Judging by the long list of awards on the back cover, I must be the last person to discover this delightful 1996 middle grade novel by Andrew Clements. Frindle has sold 2.5 million copies, transforming the author into a full-time writer. The story of fifth grader Nicholas Allen's invention of a new word, is the kind of fast-paced, ordinary-kid-turned-superstar book that is fun to read. It's so captivating that it took a second read to notice some small details that date the book a little, including the mention of a photographer who is "out of film" and the belated realization that this was written pre-Internet, when the voracious media was limited to newspapers, magazines, and TV.
Even if you're not a reader of middle grade novels, you might enjoy the story of how the author got the idea for this book. Sometimes creative folks drive themselves crazy trying to find that "big" idea—the blockbuster novel, the cover-worthy necklace design. Sometimes life-changing ideas are right there in front of us. We only need to open our eyes.