In the long-awaited follow-up to the beloved classic Frindle, a new generation of kids discovers the power of words and imagination – and yes, even screens – to solve a mystery and change their world! “A fitting final work from a master storyteller.”—Kirkus Reviews Josh Willet is a techie, a serious gamer. Which is why Josh and his friends can’t stand Mr. N’s ELA class; it’s a strict no-tech zone. Mr. N makes them write everything out by hand, he won’t use a Smartboard, and he’s obsessed with some hundred-year-old grammar book. Then Josh discovers a secret; turns out Mr. N's been keeping a lot more than technology from his students! Together with his best friend Vanessa, and using all the computer skills they’ve got, Josh is determined to solve the mystery of Mr. N’s past. And maybe get some screentime back, too?
Andrew Clements’s final novel is a timely one—about the importance of language, the changes that come along with technology (good and bad), and how sometimes you have to challenge what you think you know. Set a whole generation later, this novel can be read on its own or alongside
Frindle and is destined to become another timeless classic.
On sale: August 27, 2024
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 6-8
Page count: 224 Pages
ISBN: 9780399557637
Reading level: Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: S
ANDREW CLEMENTS (1949–2019) was a
New York Times bestselling author whose beloved modern classic Frindle has sold over six million copies, won nineteen state awards (and been nominated for thirty-eight!), and been translated into over a dozen languages. Before writing Frindle, Andrew worked as a public school teacher outside Chicago. Called the “master of school stories” by Kirkus Reviews, Andrew wrote over eighty acclaimed books for kids, including, most recently,
The Friendship War and
The Losers Club, which School Library Journal called “engaging and funny . . . a laugh-out-loud first purchase” in a starred review.
“[Clements’] final novel is
a tribute to great teachers, courageous kids and the power of language.” —
The New York Times“Clements demonstrates his uncanny ability to tackle complicated, serious issues in
a story that’s warm, funny and accessible to middle-grade readers.”
—The Washington Post"
An engaging tale for the latest generation of Clements fans." —
Kirkus Reviews
"
In his straightforward storytelling, Clements pulls modern readers in by connecting something they might relate to (coding philosophy) to the principles of good writing. This posthumously published novel brings the late Clements’s impressive collection of middle-grade stories to a satisfying close." —
The Horn Book
"A celebration of innovation, intellectual curiosity, and community that
will undoubtedly inspire a new generation to read Frindle." —
School Library Journal
