Framed [Paperback]

Twelve-year-old Griffin Bing is known throughout Cedarville, New York, as The Man with the Plan. He also has a reputation with the police department, the school system and the newspapers as a troublemaker. So right from day one of Griffin's middle-school career, the principal has his eye on him. That wouldn't be too terrible, except that conflict has a way of finding Griffin and his friends. This time, a very valuable Super Bowl ring that was donated to the school has been stolen right out of the locked display case in the school. A retainer is found in the case providing the only clue --- and it belongs to Griffin. But he has no idea how it ended up there; he just knows he lost it a few days before the crime. Griffin deducts that he's being framed.

Griffin and his parents have to attend a preliminary hearing in front of a judge who sets a date for the actual hearing. In the meantime, he is under house arrest and ordered to attend the John F. Kennedy Alternative Education Center, otherwise known as JFK (or, as Griffin refers to it, Jail For Kids). It's not juvenile detention, but close, and the teachers are more concerned with keeping order than teaching anything. But the worst part is that Griffin isn't allowed to see his friends: Logan, the budding actor; Savannah, the animal lover; Ben, who suffers from a sleeping disorder and carries a ferret around in his shirt to wake him up; Pitch, the athlete with awesome climbing talents; and Melissa, the shy computer genius. How is he supposed to organize a plan if he doesn't have them by his side?

But his friends do come to the rescue and manage to think of a couple of plans. They've drawn up a list of suspects who they believe had reason to steal the ring and pin the crime on Griffin. Now they just have to catch the culprit with the stolen goods. But they're running short on time. If they don't find the guilty party by the court date, Griffin will be locked up in juvenile detention.

As usual, Gordon Korman fills the pages with excitement, mystery, humor and lots of energy. The characters in his Griffin books (SWINDLE and ZOOBREAK) shine with personality and uniqueness, and readers will connect with at least one of them, whether he or she is interested in animals, sports, theater, or computers. One has to admire the characters' initiative, spirit, creativity, enthusiasm and devotion to each other. A recurring theme in these books is friendship and working together with those friends to do the right thing, which puts a warm glow in the heart. The story flows really well from beginning to end, with lots of clues and misleads set in all the right places.

According to his website, Korman is currently working on a new trilogy about kids on the Titanic, and fans can only hope for more adventures with Griffin and his friends.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT

I'm an elementary school librarian and I recommend this series - Framed follows Swindle and Zoobreak - to all my 4th grade+ students who want a fast-paced, adventurous tale. I had not read the previous titles until Framed came out. Then I zipped through all three stories in a couple days. They were fun to read! They can be enjoyed by boys or girls. Framed involves a missing Super Bowl ring, so sports fans will be hooked by that. It's helpful to read the stories in order to get to know the characters and their previous escapades. Sometimes the action is a little over-the-top, but overall it's a very good romp of a read.

As a mother who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, there are a number of authors that I keep an eye out for, because their books rarely disappoint. Gordon Korman is one of them. Although I haven't actually read his books on sports - they are targeted towards boys - I've enjoyed the humour and fast-paced action in his writing, from 'The 39 Clues' to ... ham radio broadcasting! What I really got a kick out of in "Framed", though, was the exploration of the characters' relationships with each other. It was very refreshing to see adventures abound even with level-headed parents fully present - although, of course, this is still a kids-against-doofus-adults kind of story. As always, the presence of intelligent animals in a story always gives it heart. Through it all, Korman has managed to sneak in a theme of the real-life true and growing problem of juvenile delinquency masterfully. While I roll my eyes at the thought that this is the third book in yet another series, I have to admit, it is one definitely worth following! In the words of said daughter:

"The book, 'Framed' by Gordon Korman is a great, hilarious follow-up to 'Swindle' and 'Zoobreak', also by Gordon Korman.

"Griffin Bing and his friends are usually in trouble. However, this time, it is serious. Someone or something stole THE Art Blankenship Super Bowl ring at school, and all evidence point to Griffin. As if it can't get any worse, the judge sends him to Jail For Kids! With the help of his new, if aggressive, friend Shank; and old pals Ben, Melissa, Pitch, Logan, Savannah and Luthor the dog, how will Griffin prove his innocence?

"My favorite part was when Shank 'mugged' Darren, and Pitch took his place on the football field. I liked it because it was very funny and humorous.

"The book 'Framed' is the perfect book for all kids who love comedy and adventure.
I give this book five humongous gold stars: two for the cover, two for the humor, one for the characters."

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 13 reviews  4.7 out of 5 stars