5 Times Revenge, written by Lindsay Eland, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: 5 Times Revenge is a sweet and funny story of the most epic prank ever. Perk and Adam have been best friends and pranksters forever. School would be perfect except for the presence of Hill Parmar, the school’s resident bully and principal Parmar’s son. Hill brutalizes his fellow students with impunity. His father never punishes Hill for his misdeeds. One day, Hill crosses a line he should not have crossed. He tricks Perk's special needs brother, Tommy into playing hide-and-seek. He locks Tommy in a closet and leaves him there. Perk and Adam vow to avenge Tommy and end Hill and principal Parmar’s reign of terror. A prank of this magnitude is too much for two boys to pull off alone. They need a crew. Perk and Adam tap into the school's records to find the best people for the job. Pearl, Ray and Dutch are more than willing to accept the risks. On the surface, none of them look like a threat to the status quo. Pearl is a straight A student and violinist with the school orchestra. She once dated Hill but saw her grades mysteriously drop after she broke up with him. Ray is a big kid who excels at sports that everyone perceives as not very bright. Ray is recruited when the boys realize he has brains as well as brawn. Dutch is one of Hill’s favorite targets. He has a weird facial tic, wears old clothes and is being raised by his grandfather. Once the crew is established, they plan and execute their epic prank. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: 5 Times Revenge is a classic story of a group coming together to face a mutual enemy. The characters are well-rounded and deal with real issues. Dutch’s grandfather is starting to show signs of dementia. Pearl is biracial and her parents are getting divorced. Pearl is accepted as a full member of the group even though she is the only girl. She does develop feelings for Dutch, but their romance is age appropriate. Perk’s parents are practically invisible due to their demanding careers. Adam has the most stable family life. His family runs a successful restaurant. 5 Times Revenge is perfect for fans of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Fourth Stall series.