CHEATER, CHEATER

When two smart, funny Indianapolis girls start junior high, they discover that the rules—whether social or academic—aren't hard and fast. For Lucy Lovello, 13, the situation is complicated when her demanding science teacher turns out to be her basketball coach as well—and when a boy in her class, Joey Rich, the son of an owner of the Indianapolis Pacers, shows an interest in her, perhaps because she strikes him as a ``winner.'' When Joey and Lucy are paired at a bowling party, Lucy seizes a split-second opportunity to cheat and they win a prize. Her friends surmise what happened, and all but shun her. Lucy finds a way to redeem her reputation, but not before coming up with her own set of rules to live by. Natural, smooth dialogue leading to a thought- provoking resolution. (Fiction. 8-12)