The Friendship War

During his decades as an author, Andrew Clements penned over 80 books for young readers, many of which focus on the intricacies and struggles of being a middle school student and trying to navigate a larger world. Clements started reading at a young age, something that contributed to his ability to think like a writer. Following the encouragement of a high school English teacher, he studied writing in college, where he also taught summer creative writing workshops to high school students. As he watched his students grow as writers and as people, his exposure to teen life gave him unique insights into the struggles of adolescence, which he later used to craft books about authentic teenage experiences. He later went on to teach full-time, and his experience of daily middle school dramas offered additional fuel for ideas on how to tell his stories in meaningful yet entertaining ways.

Clements is best known for his novel Frindle, which tells the story of troublemaker Nicholas Allen’s endeavors to rename pens as “frindles.” As with many of Clements’s characters, Nicholas also represents the “every-kid” who plays pranks and finds lessons boring. Using these universal activities and feelings, Clements was able to create a story with widespread appeal.