The School Story

More about the book

The Barnes & Noble Review Tales of determination and perseverance strike a chord with young readers, and they will become instantly engaged with 12-year-old Natalie, an enthusiastic writer who has penned a novel. It's a school story entitled The Cheater, and if Natalie's best friend, Zoë, and her English teacher, Ms. Clayton, can be believed, it's an exceptional tale. So it's a good thing that Natalie's mother works as an editor at a major New York City publishing house. Except for one thing -- Natalie wants the book to succeed on its own merits and not just because she's the editor's daughter. Together, Natalie and Zoë cook up a scheme that involves submitting Natalie's book under a pseudonym, while Zoë pretends to be an agent. It seems far-fetched at first, but with a little help from their teacher and some last-minute assistance from Zoë's father, they not only submit the book and get it accepted -- after its release, it becomes a bestseller. But all is not rosy. Some unanticipated events place Natalie's mother's job in jeopardy, putting Zoë and Natalie's talent for scheming to a true test.