School Library Connection (SLC)
"A realistic portrayal of high school students' attitudes towards cheating…This is a well written narrative that will challenge readers to make a decision about what's right and what's wrong. Recommended."
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Top Forty
"Butcher offers an insightful look into the ethics and morals of high school students...The short book really lends itself to a good discussion."
Puget Sound Council for Review of Children's Media
"It was easy to get caught up in this book—enough suspense to keep the story moving briskly along. A good hi-low read for teens."
CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"Well suited to its intended audience…With its succinct text, short chapters, and emphasis on contemporary teen issues, Cheat should be popular with reluctant young adult readers….Recommended."
PSLA Top Forty
"Butcher offers an insightful look into the ethics and morals of high school students...The short book really lends itself to a good discussion."
Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's Media
"It was easy to get caught up in this book—enough suspense to keep the story moving briskly along. A good hi-low read for teens."
Library Media Connection
"A realistic portrayal of high school students' attitudes towards cheating…This is a well written narrative that will challenge readers to make a decision about what's right and what's wrong. Recommended."
CM Magazine
"Well suited to its intended audience…With its succinct text, short chapters, and emphasis on contemporary teen issues, Cheat should be popular with reluctant young adult readers….Recommended."
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up—While pondering her next big story for the high school newspaper, Laurel Quinn stumbles upon a cheating scam in her math class. Shocked by the idea of her fellow students engaged in such a dishonest enterprise, she immediately writes an exposé. Instead of gaining her recognition, she is viewed by her classmates as a traitor and her article results in increased scrutiny by the teachers. Instead of backing away from the issue, she follows an anonymous tip and finds out that the cheating is widespread. Laurel's quest for the truth alienates her star athlete brother and his friends, and she ultimately discovers that the scandal hits closer to home than she realized. Despite some minor, unrealistic plot points, including an instance where an administrator simply hands Laurel class lists and students' grades, Butcher's portrayal of high school cheating is believable, with actual consequences. Teens may initially struggle to empathize with the self-righteous protagonist, but the pacing will keep reluctant readers hooked until the very end. Michael Laser's ZCheater (Dutton, 2007) and J.M. Steele's The Taker (Hyperion, 2006) cover similar ground with a little more depth.—Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CA
Kirkus Reviews
Laurel is a fledgling reporter who has inadvertently hit front-page gold with a hot scoop. Determined to keep her place in the journalistic limelight, she goes in search of her next big story. When she discovers some classmates cheating, she knows she's found her lead. However, once she begins to investigate cheating in her school, she finds out that it is more rampant--and closer to home--than she ever would have imagined. Now caught in a quandary, Laurel finds there are no easy answers and needs to decide what is really important to her. Short, quick chapters are propelled by frenetic action. Despite its rapid pace, this hi-lo problem novel leaves holes in its character development. For example, it's never clear how old Laurel is or what grade she is in; small details like this would help readers relate to her. True to life, this book does not offer a tidy, Pollyanna-ish conclusion; Laurel comes to learn from this experience a difficult lesson at a great expense. A speedy read, though light in construction. (Fiction. 10 & up)
