CHEAT

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)