Book Reviews and More: Framed - Gordon Korman

Framed

Swindle Book 3

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9780545270816

eISBN 9780545457361

ASIN B006N4EFKS

I have read over 80 books from Gordon Korman’s masterful pen. I did not read much when young because of a dual form of dyslexia, because of that I have a great fondness for Middle Grade books, and books for tween and teens. Korman is one of the all-time masters. I set the goal of reading all his books about 2020. I have read books in all his series, and all of the standalone stories. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. But I really did not get into them until my son’s teacher gave everyone a book with a note in it at the ends of the school year. Since then my son and I have read many of his books together.

Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. And one comes out early next year. As of the reading of this volume I am down to 25 unread books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged.

This book and was released originally in 2010 and the last in the series in 2016. There are 19 editions of this volume currently listed on Goodreads, and it is available in French and English.

The description of this volume states:

“Griffin Bing's new principal doesn't like him. And Griffin doesn't like the boot camp football atmosphere the new principal has brought. Griffin manages to stay out of trouble -- until a Super Bowl ring disappears from the school's display case, with Griffin's retainer left in its place. Griffin has been framed! Unfortunately, the Man doesn't have a Plan - and everything his team tries to find out who really took the ring backfires. Griffin ends up in an alternate school, then under house arrest, and finally with an electronic anklet - with no way to prove his innocence! Griffin smells a rat - but will he be able to solve the mystery in time?”

The about the author for this edition states:

“GORDON KORMAN’s first two books featuring Griffin Bing and his friends were Swindle and Zoobreak. His other books include This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (published when he was fourteen); The Toilet Paper Tigers; Radio Fifth Grade; the trilogies Island, Everest, Dive, and Kidnapped; and the series On the Run. He lives in New York with his family and can be found on the Web at his website.”

I really did not know what to expect when I started this series. I left this series till the end for 2 main reasons. First it is the longest series to date by Korman. And Second, I am not a huge dog guy, and also not into anthropomorphic stories. I had never read the descriptions, and just kept skipping over it until it was the last series for me to start. Once I started that first one I really did not want to put it down. And it took a lot of effort not to just jump to the next volume, or rip my way through the series. I read books in a number of series between books 2 and 3 in this series. So even though it had not been that long, it was a like a visit with old friends.

Book one is described as Ocean’s 11 with kids, it lived up to that statement, and to some extent even more so in this third instalment. This third one has a very different feel because of the circumstances and Griffin Bing being mostly stuck on the side-lines. I am so looking forward to where it goes in the next six stories in the series.

This is another excellent story about friendship, about kids standing up, and about life in a small community. Griffin Bing is the man with a plan till everything they try seems to backfire. But an acquaintance from the alternative school steps up and might just have the key to saving Bing’s bacon, but not without some mishaps and struggles along the way.

This is a great story. It continues an amazing series. I can easily recommend it. Another great read from the master of the school story! But watch out for the dodge balls.

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish! (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)

(formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)