, while playing homage to E.B. White'sCharlotte's Web and Strunk and White'sThe Elements of Style. This volume lacks Clements' sure touch and isn't quite up to par with his best, but it's nevertheless a fitting final work from a master storyteller. Central characters present white; names cue ethnic diversity in the supporting cast. Final art not seen. An engaging tale for the latest generation of Clements fans. (illustrator's note)(Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2024
The student has become the teacher in this sequel to Frindle (rev. 11/96). Nick Allen is now Mr. N, a Hawaiian shirt-wearing sixth-grade ELA teacher who makes his students bring a paperback copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style to class and doesn't allow the use of laptops, much to the chagrin of protagonist Josh Willett. Mr. N is the antithesis of computer-savvy coder Josh...or so Josh believes, until he stumbles upon Mr. N's secret past when, looking for a pen to complete an assignment, he finds his mother's childhood "frindle." While he and his friend Vanessa figure out what to do with the information in his "Frindle Files," Josh discovers there's a bigger issue to address: getting a pirated version of Elements removed from the internet. With help from his classmates and Mr. N and a rallying cry "for Wilbur!" (in honor of White's Charlotte's Web), Josh learns about the power of language to enact change and the potential ills of technology if used improperly. Rebellious, smart, persistent Josh is a classic Clements main character, and the parallels between this plot and the original are evident (student/teacher battle, learning from a reference book, national fame). In his straightforward storytelling, Clements pulls modern young readers in by connecting something they might relate to (coding philosophy) to the principles of good writing. This posthumously published novel brings Clements's impressive collection of middle-grade stories to a satisfying close. Black-and-white spot illustrations "drawn entirely with a frindle" are interspersed. Cynthia K. Ritter

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 8, 2024

Gr 3-7-Josh's teacher Mr. N is so old-school, he has banned all tech in his class and requires handwritten assignments. When using his mom's pen, Josh is surprised to see the word frindle written on it. Research informs him that 20 years ago, a fifth grader named Nick Allen changed the word pen to frindle and the new word went viral among children. The picture of Nick looks uncannily like Mr. N, prompting Josh and his best friend, Vanessa, to investigate. This fast-paced novel keeps readers guessing as Josh's plan to reveal Mr. N as Nick Allen shifts to a fight to use technology in the classroom, then a quest to track down an ebook pirate. Published five years after Clements's death, this surprise sequel to the 1996 Frindle stands alone; it might even be more fun for tweens to read the books in reverse order and meet Mr. N before Nick Allen. Jake and his classmates have much in common with young Nick and his Frindle classmates; tweens will find their independence and empowerment exciting. Especially enjoyable are the relationships between students and teachers, and how adult and child characters move on from mistakes and misconceptions. The book also serves as a teaching tool for evaluating sources on the internet. Few clues other than last names describe the ethnicity of the characters; most read as white, and some characters have Latinx surnames. VERDICT A celebration of innovation, intellectual curiosity, and community that will undoubtedly inspire a new generation to read Frindle.-Juliet Morefield

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2024
The student has become the teacher in this sequel to Frindle (rev. 11/96). Nick Allen is now Mr. N, a Hawaiian shirt wearing sixth-grade ELA teacher who makes his students bring a paperback copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style to class and doesn't allow the use of laptops, much to the chagrin of protagonist Josh Willett. Mr. N is the antithesis of computer-savvy coder Josh...or so Josh believes, until he stumbles upon Mr. N's secret past when, looking for a pen to complete an assignment, he finds his mother's childhood "frindle." While he and his friend Vanessa figure out what to do with the information in his "Frindle Files," Josh discovers there's a bigger issue to address: getting a pirated version of Elements removed from the internet. With help from his classmates and Mr. N and a rallying cry "for Wilbur!" (in honor of White's Charlotte's Web), Josh learns about the power of language to enact change and the potential ills of technology if used improperly. Rebellious, smart, persistent Josh is a classic Clements main character, and the parallels between this plot and the original are evident (student/teacher battle, learning from a reference book, national fame). In his straightforward storytelling, Clements pulls modern young readers in by connecting something they might relate to (coding philosophy) to the principles of good writing. This posthumously published novel brings Clements's impressive collection of middle-grade stories to a satisfying close. Black-and-white spot illustrations "drawn entirely with a frindle" are interspersed.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)