Cheat

by Kristin Butcher

Overview

Laurel, caught up in the thrill of an investigation, is willing to risk her reputation to get the story, but her ultimate discovery changes everything.

Laurel discovers her passion for investigative journalism when she writes an article for her school paper about a person experiencing homelessness who's been living at the school. Eager to write more articles with impact, she launches an investigation of a cheating scam at her high school. Laurel's efforts cause her classmates to turn against her. Nobody is interested in seeing her article go to print, not even her own brother.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554694655
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2010
Series:	Orca Currents Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	681 KB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Kristin Butcher is the author of several books for young readers, including The Trouble with Liberty and The Hemingway Tradition in the Orca Soundings collection. Kristin lives in Campbell River, British Columbia.

Read an Excerpt

"Nobody likes a snitch. Unless you're looking to become a total outcast, let it go."

Editorial Reviews

"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."

School Library Connection (SLC)

"Butcher offers an insightful look into the ethics and morals of high school students...The short book really lends itself to a good discussion."

Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Top Forty

"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."

Puget Sound Council for Review of Children's Media

"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."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"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."

Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's Media

"Butcher offers an insightful look into the ethics and morals of high school students...The short book really lends itself to a good discussion."

PSLA Top Forty

"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."

Library Media Connection

"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."

CM Magazine

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

School Library Journal

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)

Kirkus Reviews