Frindle
by Andrew Clements
Frindle by Andrew Clements is assigned in US schools at grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 830L. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Frindle is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 830L
- Grade range
- Grades 3–7
- Difficulty for grade
- Above the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
- Age range
- Ages 8–12
- Pages
- 105
- Reading time
- about 1h 55m (est.)
- First published
- 1996
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780689818769
Reading difficulty: At 830L, Frindle reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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About this book
Fifth-grader Nick Allen invents a new word — "frindle" for a pen — partly to test his strict language-arts teacher, and the coinage spreads beyond anything he expected. Andrew Clements turns a classroom prank into a gentle exploration of how words gain meaning and how ideas take on lives of their own. A staple of grade 3-7 classrooms, it is frequently used to launch lessons on vocabulary, creativity, and the power of language.
Why widely assigned
This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 3–7. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on creativity and language and thought.
Themes
creativity · language and thought · intelligence · school · imagination
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Frindle→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Frindle?
- Frindle is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 830L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Frindle?
- Frindle has a Lexile measure of 830L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read Frindle?
- It takes about 1h 55m to read Frindle (105 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 115 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Frindle hard to read for 3rd grade?
- At 830L, Frindle reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- Is Frindle banned in schools?
- Frindle does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 830L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 3–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Not yet documented in any tracked curriculum.
- State-level evidence
- Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.