Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-7-Korman's fans will welcome this follow-up to Swindle (2008) and Zoobreak (2009, both Scholastic). The Man with the Plan needs help from his friends at Cedarville Middle School to clear him of a crime he didn't commit. When a valuable Super Bowl ring goes missing, the principal is convinced that Griffin is involved, and the kids are convinced that Principal Egan is trying to pin the heist on them. It appears that Griffin has been framed, and each attempt to clear his name seems to get the friends in more trouble. This mystery will draw readers in with its quickly developing plot that combines unconventional characters and situations with believable dialogue and plot twists. Griffin's just a normal kid trying to keep track of his retainer, but when you have friends like Ben Slovak, who has a ferret constantly at his side, and Savannah Drysdale, an avid animal enthusiast, some strange situations will occur. Framed introduces a new character to the group when Griffin lands himself in Jail For Kids and has to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet. He meets his match in Shank Brickhaus, also a "planner," whose family's expertise in nuisance wildlife plays a major role in Griffin standing trial for a crime he didn't commit. Make no mistake; this mystery will keep readers guessing until the end, and there is enough action and even a Hollywood-style car chase to keep reluctant readers on the edge of their seats.-Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this follow-up to Swindle and Zoobreak, Griffin Bing's retainer is swapped for the school's prized Super Bowl ring. After Griffin is sentenced to "Jail For Kids," it's up to his friends to figure out who framed him. The story's nonstop action and humorous asides will keep fans of the first two books turning pages. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
"The Man With The Plan," Griffin Bing, and his 12-year-old fix-it clique have graduated to Cedarville Middle School, and the new principal is a total nightmare. A former high-school football coach, Dr. Egan (aka Dr. Evil) makes the whole school exercise instead of having homeroom, and he warns Griffin he's fully aware of the boy's nearly illegal activities past. When Griffin's errant retainer is discovered in a locked display case in place of the Super Bowl ring of a former student, Griffin is sent to JFK (jail for kids) Alternative Education Center while the case works its way through courts. Griffin and his friends know he's innocent--but unfortunately the man with the plan's plans have the usual result: Everyone gets in more trouble. Griffin's suddenly under house arrest, and the other kids have to use their specialized skills to find the real thief before he's sent further up the river. Korman's third caper starring Griffin Co. features some conclusion-jumping that would do Inspector Clouseau proud as well as plenty of improbable adult reactions...but it's just as goofball-funny and addictive as the previous two (Zoobreak, 2009, etc.).(Fiction. 9-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
