Nick is a student at Lincoln Elementary School, known for his abundance of ideas and his ability to put them into action. While it's unclear whether he is a troublemaker or not, his creativity is evident. One notable incident occurred when he transformed his third-grade classroom into a beach. Initially, his teacher didn't seem bothered by the idea. However, Nick took it a step further by turning up the thermostat to 90 degrees, spreading sand on the floor, and playing Nerf volleyball using a net made of tied-together T-shirts. The fun came to an end when the principal discovered the chaotic state of the classroom.
In fourth grade, Nick discovers a fascinating fact about red-wing blackbirds. These birds use a high-pitched chirping sound to confuse and evade their predators. During silent reading time, Nick decides to experiment by making a similar peeping sound. His teacher, Mrs. Avery, fails to identify the source of the sound accurately and wrongly accuses Janet Fisk, one of Nick's classmates. Realizing his mistake, Nick apologizes to Janet and explains what he learned about blackbirds. From that point on, Janet becomes a willing participant in Nick's games throughout the rest of the year.
As Nick enters fifth grade, he senses that this year will be different, primarily due to his language arts teacher, Mrs. Granger. Despite her small stature, she commands respect and authority, even among taller fifth graders. Mrs. Granger is an older woman who dresses impeccably and possesses piercing eyes that can discern mischief in her students. Her most infamous activity is the rigorous vocabulary drills she assigns. Every week, she assigns vocabulary words and maintains a vast collection of dictionaries in her classroom. During the summer break,
Mrs. Granger sends a letter to families, requesting that they procure a dictionary for their children to use at home. She includes a list of acceptable editions. Nick, who fails to see the practical necessity of dictionaries or the mountains of homework, anticipates trouble in fifth grade.
The first day of school goes relatively smoothly until Nick attends Mrs. Granger's seventh-period language arts class. This class is filled with pre-tests, expectations, and review. Nick, known for his ability to derail lessons, decides to throw a "thought-grenade" at Mrs. Granger. He asks a question intended to distract the teacher long enough to postpone a homework assignment. Nick questionsthe origins of the numerous dictionaries in the room, particularly the massive one, suggesting that they might have simply copied words from other dictionaries. He also remarks on the enormity of the book. However, Mrs. Granger skillfully deflects the question, leaving Nick feeling embarrassed and frustrated. To teach him a lesson, she assigns him extra homework - an oral report that requires him to research and answer his own question, sharing his findings with the class. Nick realizes that Mrs. Granger lives up to her formidable reputation.
Nick dedicates hours to his language arts homework after school. His parents have implemented a "Homework First" policy, which is further emphasized by his older brother James, who attests to the effectiveness of their parents' rules in college. Although Nick has never paid much attention to the rule before because he usually finishes his assignments quickly, he now realizes its importance. However, as he attempts to rush through his oral report, he finds the relevant sections of the dictionary and encyclopedia challenging to comprehend. Nevertheless, he gets a new idea and becomes determined to make the assignment enjoyable.
Nick's excitement about his plan from the previous night fades as he faces the harsh fluorescent light of the school, making his goal seem impossible. Seventh period arrives swiftly, and Mrs. Granger calls upon Nick to present his report first. Nick delivers a lengthy and informative report, sharing facts about Samuel Johnson and the history of dictionaries for most of the class hour. Gradually, the other students realize that Nick is intentionally wasting time, while Mrs. Granger grows increasingly annoyed. The class pretends to listen attentively despite the charade.
Mrs. Granger interrupts Nick ten minutes before the end of the class. To Nick's dismay and discomfort, she sincerely praises his report, causing him to worry about being perceived as a teacher's pet. In an attempt to regain control, Nick poses another provocative question: "Who says that d-o-g means the thing that goes 'woof' and wags its tail? Who says so?" Mrs. Granger responds, "You do, Nicholas," and goes on to explain how every language speaker in history, including Nick, has contributed to shaping today's vocabulary simply by speaking aloud. With only eight minutes remaining in the day, she manages to squeeze an entire class period's worth of instruction.
As Nick and Janet walk home from school,engaging in a competition to see who can balance along the curb the longest, Janet picks up a pen from the roadside and subsequently drops it. Mrs. Granger's words echo in Nick's mind, and he connects them with his own childhood vocabulary. Reflecting on this, he realizes that words are not fixed and can be shaped by individuals. In that moment, instead of referring to the object as a pen, he decides to call it a "frindle."
The following day, Nick goes to the Penny Pantry store and asks the cashier for a frindle. Confused, the cashier doesn't understand what he means until Nick points to a bundle of ballpoint pens. Over the next several days, Nick convinces his friends to also ask the cashier for a frindle, and by the seventh day, the cashier has grasped their new word. Nick gathers his friends, and they all sign an agreement pledging to use the word "frindle" instead of "pen" at all times throughout the day.
During language arts class, Nick puts on a show by pretending to forget his "frindle." His friend John plays along and tosses a frindle from his backpack to Nick, who deliberately misses the catch. Although Mrs. Granger quickly redirects the class, she asks to speak with Nick after the lesson. With illuminated eyes that contain more light than heat, she warns him against disrupting her class again. In response, Nick bravely claims, with feigned innocence, that he truly didn't have a frindle with him. Mrs. Granger disapproves of his game but dismisses him.
Nick and the fifth-grade class manage to upset the teachers, especially Mrs. Granger when they intentionally ruin their class picture by smiling at the camera and saying "frindle" instead of "cheese." In response, Mrs. Granger introduces a new punishment: anyone caught saying the word frindle must write lines after school that say, "I am writing this punishment with a pen." However, even with the consequences, the students continue to use the word. Mrs. Granger pulls Nick aside, and he experiences a thrill, likening it to a conference during a war. Despite her efforts, Nick refuses to renounce his word. In a symbolic act, Mrs. Granger has him sign the back of an envelope containing a letter addressed to him. She promises to send him the letter when the game is over, and he will recognizeit by his signature. As Nick walks away, he realizes that Mrs. Granger derives enjoyment from the game and desires to win as much as he does.
The following day, almost 80 students ask Mrs. Granger to borrow a frindle, resulting in nearly 80 students being subjected to after-school detention. Frustrated parents begin to call the principal, expressing their concerns about the impact of detention on their schedules. As a result, the principal plans a visit to the Allen home.
Mrs. Chatham, the principal, sits with Nick and his parents in the living
room, explaining the situation from her perspective. She mentions a sense of rebellion at the school, with a lack of respect for rules. Mr. Allen appears embarrassed by the confrontation, but to Nick's surprise, Mrs. Allen questions whether Nick's word is causing any real harm. Nick sees the conversation as a chess game, realizing that Mrs. Granger sent her most valuable piece, Mrs. Chatham, to confront them. However, Nick also realizes that he has his own valuable piece: his mom. After Mrs. Chatham leaves, Mrs. Allen reminds Nick about the importance of respecting his teachers. Nick apologizes for encouraging everyone to ask Mrs. Granger for a frindle and promises to be more respectful in the future. However, Nick understands that the word no longer solely belongs to him; it now belongs to the entire class. He acknowledges that he probably wouldn't be able to stop other students from using the word, even if he wanted to.
Judy Morgan, a reporter for The Westfield Gazette, who usually struggles to find interesting stories. However, when she hears intriguing rumors about Lincoln Elementary, she decides to investigate further. Outside the school's office, she discovers a notice from Mrs. Granger regarding the use of the word frindle. Judy speaks with Mrs. Chatham, who downplays the incident, referring to it as a mere prank that needed to be stopped. Judy doubts the understatement and continues to pursue the story. She requests an interview with Mrs. Granger, who is sharp and suspicious, sharing her side of the story before abruptly ending the interview.
Judy encounters a group of students in detention in the parking lot and seeks their perspective. She specifically asks about a student named Nick, but a red-headed boy suggests that Nick is unlikely to speak because he might say something foolishand get himself into trouble. The following day, Judy receives an envelope containing a photo of the fifth-grade class, with each student holding a pen and making a strange expression with their lips. The back of the photo directs Judy's attention to the red-headed boy she spoke to, revealing that he is none other than Nick Allen.
The next edition of The Westfield Gazette's front page features the frindle story, highlighting the tension between authorities and students. Various individuals involved in the story, including Nick's mother, the superintendent, Mrs. Chatham, and Mrs. Granger, express their surprise and frustration at the coverage. Despite speaking to the reporter, no one anticipated the magnitude of the publicity the news story would generate for Lincoln Elementary and the town of Westfield.
Nick's newfound notoriety attracts unprecedented attention. In the neighboring town of Carrington, a TV news reporter named Alice Lunderson hears about Nick's story and begins to investigate. Her station reaches out to Boston, which then reaches out to New York, all of whom are captivated by the story. With full network support, Alice conducts interviews with Mrs. Granger, Nick, and his parents.
During the TV interview, Mrs. Allen reminds Nick of the impact his words have on the people he interacts with daily, emphasizing the need to be mindful of his behavior. Whenever Mrs. Allen places her foot on top of Nick's, he understands that he should let his mom answer the reporter's questions. The interview is heartwarming, but Alice knows that controversial opinions are unlikely to emerge from the Allen family. The two-minute news story is featured on CBS, reaching an audience of 20 million people, many of whom begin adopting Nick's new word.
Before frindle becomes national news, Bud Lawrence, a lifelong resident of Westfield with an entrepreneurial spirit, files for a trademark on Nick's word. He establishes a small company selling pens with "frindle" printed on them. However, with Nick's widespread publicity, Bud's lawyer advises him to negotiate an official contract with the Allen family to avoid potential legal issues. Bud contacts his old friend Mr. Allen, who is known for avoiding conflicts, and persuades him to sign over the frindle trademark in exchange for a percentage of the profits. Mr. Allen agrees to the deal but prefers to keep it discreet, arranging for Nick's share to be deposited directly into a trustfund.
The excitement surrounding frindle gradually subsides in Westfield, but students continue to use the word as casually as any other English word. However, across the country, a phenomenon akin to Westfield's early frindle days occurs, with children embracing the new word while adults attempt to suppress it. Sales of frindle merchandise skyrocket, and the town's welcome sign proudly declares Westfield as the "Home of the Original Frindle."
Mrs. Granger no longer holds students for detention, but she includes the word "pen" on her spelling tests every week, causing every student to spell it incorrectly. Eventually, the students move on from the novelty of the word and the national attention directed towards Nick.
Nick, on the other hand, never forgets the events surrounding his word. He still possesses great ideas, but now they make him feel somewhat apprehensive. For instance, Nick contemplates an idea where students boycott the subpar school lunches by saving their families' money and bringing their own meals until the food quality improves. However, he fears getting into trouble, being featured in the town newspaper, or drawing more attention to himself.
The change in Nick doesn't go unnoticed, including by Mrs. Granger. He becomes quieter and refrains from joking around with his friends as much. On the last day of fifth grade, Nick visits Mrs. Granger's classroom to inquire about the letter she wrote and promised to give him when the frindle war is "over." Although Mrs. Granger isn't prepared to give Nick the letter yet, she encourages his creativity, expressing her belief that he has remarkable things to accomplish in life. Her confidence in him helps restore Nick to his usual self over the summer, and by sixth grade, he begins implementing innovative ideas. Nick even revolutionizes the school's lunch situation, capturing widespread attention similar to the frindle.
Ten years later, on his 21st birthday, Nick gains access to the secret trust fund established by Mr. Allen and Bud Lawrence. He shares a significant portion of the money with his family and indulges in a few personal purchases but remains committed to completing his college education.
One day, Nick receives a package from Mrs. Granger, containing the latest edition of Webster's dictionary and two notes. The first note directs him to page 541 of the dictionary, where an entry for frindle credits Nick as its originator. The second note,which Nick signed and dated 10 years earlier, begins with a surprising line stating that if he is reading the letter, it means that the word frindle has been added to the dictionary. As he continues reading, Nick realizes that Mrs. Granger supported his word throughout most of his fifth-grade year. She knew that by pushing back, she helped create a fascinating story that captured the nation's attention. Additionally, Nick receives a replica of Mrs. Granger's favorite maroon fountain pen, which contains a folded note beneath the clip with a single word: "Frindle."
Later that year, on Christmas morning, Mrs. Granger finds a package on her front porch along with a letter in her mailbox. The letter is from the school's superintendent, informing her that an anonymous student has established a permanent trust fund in her name for college scholarships. Astounded, Mrs. Granger considers calling the superintendent to rectify what she believes is a mistake but decides to hold off due to the holiday. She opens the package, finding a sloppy note written by a fifth-grader with grammatical errors. Alongside the note is a velvet case containing a gold fountain pen with a fine inscription: "This object belongs to Mrs. Lorelei Granger, and she may callit any name she chooses. - With love from Nicholas Allen."