Boys vs Girls:
Genius Pranks Ignite a Rivalry
Book 2 of 3+
GRADES 4-6 • CHRISTIAN Middle-Grade Fiction
Ted, the 5th grade genius and his rival Veronica constantly prank each other. When the pranks spill over and cause a grade-wide conflict between the boys and girls, the teachers organize a competition between the two sides.
Hoping to teach the kids to respect each other, they set up contests in academics, hobbies, and sports. But competitions aren’t always fair, and when two girls suddenly become friendly with Ted’s teammates, he immediately suspects the girls are trying to cheat.
Determined to stop Veronica from succeeding and possibly hurting his friends, Ted will go to extremes, even at the cost of losing.
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Deeper Dive
This story explores what happens when truth is hard to see. Ted senses wrongdoing long before it can be proven, placing strains on his friendships. Acting too quickly risks damaging relationships. Staying silent risks allowing harm. Navigating that tension forces Ted to confront how truth, wisdom, and love are meant to work together.
As conflict widens, the book examines how easily suspicion can kneecap friendship, and how extreme loyalty to one can crowd out kindness to another. Ted’s desire to protect others is genuine, but it tests his ability to treat opponents with dignity.
Through fierce competition and tested loyalties, themes of respect and forgiveness come to the forefront. This book challenges readers to consider what it means to treat others as the Image of God, even in the midst of conflict.
Themes & Topics
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Perception vs Reality
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Wise Decision-Making
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Respect for Others
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Forgiveness and Reconciliation
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Competition and Fairness
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Seeing Others with Inherent Value
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Suspicion in Friendship
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Integrity and Moral Courage
5th Grade Challenge has Reflection Questions at the end of every chapter. They were put there for a reason. This companion guide exists to make those questions count. Inside, author Jamaal Fridge answers each question himself — not to replace your answers, but to give you somewhere to start. Read a chapter together. Stop at the questions. Open this guide. Let the conversation flow from there.
The questions in this guide go where the story goes — into the tension between boys and girls who can't seem to get along, and what God has to say about conflict, respect, and learning to see people the way He does. The child who reads this book alone gets a great story. The child who reads it with you gets a conversation about how to treat people that they will carry for the rest of their life.
Guideposts for
5th Grade Challenge
Preview
What readers think
"It's a creative depiction of life lessons for young people." ★★★★★
-Teacher
"The book has impacted my relationship with God and other people... it shows how God cares about our issues... The book has also shown me that people can change and we should forgive them." ★★★★★
-Student
"It's relatable to kids from different cultures... it touches on real issues, but was fun at the same time. I highly recommend it!" ★★★★★
-Verified Reviewer