To Catch a Cheat

The Great Greene Heist #2

by Varian Johnson

When a video frames Jackson Greene and his friends for a crime they didn't commit, Gang Greene battles the blackmailers in this sequel to the acclaimed The Great Greene Heist.

Jackson Greene is riding high. He is officially retired from conning, so Principal Kelsey is (mostly) off his back. His friends have great new projects of their own. And as he's been hanging out a lot with Gaby de la Cruz, he thinks maybe, just maybe, they'll soon have their first kiss.

Then Jackson receives a link to a faked security video that seems to show him and the rest of Gang Greene flooding the school gym. The thugs behind the video threaten to pass it to the principal--unless Jackson steals an advance copy of the school's toughest exam. So Jackson devises a three-part plan to foil the blackmailers, clear his friends' names for good, and trap the true bad guys along the way. As Gang Greene executes another multistep caper full of twists and turns, they learn that sometimes it takes a thief to catch a cheat.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Romance, Childrens, Young Adult

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2016

Reviews

[Little Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, reading this, I was reminded of how much I love Jackson Greene.

Like seriously, I wish there was a guy like him when I was in middle school. My life would have been so interesting--because I definitely would've wanted to be part of his crew. I mean, I might not have been cool or interesting enough to actually be a part of his heist society, but I would have been that dweeb who started a Gang Greene fan club or something.

Or maybe not, I'm don't know.

Also, this gave me a great idea: Varian Johnson, and Chris Rylander need to smash their heads together and do a crossover of The Great Greene Heist and The Fourth Stall !!!



I know, I know, it's all too great to process right now.


You're welcome.)

Anyway, back to my idea: I mean, it's kind of unrealistic and maybe a little confusing, because, um what would even happen in this story? I have no idea. And everyone is probably like "Well, Mac retired from his fourth stall business." Yeah, well in TFSIII Mac kind of came out of retirement and then re-retired. And, Jackson Greene retired from being a con artist, before his first book began. And then again at the end of that book. Also at the end of this book. So, I think coming out of retirement for a special crossover edition wouldn't really bother either of them. I mean, the minds of Jackson Greene and Mac coming together is super cool, it can't even be argued against, yeah? This is Middle Grade fiction gold right here. I even have a perspective title...

The Fourth Stall Part Greene



I think I rest my case. Goodbye.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are just so much fun. Completely unrealistic in many ways (no middle school like this one exists in the country), but still so much fun. They are exactly the sort of adventures MG kids like-ones where kids their age are smart, capable, and working against the forces that control their lives. It is empowering. There is a really great friendship story in this one as Jackson and Charlie are having some difficulties. I like the way that played out and was resolved (that IS realistic). I really loved the developing relationship between Jackson and Gaby too. Jackson's nervousness over kissing Gaby is incredibly adorable and hilariously entertaining as well. Fans of the first book will definitely want to read this follow-up.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually maybe a little better than the first one. Okay, so maybe the fact that middle schoolers are pulling off cons and such is unrealistic, but I do approve of the realistic portrayal of the relationships between characters, and the amount of diversity within the book.

[Claire Yoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how Jackson solved the problem!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First reviewed on Literaritea

Casing the Joint: Fun middle grades read in the vein of Ocean’s 11

The Plan: Jackson Greene (renowned for his clever heists) and his cronies find themselves framed: a faked video shows that they were the ones who snuck into the school over the weekend and flooded the bathrooms. The villains bargain with Jackson: they won’t turn the video in if Jackson and his group steal an exam. There’s more than meets the eye, however, and the stakes are raised.

The Sting: The first Jackson Greene book was a lot of fun, and this one continues the trend nicely. Characters are nicely diverse, pacing is excellent (definitely a page turner), and the plot is clever. Jackson and his love interest add some humor and relational angles that middle schoolers will totally resonate with. And Jackson’s friendship with Charlie undergoes some strain that is handled quite realistically.

The entire book is concerned with stealing an exam and pulling various tricks in order to do so. On the surface, this may seem quite the nefarious plot without redeeming qualities. However, the heist is over the top (nobody could pull this off in middle school), and the plot forms the base for a very fun read that is pure entertainment. Both guys and girls will enjoy this one, and it’s refreshing to have a nicely diverse cast of characters that aren’t simply a historical lesson on racism or the Civil Rights or immigration or some other “problem.”

[Amy Formanski Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one stands out for the same reasons as the first book is the series: diverse, well-developed characters, fun heist plot, quick read, tech geek details and a moral code that steers the kids' actions. I still haven't found another series that would appeal to a general urban middle school audience, both girls and boys, so well. This time around Jackson, Gaby and their friends get framed with a doctored video of them supposedly damaging school property to force them to steal a history test for lousy cheating classmates. As you may have guessed, they find a way to clear their names AND stop the other kids from cheating. Predictable, yes, but good fun. Is it realistic that 6th graders would know this much more than I do about computer coding and hacking surveillance equipment? Yeah, in 2016, probably!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tweens who loved The Great Greene Heist will love To Catch a Cheat. It is every bit as funny and action packed, and the characters are every bit as quirky and lovable. In book #2 teen con-artist extraordinaire Jackson Greene has kept his promise to retire from the exciting world of conning bad guys. And he had every intention of keeping his promise until he becomes the victim of an expertly made fake video that is followed up with a blackmail threat. In order to save himself and his friends, Jackson reunites Gang Greene to figure out how to out con the blackmailers. Their plan is so complex readers will scratch their heads trying to figure out how it is going to work. They will chuckle at all of the flubs and surprise twists.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for a good con and heist! Both Jackson Greene books get them just right- convoluted but easy enough to follow, unpredictable but logical, self-referential, and some sweet romance for good measure. My only complaint is the large cast of characters becomes hard to keep track of. I rarely want a cast of characters in the front matter, but I do for these books. It's ironic, considering the (deserved) attention they get for diverse characters, that I find most of them to be interchangeable. If the series continues (and I hope it does), I'd love to see it evolve into a true ensemble cast.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The crew of The Great Greene Heist is back, but this time they are on the receiving end of a con! Somebody has flooded the school bathrooms and tried frame Gang Greene. Charlie's bag and Jackson's notebook are found at the scene plus none of them have reliable alibis for Saturday night. Coincidence? Now Jackson, Charlie, Gaby, Megan, Hashemi, and the rest must find a way to not only prove their innocence but catch the people who actually did it. With more cons, twists, and electronic devices in Beta than the first one, readers won't be able to put it down. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up. Best to read them in order.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun caper as the characters in the Great Greene Heist tackle another job, this one because they are being blackmailed for something they didn't do.

Tweens with access to and understanding of way more tech than one would reasonably expect make the caper possible despite some jealousy and in-fighting between Heisters. All of the jealousies and conflicts are quickly and easily resolved in ways real-life teens might envy, but this witty, charming, multicultural cast will make them feel part of the gang.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved The Great Greene Heist, and was delighted to get a copy of the ARC for the second book. The author, Varian Johnson, seems to love cons - at the back of the book, he even explains the origins of all the cons used by Jackson and his gang throughout the book. I really enjoy 2 things about this book - the diversity of the main characters, and that, even while running multiple cons, the main characters keep track of their moral compasses.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Great Greene Heist; loved this one. How many cons can one group of kids pull? Not to mention how they get involved in doing the wrong things for the right reasons.

I'm not sure I initially understood why Charlie was was so angry with Jackson at the beginning, but then I remembered--this is middle school. And I did feel like there was some unfinished business between some of the characters when the story wrapped up.

Received this book as an ARC at ALA midwinter.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this second Jackson Greene story, and middle grade students will love the turns and twists as the gang works to clear their names after being set up to look as if they were responsible for a bad prank. I like that the students really do make choices based on doing what's "right", and I like the end where references to cons in real life, movies, and other books are explained.

[the friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was suspenseful and there were unexpected events. The things Gang Greene needs to do to clear their names kept on changing. I think readers in elementary and middle school would enjoy reading this book. Also if you like adventure, suspense and mystery books you would enjoy this book.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked the first book in this series, you'll like this one. The main character is apparently caught on video flooding the school bathroom. He needs to figure out who did it and catch them without getting in any more trouble. It reminded me a lot of Ocean's 11, and there are numerous references to other types of "sting" operations. You even get a Star Trek reference.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, man, I love these books! So clever! Please keep writing more! There's not many like this that I know of (strong, diverse cast; great twists; brains winning the day; etc.), but when I find them I recommend them to everyone!

[Melanie Schwitters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and I both loved this book. I like the suspense, the braininess, and the characters. Ben even said, "I read this on my own without you (Mom) bugging me to read it!" Good for both boys and girls, Moms and Dads, and anyone else who likes a good mystery!

[Mel Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so much through this book! I can't wait to tell others about how awesome it is! Can it be released now please???

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As fun as the first. Well-written with plenty of enjoyable allusions to boot. I could read these all the time.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Enjoyed this one very much. Similar to the first one.

[Akilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounding up

I love everything about this book (okay, almost everything, hence the 1/2 star deduction), including the cover. So fun! It gave me a happy.

[Diana Gagliardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Srsly, I love this guy! Sly references with more strategy than I could ever hope to set up :)

Enjoy yourselves, it's a fun ride :)

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sequel. Really kept me guessing until the end.

[Adam Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! A heist in a school, like Leverage + Italian Job + Ocean's 11 + all the movies I love.

It's even better than the first.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try to stay one step ahead of the Greene Gang, as they mastermind one situation after another. Great fun!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!!!

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

More fast-paced heist action

[Cynthia Parkhill]

To Catch a Cheat is an entertaining story about a youthful con artist. The protagonist, Jackson Greene, is determined to retire after an earlier successful heist that exposed school election wrong-doing. But Jackson and his crew are now being threatened by a doctored security video that appears to depict them flooding the entire school. To prevent the video being turned over to the principal, Jackson and his crew must engineer a heist of the answers for an upcoming test. With this demand hanging over them, Jackson and "Gang Greene" are determined to uncover the real culprit(s). Who really flooded the school, and who is attempting to pressure them? This story will appeal to readers who enjoy complicated turns of plot, especially those who enjoy protagonists with a strong moral compass. As an added feature, the author, Varian Johnson, includes an explanation of several cultural references - including scenes from film and television - that relate to elements of the plot involving heists and schemes.

[Giggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝖨 𝗎𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗍𝗁 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗌𝗎𝗌𝗉𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗈𝗇. 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗎𝗇𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍. 𝖬𝗒 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝖺𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗌𝗎𝖻𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗂𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌. 𝖨 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗂𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗍, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖨 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗒𝖾𝖽 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 “𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖾𝖺𝖼𝖾.” 𝖨𝗇 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒, 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗏𝗂𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾. 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖨 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗎𝗇𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗍𝗁, 𝖨 𝗌𝖺𝗐 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗅 𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗋𝗀𝗒 𝖨’𝖽 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗀𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎’𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖼𝗄 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖾𝗑𝗁𝖺𝗎𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇-𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇, 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗆𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖽𝗈 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿.
𝙵𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐. Find out below 👇

Ｇｍａｉｌ ： ｔｅｃｈｇｕｙ７０７０＠ｇｍａｉｌ．ｃｏｍ
ＷｈａｔｓＡｐｐ ： ‪+1 (24 0) 253‑39 28‬
Ｔｅｌｅｇｒａｍ：  ＠ａｒｅａｓｐｙ

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in the Jackson Greene books. Not strictly necessary to have read the first book, but there are references to it throughout, so it is helpful.

When the school is flooded, a video is released that shows Jackson and his friends as being the guilty party. They need to figure out who made the video to get themselves out of hot water.

A fun read with engaging characters and several of their problems are very authentic to middle school.