Besties Prank war Prank war /

Gr 4--7--Trent and Sawyer, sixth grade best friends and self-proclaimed prank experts, are always on the lookout for their next big laugh. When their idol, skater and internet sensation Trixie Sampson, announces a prank competition with an unbelievable prize, the duo is determined to take the crown. Their half-baked pranks, featuring slime, confetti, and other classics, leave no friend safe--or happy. But when they set their sights on Natasha, their cool and dramatic friend, they quickly find themselves in over their heads. Nat's retaliation ignites an all-out prank war, leaving chaos and some unintended casualties in its wake. Trent and Sawyer are charming and well-meaning, but their obsession with winning blinds them to the impact their antics have on their friendships. Sawyer often acts as Trent's moral compass, but even he gets quite carried away. Tyler, whose kindness and easygoing nature make him an easy target for neglect, is especially compelling. As the prank war escalates, Trent and Sawyer are forced to confront the consequences of their actions. This graphic novel is a lighthearted, entertaining read, though it sometimes strains believability with parents joining in on the pranking. Turner adeptly stays true to the "World of Click" art style. VERDICT Fans of the series will enjoy the humor, mischief, and heart at the core of this story.--Amy Ribakove

Sixth grade buddies Trent and Sawyer bite off more than they can chew when they trick a clever and relentless classmate. The boys become wrapped up in plotting pranks to submit to an internet contest run by pink-haired Trixie Sampson, a professional skateboarder with a web series called "Trixie's Tricks." They pick classmate Natasha as their next target, but the foolishness of that choice quickly becomes clear. Nat enlists their previous victims, even including their own family members, in a nonstop barrage of harmless but rousingly ingenious and messy counter-"prankening" at school and at home, which quickly leaves them exhausted, humiliated, and jumping at shadows. So perfectly does Turner capture their haunted expressions in her neatly drawn panels that even readers who are inspired to try a few slime- and glitter-filled hijinks for themselves may well feel sharp twinges of conscience. If not, at least the implicit cautionary note about the hazards of online influencers may be well taken. Better yet, in a final scene following their warring parties' sincere expressions of regret and a mutual détente, Miller and Canino suggest that the best pranks end not in pain or upset, but in laughter--even from the victim. The cast, depicted in animated and sometimes-dramatic poses to reflect the lively dialogue, is diverse in skin tone. Lessons to learn, friendships to mend, and "prankening" aplenty to chortle over. (artistic notes)(Graphic fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.