The latest book by prolific Montreal-born author Gordon Korman is the third in a truly absorbing series that reminds kids to stand up for what they believe in while simultaneously offering tales of elaborate, Ocean’s Eleven–like heists. In Framed, we are reintroduced to middle-schooler Griffin “The Man with the Plan” Bing and the rest of the gang first seen in 2008’s Swindle. This time, Griffin is being accused of major mischief that (for once) he had no part in: the brazen theft of a 1969 Super Bowl ring from his school.

After the well-meaning but illegal stunts Griffin narrowly pulled off in the first two books, a third strike could send him straight to juvie. Worse, he is under house arrest during the investigation. And while it’s not exactly a surprise that Griffin’s friends – Savannah the animal lover, Melissa the tech wizard, Ben the tight-spaces guy, and the rest – lend their skills to the cause, Korman concocts a story with enough unpredictable elements that you can’t help but burn right through to the last page.

Young readers will relish Framed for its elaborate schemes, but they’ll also discover what makes them possible is a lot of heart. When Ben, Savannah, et al. realize what’s at stake, it’s their solid friendship that makes them risk everything to prove Griffin’s innocence. Whether they’re staking out the principal’s house or luring suspects with fake e-mails, no plan is too risky. And though these friends learn that life’s not always fair, they’re not afraid to even the score when pushed too far.

While kids would not be advised to emulate the breaking-and-entering heroes too closely, Framed will nonetheless leave them feeling empowered.