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The Cheat
From the author of The Girls, this story captures the feelings and views of six eighth graders as they talk about their cheating ways and the unexpected consequences they faced as a result of it.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 21, 2025
Rubys chapter is very unbearable
August 9, 2012
Title: The Cheat
Author: Amy Goldman Koss
Series: N/A
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Summary: Cheating on a geography midterm is only the beginning. It seemed simple enough and they were given the answers from last year's test and they used them. But Sarah and her friends got caught, and what was done without much thought leads to greater and greater consequences. Now they are facing punishment at school, tension at home, and no one is sure how or when it will end.
Review: Death by boredom.
Things I Loved: The only thing that made this book remotely bearable were the different character's dialects and personalities. but even that was ruined becasue during class, our teacher made us read it out loud. And I was stuck with Ruby; like OMG yeah.
Things I Hated: The plot was uninteresting and the story was slow. The summary above is way too alluding. Here's a real summary: Several students get caught cheating on a test and are punished. The End. Goodbye. That's it. The real mystery is how the author was able to stretch this plot across 176 pages... Yikes!
Author: Amy Goldman Koss
Series: N/A
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Summary: Cheating on a geography midterm is only the beginning. It seemed simple enough and they were given the answers from last year's test and they used them. But Sarah and her friends got caught, and what was done without much thought leads to greater and greater consequences. Now they are facing punishment at school, tension at home, and no one is sure how or when it will end.
Review: Death by boredom.
Things I Loved: The only thing that made this book remotely bearable were the different character's dialects and personalities. but even that was ruined becasue during class, our teacher made us read it out loud. And I was stuck with Ruby; like OMG yeah.
Things I Hated: The plot was uninteresting and the story was slow. The summary above is way too alluding. Here's a real summary: Several students get caught cheating on a test and are punished. The End. Goodbye. That's it. The real mystery is how the author was able to stretch this plot across 176 pages... Yikes!
October 26, 2018
The Cheat is a book based on five kids who all need to pass a test but all didn’t study. This girl named Sarah has a sister who took this test a few years beforehand. Jake stole the test that her sister had taken before so he had the answers for his own test. At school the next day Jake gave a girl named Sarah the test answers to impress her. The cheat sheet then got passed around to three other children named Katie, Danny, and Rob. After they all had cheat with the same answers as each other. Danny’s girlfriend then broke up with him and Katie and Sarah’s friendship had gone down hill. Everyone thinks something awful has happened to Rob. The police had to go find him in fear for his life. Rob then confronts his dad and makes sure he states his ground after he is found. Sarah and Katie do end up being friends again but does Jake ever get Sarah to go out with him? Since that’s the whole reason they got themselves in that mess to begin with.
I liked the book and highly recommend but I’m a person who really enjoys everyone’s point of view. In this book you get the story from everyone's perspective and in detail so you really get to connect with every character. It had a strong kind of connection with some of the characters more then others though. Some characters in this story felt like they were just kind of there. So if you’re thinking about reading this book, you should. It’s a very easy read and you’ll get a lot of information in a short amount of time.
I liked the book and highly recommend but I’m a person who really enjoys everyone’s point of view. In this book you get the story from everyone's perspective and in detail so you really get to connect with every character. It had a strong kind of connection with some of the characters more then others though. Some characters in this story felt like they were just kind of there. So if you’re thinking about reading this book, you should. It’s a very easy read and you’ll get a lot of information in a short amount of time.
April 14, 2010
This is a book that I picked up as a MS reading teacher. I try to read books to recommend for my students. I would NOT recommend this book. The book focuses on a group of friends who get caught (some not caught) cheating on a midterm. The narration moves from person to person. I felt like there were too many voices--4 main, 2 supporting--for middle school students to follow. Because there were so many voice, the characters, in my opinion, were never really developed at all. I found myself asking, "Wait, is she the one who's dad died? or did he leave her mom? Which one was that again?" I also felt that there was no real resolution to the problem. The book explained what happened, but nothing was really resolved. Overall, a quick read, but not one that I would recommend to my students.
May 10, 2016
It was of an alright novel. The insights of emotions each character portrays throughout the course of the book was wonderfully written. Cheating is of a serious matter and can lead to getting caught. The end of this book was impressively intruiging. Looking back at the aspects of the book, the poems it consisted of was utterly amazing. This was lacking a few things and I feel as if it is a very quick read!
May 28, 2020
a good read i hope i can find more from this author
May 30, 2018
This book that I read was called the Cheat by Amy Goldman Koss and the genre is realistic fiction. This novel is about 3 kids who ended up cheating their midterm as eight graders and got caught by the principal. Sarah got the answers from a nerd who's older sibling is very smart and got all of the correct answers. Little did she know that it is hard to stay hidden if you and your friends got the exact same answers on any test without getting caught. She and her friends got major consequences from the school board. Sarah and her friends ended up having to write essays about cheating and how bad it is. Plus having to explain to their parents alone is upsetting and scary. Throughout the book Sarah and her friends have to go through the pain of guilt and embarrassment, and in the end the nerd told the principal that it was he who gave Sarah the answers to the midterm finals. My critique on this book is that it was a good book, but had a little bit of a bland/basic plot to it. Nothing really exciting happened after when they got caught because the book only talks about these kids facing the dread of cheating on a midterm rather than anymore surprising things that happened in their lives.
February 26, 2019
This book was about six eight graders that were cheating on a geography midterm test but that’s the only beginning of this story. As they get caught cheating from last year’s test, they will tell different histories of the events and you will find out who tells them with more detail. This plan that was done without that much thought will create great consequences on them. They are facing punishment at school, tension at home, and no one is sure how or when it will end.
Well for me it doesn’t have that much of romance in the book but you can say that there is romance in this eighth graders.
I liked this book it wasn’t like one of my favorites that I have read so far but it is great. Really liked the way that the book is written and the story behind every character. I also like the different lives that every character has behind, after what happened after they get caught the decisions that they have to make. I liked what they have to do so they don’t risk their friendship.
Well for me it doesn’t have that much of romance in the book but you can say that there is romance in this eighth graders.
I liked this book it wasn’t like one of my favorites that I have read so far but it is great. Really liked the way that the book is written and the story behind every character. I also like the different lives that every character has behind, after what happened after they get caught the decisions that they have to make. I liked what they have to do so they don’t risk their friendship.
December 10, 2024
Eighth-grade students are accused of cheating on a geography midterm, and what starts as a spur-of-the-moment decision begins to have consequences that the students did not foresee.
I really enjoyed this book. It was shorter than most of the books I read, and the chapters were really short, making the book just fly by. I think it took me only a day or two to read it. The book is told from several different perspectives, students who participated in the cheating scandal, students who were tempted but at the end chose not to cheat, and the one who started it all. If you are looking for something fast and enjoyable to read, I would recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was shorter than most of the books I read, and the chapters were really short, making the book just fly by. I think it took me only a day or two to read it. The book is told from several different perspectives, students who participated in the cheating scandal, students who were tempted but at the end chose not to cheat, and the one who started it all. If you are looking for something fast and enjoyable to read, I would recommend this book.
September 16, 2018
I found on our bookshelf, The Cheat by Amy Goldman Koss and thought I might want to read it. It must have been one of my children’s books from years ago when they were in school. The story is about several Jr. High school students who cheat on a geography midterm exam and get caught. The books narrative is from each of the student’s point of view. The premise of the book focuses on honesty and integrity. This is not a bad little book.
February 7, 2020
I rated this book 4/5 stars because the book was good overall. The part I liked was especially how cheating on a test can cause a huge effect on people. Like a domino effect, one person in the story gets hurt, and then the next, and it just goes on. The main reason I liked the book is because every chapter it gets better with what’s happening and you can’t wait to read the next chapter to find out what happens.
September 19, 2018
This book was pretty good. I love how short it was with sn innocent yet cute idea. The characters Rob,Dan,Jake,Sarah,Ruby and Katie are very unique characters and by the way Amy types their story, you can hear their voices and thoughts in your head. I loved how short it was too, however i only give it a 4 because it didn’t leave an effect on me. Good book though.
June 7, 2018
I always thought there would never come a day that I read a book that made me want to throw it away and never look back. I was wrong. That day was today; that book was this book.
November 17, 2018
I liked the premise but the book just flat out failed to go anywhere interesting.
Glad it took me only 2 days to finish it so I can’t say I wasted a lot of time .
Glad it took me only 2 days to finish it so I can’t say I wasted a lot of time .
Read
June 9, 2020read for reading class lol
January 6, 2021
A good middle-grade book. I really liked all the different character personalities, their POV and the progression of the story.
I’m passing it on to a couple of middle-grade grandchildren.
I’m passing it on to a couple of middle-grade grandchildren.
Read
December 22, 2023A multi-POV book about kids who cheated on a midterm and the consequences in each of their lives. Short read with distinct voices.
August 21, 2023
I just don't really understand what the point of this book was. Nothing much really happens – some kids get caught cheating and then the people around them react to that, but it's not that interesting or eventful. The few lessons that are learned are fairly basic and shallow. There's not a single character that is interesting and the author does not have a good grasp of the teenage voice. Every single character is either stupid, shallow, selfish, immature, or dramatic to the point of being a caricature. Ruby is particularly unbearable to read, but they all suck. It's a relatively quick read and I didn't actively hate it while reading it, but I can't recommend it. Almost anything else would be more enjoyable and worthwhile.
September 15, 2017
I thought this book was good. In this book Sara and her friends were caught cheating on the test. The teacher finds out and tells the principal. Sara and her friends get called to the office. Eventually there parents are called and the girls get in big trouble. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes drama books. This book had a lot of drama and trouble in it.
February 26, 2008
English 425 Submitter’s name ___Alicia Neely___
Book Bank Book Bank subject: ___Romance___
Reference information:
Title The Cheat
Author Amy Goldman Koss
Publisher Scholastic Press Year 2003
# of pages 176 Genre Fiction
Reading level Interest level Grade 7-9
Potential hot lava: none
General response/reaction:
The Cheat was a very, easy read; it would also be a good book for reluctant readers. The plot was straightforward and students from most cultures would be able to relate to students who cheat on an exam. I liked how Koss split the novel into days, and then split each day into different dialogues from six eight graders. I felt like this would really help students concentrate and stay alert as to who was talking. The only think I did not like about the novel was when Sarah’s dialogues came up, the spacing was always weird. At some point throughout Sarah’s dialogues there would only be one word per line for an entire paragraph. I understand that sometimes writers do this to add emphasis to the paragraph, but I did not understand why emphasis was being put on these certain sentences.
Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
The main theme of this novel was cheating, in more ways than one. The main characters are all caught cheating on their exam and have to overcome certain dilemmas within their school. Also, one of the characters, Dan, is thought to have cheated on his girlfriend with another girl, which leads him to cheat on the exam. In the end, all of the students are reprimanded for their different kinds of cheating.
Characters:
• Jake stole the answers to the exam from his sister and distributed the answers to other students.
• Rob cheats on the exam and runs away from his house after he is caught cheating. He is afraid of what his parents will do to him, so he opts to run away from home.
• Dan gets the answers from Sarah, who got the answers from Jake.
• Ruby is Dan’s girlfriend and is infuriated that Dan was hanging around with Sarah outside of school. Rumors begin that Dan is cheating on Ruby, and the rumor mill spirals out of control.
• Sarah was the first student to get the answers from Jake and she gave all the answers to the other students.
Plot summary:
Six eight graders are caught for cheating on their geography exam. Within this mess, Dan cheated on Ruby while he was getting the answers from Sarah. In the beginning, none of the students want to rat each other out, but quickly the tables are turned when the principle starts suspending. All of a sudden everyone is willing to speak up and the truth comes out about Dan and Sarah. Sarah finally admits she was the one to distribute the answers and is punished most severly.
Strengths (including reviews and awards):
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults (2007)
• Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee
Drawbacks or other cautions:
There were no drawbacks or cautions in The Cheat.
Teaching ideas:
• First, I would teach a moral lesson and show my students how much trouble they could get in.
• Academically, this book did not have a lot to teach. However, there is some talk about the Rio de la Paz which boarders Guatemala and El Salvador. I would be sure that my students understood where Guatemala and El Salvador are located and were the Rio de la Paz.
Book Bank Book Bank subject: ___Romance___
Reference information:
Title The Cheat
Author Amy Goldman Koss
Publisher Scholastic Press Year 2003
# of pages 176 Genre Fiction
Reading level Interest level Grade 7-9
Potential hot lava: none
General response/reaction:
The Cheat was a very, easy read; it would also be a good book for reluctant readers. The plot was straightforward and students from most cultures would be able to relate to students who cheat on an exam. I liked how Koss split the novel into days, and then split each day into different dialogues from six eight graders. I felt like this would really help students concentrate and stay alert as to who was talking. The only think I did not like about the novel was when Sarah’s dialogues came up, the spacing was always weird. At some point throughout Sarah’s dialogues there would only be one word per line for an entire paragraph. I understand that sometimes writers do this to add emphasis to the paragraph, but I did not understand why emphasis was being put on these certain sentences.
Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
The main theme of this novel was cheating, in more ways than one. The main characters are all caught cheating on their exam and have to overcome certain dilemmas within their school. Also, one of the characters, Dan, is thought to have cheated on his girlfriend with another girl, which leads him to cheat on the exam. In the end, all of the students are reprimanded for their different kinds of cheating.
Characters:
• Jake stole the answers to the exam from his sister and distributed the answers to other students.
• Rob cheats on the exam and runs away from his house after he is caught cheating. He is afraid of what his parents will do to him, so he opts to run away from home.
• Dan gets the answers from Sarah, who got the answers from Jake.
• Ruby is Dan’s girlfriend and is infuriated that Dan was hanging around with Sarah outside of school. Rumors begin that Dan is cheating on Ruby, and the rumor mill spirals out of control.
• Sarah was the first student to get the answers from Jake and she gave all the answers to the other students.
Plot summary:
Six eight graders are caught for cheating on their geography exam. Within this mess, Dan cheated on Ruby while he was getting the answers from Sarah. In the beginning, none of the students want to rat each other out, but quickly the tables are turned when the principle starts suspending. All of a sudden everyone is willing to speak up and the truth comes out about Dan and Sarah. Sarah finally admits she was the one to distribute the answers and is punished most severly.
Strengths (including reviews and awards):
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults (2007)
• Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee
Drawbacks or other cautions:
There were no drawbacks or cautions in The Cheat.
Teaching ideas:
• First, I would teach a moral lesson and show my students how much trouble they could get in.
• Academically, this book did not have a lot to teach. However, there is some talk about the Rio de la Paz which boarders Guatemala and El Salvador. I would be sure that my students understood where Guatemala and El Salvador are located and were the Rio de la Paz.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2013
The book I read was called, "The Cheat" by Amy Goldman Koss. It is about a few students who get caught cheating on a geography midterm. When the students are called into the principal's office, they dont know what to do or think. They are paranoid of what is going to happen and what is going to happen when their parents hear what they did. Her purpose was to explain and try to create a picture to her audience on what goes through a student's mind when they are caught cheating. The Cheat is a great novel for students who need a quick and easy book to read.
"The Cheat" is a excellent book for teenagers or young adults to read. It exposes them to an everyday situation that happens in many schools across the United States and around the world. Many people, especially teenagers, do not realize what happens in the back on a students mind when they experience getting caught with cheating. "The Cheat" has a great message on cheating in the life of a teenager. "And what about my father? Chen's probably going to call home, right? Aw, man, this is such a complete bummer!" (Koss 27). Dan is completely mind blown that his parents are going to get called.
The book was extremely enticing. The story of a couple teenagers experiences while in the midst of a cheating scandal is rather intriguing. "Mr. White gave me a squinty look when he handed out the geography exams. Now I feel his eyeballs rolling up and down my neck. Cold, clammy, suspicious eyeballs." (Koss 7). They felt that they were being watched the entire test, even though they still cheated on the test. The fact that they knew there teacher could have been potentially watching with his "cold, clammy, suspicious eyeballs" adds to the suspense. Mr. White later confronts the students in the office.
The best part about the book was how real the situation portrayed in the book is to reality. Mainstream books like "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight" arent relating to cheating and the book is not as widely known. The book did not really have any weaknesses; it displayed the actualities in the real-world. The book tells the tale of the truth of students, high school aged, having struggles enough to cheat on tests.
In conclusion, the book, "The Cheat" was very well written. It was a fiction book, based on true events in today's society. Cheating, among other things are the wrong way to go because in the end you dont know anything in the end. Cheating is very common in high school's across the America and no time soon will cheating end. Everyone and anyone can cheat, but it is always mounts down to someone getting caught. In the future, cheating will become easier to do, but for for right now, cheating is believed to be the future for many students.
"The Cheat" is a excellent book for teenagers or young adults to read. It exposes them to an everyday situation that happens in many schools across the United States and around the world. Many people, especially teenagers, do not realize what happens in the back on a students mind when they experience getting caught with cheating. "The Cheat" has a great message on cheating in the life of a teenager. "And what about my father? Chen's probably going to call home, right? Aw, man, this is such a complete bummer!" (Koss 27). Dan is completely mind blown that his parents are going to get called.
The book was extremely enticing. The story of a couple teenagers experiences while in the midst of a cheating scandal is rather intriguing. "Mr. White gave me a squinty look when he handed out the geography exams. Now I feel his eyeballs rolling up and down my neck. Cold, clammy, suspicious eyeballs." (Koss 7). They felt that they were being watched the entire test, even though they still cheated on the test. The fact that they knew there teacher could have been potentially watching with his "cold, clammy, suspicious eyeballs" adds to the suspense. Mr. White later confronts the students in the office.
The best part about the book was how real the situation portrayed in the book is to reality. Mainstream books like "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight" arent relating to cheating and the book is not as widely known. The book did not really have any weaknesses; it displayed the actualities in the real-world. The book tells the tale of the truth of students, high school aged, having struggles enough to cheat on tests.
In conclusion, the book, "The Cheat" was very well written. It was a fiction book, based on true events in today's society. Cheating, among other things are the wrong way to go because in the end you dont know anything in the end. Cheating is very common in high school's across the America and no time soon will cheating end. Everyone and anyone can cheat, but it is always mounts down to someone getting caught. In the future, cheating will become easier to do, but for for right now, cheating is believed to be the future for many students.
November 1, 2011
My sister suggested this book; she was obsessed with the author Amy Goldman Koss. The title picture looked scary, so I hesitated for awhile. The summary of the book was really good so I started reading it. I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite book.
I already knew that cheating was bad, but after reading this book I learned what actually happens. Usually teachers and parent always say that cheating leads to bad life, but they never explain what happens. In this book it explains the life of three middle school kids who cheated. It doesn't only affect them but the others around them.
Sarah got the midterm answer from a guy she didn't even know, Jake (A nerd). His sister took it last year and Jake thought that every year the questions were the same. Sarah didn't cheat by herself. She told three other kids in her school: her best friend, Katie, Rob (Katie's old best friend) and Dan (Sarah didn't even know him well). Katie got scared so she didn't cheat. Sarah, Dan and Rob cheated; during the test Rob realized that some answers were wrong. Rob didn't study so he didn't know what to do. The three cheaters got caught. They wrote exactly the same answers for last year’s midterm test. Sarah accused Katie of tattling on her. The big drama started. Rob doesn’t want to get in trouble so he runs away from home. Sarah needs to tell the secretary who gave her the answers before she could come back to school, but Sarah doesn’t like that idea. Dan’s girlfriend (Ruby) doesn’t think he is cute anymore because he cheated. While all this is happening Jake is regretting himself for telling Sarah the answers for the midterms.
I like the fact that the author rotated the speaker of the story. Instead of telling the story only in Sarah's perspective, she also included Rob, Dan and other characters perspective. I think if she told the story in only one persons view it wouldn’t have been a great book. I tend to like stories that rotate the speaker. It tells me how each character feels. Some stories have 3 characters talk about one event. This makes the book very boring since it repeats the event. In this book, one character talked about one event. Then it went on to another event with another characters perspective.
I would recommend this book to everyone. It has a wonderful message. This book has a lot of drama and less action. I have a feeling that most boys won’t love this book. I personally enjoyed this book and think that the author did a great job writing this story. My sister loved it too and I am glad that she recommended it to me.
I already knew that cheating was bad, but after reading this book I learned what actually happens. Usually teachers and parent always say that cheating leads to bad life, but they never explain what happens. In this book it explains the life of three middle school kids who cheated. It doesn't only affect them but the others around them.
Sarah got the midterm answer from a guy she didn't even know, Jake (A nerd). His sister took it last year and Jake thought that every year the questions were the same. Sarah didn't cheat by herself. She told three other kids in her school: her best friend, Katie, Rob (Katie's old best friend) and Dan (Sarah didn't even know him well). Katie got scared so she didn't cheat. Sarah, Dan and Rob cheated; during the test Rob realized that some answers were wrong. Rob didn't study so he didn't know what to do. The three cheaters got caught. They wrote exactly the same answers for last year’s midterm test. Sarah accused Katie of tattling on her. The big drama started. Rob doesn’t want to get in trouble so he runs away from home. Sarah needs to tell the secretary who gave her the answers before she could come back to school, but Sarah doesn’t like that idea. Dan’s girlfriend (Ruby) doesn’t think he is cute anymore because he cheated. While all this is happening Jake is regretting himself for telling Sarah the answers for the midterms.
I like the fact that the author rotated the speaker of the story. Instead of telling the story only in Sarah's perspective, she also included Rob, Dan and other characters perspective. I think if she told the story in only one persons view it wouldn’t have been a great book. I tend to like stories that rotate the speaker. It tells me how each character feels. Some stories have 3 characters talk about one event. This makes the book very boring since it repeats the event. In this book, one character talked about one event. Then it went on to another event with another characters perspective.
I would recommend this book to everyone. It has a wonderful message. This book has a lot of drama and less action. I have a feeling that most boys won’t love this book. I personally enjoyed this book and think that the author did a great job writing this story. My sister loved it too and I am glad that she recommended it to me.
July 23, 2013
13 October 2002 THE CHEAT by Amy Goldman Koss, Dial Books, February 2003
"I wondered if Jake was sweating it out this weekend, waiting for Mr. Principal to get word of his role in our little play.
"How did it work, guilt-wise, I wondered. Was Jake as guilty as me? Was I more or less guilty than Dan and Rob? How much less guilty was Katie for not using the answers? Did that make her entirely innocent? Or did she at least get tiny black flecks on her soul for even considering cheating?
"And how about if I hadn't got caught?"
So asks Sarah on Saturday afternoon. She is an eighth-grader who still has a couple of midterms on Monday--that is, if she is allowed to attend school and take them. It all depends on how much she's willing to reveal to the principal.
One of the most significant aspects of this tale, told over a long weekend in the voices of six middle school students, is how the various parents respond (or are expected to respond) to the students being caught. How have the kids' attitudes been affected by that of their parents?
As she did with THE GIRLS, a thought-provoking story about the insidiousness of a middle school clique, Amy Goldman Koss' THE CHEAT provides us with totally believable characters and another all-too-familiar school situation for young adults to ponder. With the stakes so high and the opportunities ever increasing in the Internet age, this is a great book on a topic that all students will inevitably come in contact with.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"I wondered if Jake was sweating it out this weekend, waiting for Mr. Principal to get word of his role in our little play.
"How did it work, guilt-wise, I wondered. Was Jake as guilty as me? Was I more or less guilty than Dan and Rob? How much less guilty was Katie for not using the answers? Did that make her entirely innocent? Or did she at least get tiny black flecks on her soul for even considering cheating?
"And how about if I hadn't got caught?"
So asks Sarah on Saturday afternoon. She is an eighth-grader who still has a couple of midterms on Monday--that is, if she is allowed to attend school and take them. It all depends on how much she's willing to reveal to the principal.
One of the most significant aspects of this tale, told over a long weekend in the voices of six middle school students, is how the various parents respond (or are expected to respond) to the students being caught. How have the kids' attitudes been affected by that of their parents?
As she did with THE GIRLS, a thought-provoking story about the insidiousness of a middle school clique, Amy Goldman Koss' THE CHEAT provides us with totally believable characters and another all-too-familiar school situation for young adults to ponder. With the stakes so high and the opportunities ever increasing in the Internet age, this is a great book on a topic that all students will inevitably come in contact with.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
April 12, 2015
How honest are you? Would you use midterm copies if someone offered? If you were questioned, would you reveal your source?
Sarah - To her peers, she is pretty, smart, and popular. She
thought it was sweet for a boy she hardly knew, to offer
his sister's old test. It left her time to study for
other tests.
Katie - Sarah's best friend. Katie is a good student, is imagining
all sorts of horrors of being caught. She has memorized the
answers to "Row,Row,Row Your Boat."
Rob - Finishes so fast, he actually starts to read the questions.
Oh, No! He discovers the given answer, C, is wrong-- it
should be B. His army dad was there. If that answer was
wrong, how many other answers are wrong?
Dan - Friend of Rob. Rob says we were duped. Dan tells him to
lighten up.
Ruby - Dan's girlfriend. Dan had to leave early the night before
to study. Now she learns it was with Sarah!!!!!!
Next day, Sarah, Rob, and Dan are called to the office during first period. Sarah smiles, Rob is trembling, and Dan is playing dumb.
Jake - Interested in Sarah. Gave his older sister's test to Sarah.
Is freaked that Sarah may reveal him.
Now is when the action begins. Parents are called, Sarah has to defend herself to her single mom and lawyer dad. Dan's mom tries to bully the principal to "sweep it under" because she does so much volunteer work for the school. Rob doesn't go home because he is afraid of his dad. Ruby hears of Dan being a cheat and is jealous of Sarah. Jake is in fear of his good standing.
Many plots, suspense and all the injustices of high school....
I am soooo glad those days are behind me!
Sarah - To her peers, she is pretty, smart, and popular. She
thought it was sweet for a boy she hardly knew, to offer
his sister's old test. It left her time to study for
other tests.
Katie - Sarah's best friend. Katie is a good student, is imagining
all sorts of horrors of being caught. She has memorized the
answers to "Row,Row,Row Your Boat."
Rob - Finishes so fast, he actually starts to read the questions.
Oh, No! He discovers the given answer, C, is wrong-- it
should be B. His army dad was there. If that answer was
wrong, how many other answers are wrong?
Dan - Friend of Rob. Rob says we were duped. Dan tells him to
lighten up.
Ruby - Dan's girlfriend. Dan had to leave early the night before
to study. Now she learns it was with Sarah!!!!!!
Next day, Sarah, Rob, and Dan are called to the office during first period. Sarah smiles, Rob is trembling, and Dan is playing dumb.
Jake - Interested in Sarah. Gave his older sister's test to Sarah.
Is freaked that Sarah may reveal him.
Now is when the action begins. Parents are called, Sarah has to defend herself to her single mom and lawyer dad. Dan's mom tries to bully the principal to "sweep it under" because she does so much volunteer work for the school. Rob doesn't go home because he is afraid of his dad. Ruby hears of Dan being a cheat and is jealous of Sarah. Jake is in fear of his good standing.
Many plots, suspense and all the injustices of high school....
I am soooo glad those days are behind me!
Read
January 25, 2017The book "The Cheat" it's very interesting because it talks about how they cheat without getting caught and at some points they do get caught because they make it noticeable, but i will not cheat on my things because really not learning anything because you're not learning anything because you're looking at someone else paper or computer so don't cheat on things.
The characters are really specific about there ideas because when they are going to cheat on the test they get they are ready to steel the paper and copy of all the answers.There is Sarah, Rob, and Danny, all three of them get together and plan out how they are going to take the test and copy of the answers.This book makes me not to look of other peoples test or take the paper that has all the answer to it because you will get in big trouble for doing bad things like cheating.
I don't like this book because they are kids cheating on test and it can influence you to cheat on tests that they give out to you in your class.I also like this book because they all get in trouble for taking the answer paper and the teacher was angry and the teacher's name was Mr.White,Mr.White wasn't really happy at Sarah,Rob, and Danny. If you would like to know what Mr.White does to the three students then go a head and read this book and hopefully you would like the book.
The characters are really specific about there ideas because when they are going to cheat on the test they get they are ready to steel the paper and copy of all the answers.There is Sarah, Rob, and Danny, all three of them get together and plan out how they are going to take the test and copy of the answers.This book makes me not to look of other peoples test or take the paper that has all the answer to it because you will get in big trouble for doing bad things like cheating.
I don't like this book because they are kids cheating on test and it can influence you to cheat on tests that they give out to you in your class.I also like this book because they all get in trouble for taking the answer paper and the teacher was angry and the teacher's name was Mr.White,Mr.White wasn't really happy at Sarah,Rob, and Danny. If you would like to know what Mr.White does to the three students then go a head and read this book and hopefully you would like the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2010
This is a middle school book about cheating on a geography midterm. What makes it charming and thought-provoking is the fact that it's told from the points of view of six kids who were involved, with 2 or 3 pages of text at a time told in each kid's distinctive voice. The voices are great: they make the book.
We have Jake, the nerdy kid who offered the answers to Sarah because he has a crush on her; Sarah who receives the gift and thoughtlessly passes it on to three others; Dan, the player, who never gets why it's such a big deal, as long as he can duck trouble; Katie, who couldn't bring herself to cheat because she was too cared; Rob, who's afraid of what his father will do when he finds out; and Ruby, Dan's girlfriend. Through the kids' telling sketches we also meet histrionic, tragic, overindulgent, neglectful, abusive, and beaten-down parents who don't know how to respond to the cheating episode.
Four of the six kids make steps in self-awareness during the course of this book, while two seem to remain their shallow selves. The changes aren't earth-shattering, but they're steps toward independence and insight, and they give the book plenty of matter for thoughtful discussion.
We have Jake, the nerdy kid who offered the answers to Sarah because he has a crush on her; Sarah who receives the gift and thoughtlessly passes it on to three others; Dan, the player, who never gets why it's such a big deal, as long as he can duck trouble; Katie, who couldn't bring herself to cheat because she was too cared; Rob, who's afraid of what his father will do when he finds out; and Ruby, Dan's girlfriend. Through the kids' telling sketches we also meet histrionic, tragic, overindulgent, neglectful, abusive, and beaten-down parents who don't know how to respond to the cheating episode.
Four of the six kids make steps in self-awareness during the course of this book, while two seem to remain their shallow selves. The changes aren't earth-shattering, but they're steps toward independence and insight, and they give the book plenty of matter for thoughtful discussion.
August 5, 2009
The Cheat gets inside the minds of six, eighth-grade students caught up in a cheating scandal at their school. While some of the students actually participated in the cheating, some are simply linked to a cheater- unaware of the deception. The six students tell their story through first-person point of view, and therefore, it gives an interesting insight to how primary versus secondary events can directly affect people's lives. This perspective also shows what motivates characters to react the way they do, given the same set of circumstances. In the end, the conflict of who will take the blame for the cheating ring is resolved by unexpected characters "stepping up to the plate."
I think many middle-school students, boys and girls, would enjoy this book. The idea of cheating is something that many students have either done or considered. This is a perfect format for students to think about it's ramifications, especially since they're given multiple characters' view on cheating. Beyond exploring the ethical issue of cheating, this book provides a good outlet for identifying and analyzing characters' motives.
I think many middle-school students, boys and girls, would enjoy this book. The idea of cheating is something that many students have either done or considered. This is a perfect format for students to think about it's ramifications, especially since they're given multiple characters' view on cheating. Beyond exploring the ethical issue of cheating, this book provides a good outlet for identifying and analyzing characters' motives.
January 28, 2013
Jake thought it was his passageway into popularity. He didn't know what he was doing. Sarah thought it would help her just in case. She didn't know what would happen. Katie thought it was just part of her friendship with Sarah. She didn't know what it really was. Rob thought it would take off some of the pressure. He didn't know what it would do to him. Dan thought it would save time. He didn't know what it would make him into. The smart one came from behind. Ruby was against it the whole time.
Amy Goldman Koss's The Cheat tells of a group of 8th graders who cheat on their midterm geography exam, each for different reasons. Each chapter is in a different point of view, which I enjoyed. Also, Koss wrote the book directly from the character's perspective, with the writing matching their personality and speech patterns. This book sends a strong message about the effects of cheating, and that you shouldn't do it, no matter what. It also teaches about the true values of friendship. I recommend this book to all middle schoolers, because it totally changes your perspective on cheating.
Amy Goldman Koss's The Cheat tells of a group of 8th graders who cheat on their midterm geography exam, each for different reasons. Each chapter is in a different point of view, which I enjoyed. Also, Koss wrote the book directly from the character's perspective, with the writing matching their personality and speech patterns. This book sends a strong message about the effects of cheating, and that you shouldn't do it, no matter what. It also teaches about the true values of friendship. I recommend this book to all middle schoolers, because it totally changes your perspective on cheating.
February 10, 2013
Sarah, the hot, popular eighth grade girl bats her eyes at Jake, the geeky nerd. She asks him to get the answers to the midterm from his brilliant older sister. He does, but what he doesn't know is that teachers aren't stupid. They actually change the test from year-to-year and try to outwit The Cheat. Sarah passes the answers to jocks Dan and Rob and of course they all get caught...because teachers aren't stupid.
What does happen though, is that Sarah refuses to name her source which lands her in a whole lot of added trouble. Jake is beside himself with guilt and worry since he has the power to lift Sarah's suspension. Will he do the right thing? When the whole school is about to boycott classes because of Sarah's unfair treatment, Jake steps up to the plate. Although he fears his peer's hatred, he convinces the principal to trade his confession for Sarah's and the other's absolution.
When the school finds about his 'deal', the consequences are not at all what he has envisioned. The Cheat offers some good discussion points,, but I was woefully unimpressed by the ending,when it had such potential to be a teachable-reading moment...thus my two star rating.
What does happen though, is that Sarah refuses to name her source which lands her in a whole lot of added trouble. Jake is beside himself with guilt and worry since he has the power to lift Sarah's suspension. Will he do the right thing? When the whole school is about to boycott classes because of Sarah's unfair treatment, Jake steps up to the plate. Although he fears his peer's hatred, he convinces the principal to trade his confession for Sarah's and the other's absolution.
When the school finds about his 'deal', the consequences are not at all what he has envisioned. The Cheat offers some good discussion points,, but I was woefully unimpressed by the ending,when it had such potential to be a teachable-reading moment...thus my two star rating.
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