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Cheating Lessons
When her team is announced as finalists in the state Classics Bowl contest, seventeen-year-old Bernadette Terrell suspects that cheating may have been involved. Reprint.
262 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2002
8 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Nan Willard Cappo
2 books12 followers My first published novel was CHEATING LESSONS (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2002), in which a teenage girl must finesse a cheating scandal in her school. It won an Edgar nomination for Best YA mystery, and has been republished in print, ebook and audio in 2016.
My next book is UNACCOUNTED FOR, also Young Adult but a bit edgier--suitable for mature teens and adults (has a male hero this time).
Latest book is adult fiction tentatively entitled PROJECT OASIS, and I hope to publish it soon.
My next book is UNACCOUNTED FOR, also Young Adult but a bit edgier--suitable for mature teens and adults (has a male hero this time).
Latest book is adult fiction tentatively entitled PROJECT OASIS, and I hope to publish it soon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 5, 2016
I just rediscovered this novel after reading it around 10 years ago and was pleasantly surprised to see that it still holds up to contemporary standards. The themes are classic coming of age - the curtain pulled aside to see the disappointing manipulations of adults behind the scenes, ethical questions of right and wrong, exploring shades of gray and when and how to take a stand. A compelling, funny, tension-filled read, with the bonus of classic literature quotes in each chapter.
August 5, 2018
I did NOT expect that person to be the culprit! Aside from that, I was too busy being dazzled by the notion of a prestigious academic competition whose questions were about nothing except classic literature. Hey there, high school dream! Plus, Bernadette was me, only smarter and more well-socialized than I could ever hope for.
March 13, 2016
'Cheating Lessons' by Nan Willard Cappo was a cute read that invested me in the outcome from early on in the storytelling. Bernadette, the main character, finds out that her school, Wickham High, has made it into the ultimate quiz bowl, and she and some of her fellow classmates had some of the highest scores on the test that got them there. However, those high scores came at the downfall of their biggest competitor – Pinehurst – a school that beats Wickham more often than not, and which all the students of Wickham want to beat at any cost.
The issue is that the cost becomes too evident when Bernadette begins to suspect foul play – cheating on the part of someone at Wickham. The average score of the students who made the Classics quiz bowl contest seems too high to Bernadette, and she finds herself searching for answers, unsure of what she'll find. Between the principal, librarian, and English teacher – Mr. Malory – the answer is not becoming apparent. She doesn't want to say too much, lest she find herself digging a deeper hole for Wickham. Talking to her best friend, Nadine, doesn't do too much to allay her fears, as Nadine just wants to go and win and be done with it.
As answers begin to unfold and events transpire at the competition, Bernadette realizes that sometimes finding the right answers can be the courageous thing to do, while other times it casts you in a bad light in the eyes of those around you. When she comes to terms with what really happened and who was responsible, she begins to see everything and everyone in a new light, and struggles to do the right thing despite the ramifications to which it might lead.
I appreciated the symbolism of the novel's title – 'Cheating Lessons' – as it could be construed as being about lessons regarding why cheating is bad, or it could be about teaching how to cheat, which the book did touch on at times. I love the ability to see double meanings, and therefore this compelled me into reading more. I also really enjoyed the fact that, unbeknownst to me when I picked up the book originally, the novel took place in Michigan. It was fun to read about cities, streets, and other locations around me, as I live in southeast Michigan myself. Even though the name of the main schools and city they lived in were fictional (as far as I know based on my knowledge of this area after living in Michigan for 30+ years), it was nice to read about where I'm from and feel a stronger connection with the novel as a result. This was especially true of the novel having the final quiz bowl competition take place in Southfield, which is the city I grew up in.
I recommend 'Cheating Lessons' to anyone who wants to read about the struggle to do the right thing even when others are focusing on what can be gained by avoiding the truth.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen,' A Young Adult Novel
The issue is that the cost becomes too evident when Bernadette begins to suspect foul play – cheating on the part of someone at Wickham. The average score of the students who made the Classics quiz bowl contest seems too high to Bernadette, and she finds herself searching for answers, unsure of what she'll find. Between the principal, librarian, and English teacher – Mr. Malory – the answer is not becoming apparent. She doesn't want to say too much, lest she find herself digging a deeper hole for Wickham. Talking to her best friend, Nadine, doesn't do too much to allay her fears, as Nadine just wants to go and win and be done with it.
As answers begin to unfold and events transpire at the competition, Bernadette realizes that sometimes finding the right answers can be the courageous thing to do, while other times it casts you in a bad light in the eyes of those around you. When she comes to terms with what really happened and who was responsible, she begins to see everything and everyone in a new light, and struggles to do the right thing despite the ramifications to which it might lead.
I appreciated the symbolism of the novel's title – 'Cheating Lessons' – as it could be construed as being about lessons regarding why cheating is bad, or it could be about teaching how to cheat, which the book did touch on at times. I love the ability to see double meanings, and therefore this compelled me into reading more. I also really enjoyed the fact that, unbeknownst to me when I picked up the book originally, the novel took place in Michigan. It was fun to read about cities, streets, and other locations around me, as I live in southeast Michigan myself. Even though the name of the main schools and city they lived in were fictional (as far as I know based on my knowledge of this area after living in Michigan for 30+ years), it was nice to read about where I'm from and feel a stronger connection with the novel as a result. This was especially true of the novel having the final quiz bowl competition take place in Southfield, which is the city I grew up in.
I recommend 'Cheating Lessons' to anyone who wants to read about the struggle to do the right thing even when others are focusing on what can be gained by avoiding the truth.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen,' A Young Adult Novel
December 14, 2016
Bernadette is a high school student who loves the thrill of winning with her debate team and she is a very smart girl. When she and her classmates score higher than other schools on a quiz bowl exam they are entered into a competition with loads of prizes and the chance to beat a rival school, one that has beaten her before. Bernadette and the quiz bowl team are very excited to get started learning all the info that they need to compete but Bernadette has a nagging feeling that maybe something was not tallied correctly.
This was a very interesting book about pressure and cheating and honesty. Bernadette was not really a very likable character at first, she is intense and overly critical and pretty rude because of these traits so I was not really drawn into the story in the beginning. Eventually I did feel for her but more-so because the story felt like a mystery unraveling itself than because she was in distress.
I found this to be an interesting story about the subject matter and the characters grew but it was a slower read for me. Luckily in the end, I ended up enjoying the book overall. Bernadette becomes almost a new character and the anxiety of it all fades away... a very truthful tale that is bound to make you cringe but overall a good read.
This was a very interesting book about pressure and cheating and honesty. Bernadette was not really a very likable character at first, she is intense and overly critical and pretty rude because of these traits so I was not really drawn into the story in the beginning. Eventually I did feel for her but more-so because the story felt like a mystery unraveling itself than because she was in distress.
I found this to be an interesting story about the subject matter and the characters grew but it was a slower read for me. Luckily in the end, I ended up enjoying the book overall. Bernadette becomes almost a new character and the anxiety of it all fades away... a very truthful tale that is bound to make you cringe but overall a good read.
May 16, 2016
I decided to read this book because the title interested me because there must be more than a book telling you how to cheat. The setting was interesting because I see the mother at Bernadette do not have the "best" retalationship together which I thought was interesting because I believe that a smart and perfect would have parents adoring her. My favorite quote from this novel is "we should let our personalities shine through". I like this quote because as a child you don't know what's wrong and what's right, we tell ourselves to do good things and be ourselves when actually in life you need to be a little insulting, plus in your teens you don't know who you are. What I thought deeply about this book was that all people in the world have problems such as the rich, the poor, the hipsters and the stable, there are always going to be problems in the world and it is up to us to fix those problems.
May 7, 2016
Grade: F
One Word: Mess
When I began reading CHEATING LESSONS, I immediately thought it was a middle grade book because of the juvenile style writing. Told in third person omniscient POV, CHEATING LESSONS feels more like a student written essay filled with clichés, too many adjectives and adverbs, and feeding the reader a message. I guessed the ending on the first page of the story.
I liked the premise of this novel, an ambitious perfectionist trying to decide if winning at any cost is worth the deception.
The only audience I can imagine enjoying CHEATING LESSONS is high functioning special needs teens, who wish to read about kids their age but lack the ability to comprehend more complex novels. I don't mean this as a slight to the book, because there is a need for such stories.
I was given a free e-copy of CHEATING LESSONS from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
One Word: Mess
When I began reading CHEATING LESSONS, I immediately thought it was a middle grade book because of the juvenile style writing. Told in third person omniscient POV, CHEATING LESSONS feels more like a student written essay filled with clichés, too many adjectives and adverbs, and feeding the reader a message. I guessed the ending on the first page of the story.
I liked the premise of this novel, an ambitious perfectionist trying to decide if winning at any cost is worth the deception.
The only audience I can imagine enjoying CHEATING LESSONS is high functioning special needs teens, who wish to read about kids their age but lack the ability to comprehend more complex novels. I don't mean this as a slight to the book, because there is a need for such stories.
I was given a free e-copy of CHEATING LESSONS from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2011
This was honestly one of the better, well-written young adult books that I have read in years.
April 24, 2012
Bernadette an intelligent 16 yr old discovers all may not be right w/the high school staff(cheating) and her Wickham Wizards as they go into the camionship quiz bowl. Great.
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November 1, 2017Jordan Bissainthe 11/1/17
St. Christopher’s Book Review
JMJ
Cheating Lessons, by Nan Willard Cappo, is a realistic fiction novel for young adults. This book was based on the point of view of Bernadette Terrell, a school debater and academic, who is the leader of the Wickham High School's debate team. She has a crush on her teacher, Mr. Mallory, much like many of the other girls in the school. Bernadette, who is the protagonist becomes suspicious that someone is helping her team do so well on the tests and on the team. She feels that that someone is cheating to help them win. She has a suspicion that Mr. Mallory had something to do with it. Mr. Mallory, the antagonist, feeds the members of the debate team ways that they can beat their rivals, Pinehurst High School. Bernadette doesn’t know what to do, she could either tell the team that someone is cheating, or she can continue knowing that someone is. To my surprise, she choses to keep silent to find more evidence. As Mr. Mallory becomes angry that the team can not answer very specific questions, he get frustrated because there is less time before the big event. When a family issue occurs with Mr. Mallory, the librarian, Mr. K, takes on the mantle. During this time he becomes injured and he remembers that he was supposed to take care of Mr. Mallory's cat, so Bernadette is told to get it. When she is in Mr. Malory’s apartment, she find evidence that he was the person that was helping the team win by stealing questions. Now, since she actually know who the culprit is, she can either tell the team that Mr. Mallory has been cheating, and the team would then have to forfeit, or she can keep silent.
This book has a lot of dramatic irony because the readers know who the cheater is way before Bernadette does. Although Bernadette is a very smart person, she is almost oblivious, because even though there was a lot of evidence before she went inside the apartment of Mr. Mallory's, she can not find out who the cheater is. That is one of my grievances against this book. Also, I found the middle of the book mostly boring, because the plot got a little stale. The book got me frustrated with the inconsistency of Bernadette’s knowledge in some parts of the book didn’t seem realistic. Lastly I found other parts of the book unrealistic, because why would a teacher let one of their students to go into their apartment without the owner's supervision, it just didn’t make any sense whatsoever. As a whole the book was a very solid book with some flaws, but if you are interested into realistic young adult types of books, I totally recommend this novel.
St. Christopher’s Book Review
JMJ
Cheating Lessons, by Nan Willard Cappo, is a realistic fiction novel for young adults. This book was based on the point of view of Bernadette Terrell, a school debater and academic, who is the leader of the Wickham High School's debate team. She has a crush on her teacher, Mr. Mallory, much like many of the other girls in the school. Bernadette, who is the protagonist becomes suspicious that someone is helping her team do so well on the tests and on the team. She feels that that someone is cheating to help them win. She has a suspicion that Mr. Mallory had something to do with it. Mr. Mallory, the antagonist, feeds the members of the debate team ways that they can beat their rivals, Pinehurst High School. Bernadette doesn’t know what to do, she could either tell the team that someone is cheating, or she can continue knowing that someone is. To my surprise, she choses to keep silent to find more evidence. As Mr. Mallory becomes angry that the team can not answer very specific questions, he get frustrated because there is less time before the big event. When a family issue occurs with Mr. Mallory, the librarian, Mr. K, takes on the mantle. During this time he becomes injured and he remembers that he was supposed to take care of Mr. Mallory's cat, so Bernadette is told to get it. When she is in Mr. Malory’s apartment, she find evidence that he was the person that was helping the team win by stealing questions. Now, since she actually know who the culprit is, she can either tell the team that Mr. Mallory has been cheating, and the team would then have to forfeit, or she can keep silent.
This book has a lot of dramatic irony because the readers know who the cheater is way before Bernadette does. Although Bernadette is a very smart person, she is almost oblivious, because even though there was a lot of evidence before she went inside the apartment of Mr. Mallory's, she can not find out who the cheater is. That is one of my grievances against this book. Also, I found the middle of the book mostly boring, because the plot got a little stale. The book got me frustrated with the inconsistency of Bernadette’s knowledge in some parts of the book didn’t seem realistic. Lastly I found other parts of the book unrealistic, because why would a teacher let one of their students to go into their apartment without the owner's supervision, it just didn’t make any sense whatsoever. As a whole the book was a very solid book with some flaws, but if you are interested into realistic young adult types of books, I totally recommend this novel.
March 16, 2021
Pinehurst was early on set up to be the big obstacle, which I suppose was supposed to make Bernadette’s questioning of the scores legitimate. However, to me she seemed too suspicious too fast. I did like how Lori’s character came along. If there’s any moral to this, you could say that with proper motivation, anyone can do anything. Some kids, if they just THINK they can do something really can do it. It’s just a matter of believing in themselves. Mr Malory got them to believe that, even if he did it in terrible ways. I really didn’t like or believe in his character though.
January 28, 2024
moral dilemmas make great themes
Moral dilemmas make great books for discussion. The author does a. Great job developing Bernadette’s character. She learns adults in her life are human after all.
Moral dilemmas make great books for discussion. The author does a. Great job developing Bernadette’s character. She learns adults in her life are human after all.
October 30, 2019
Reread of a high school favorite. Holds up!
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May 3, 2023done
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2022
Cheating Lessons was one of my first forays into young adult literature – I was in middle school, young adult literature basically consisted of The Outsiders and Judy Blume, and the cheeky title grabbed my attention. I remember how mind-blowing it was – a book actually mentioning pregnancy and sleeping around! Because it was so new to me, the book stayed with me to a surprising degree – I could still remember the big reveal, and certain key scenes, as if I’d just read them.
It was with no small amount of trepidation that I revisited the book after almost twenty years, since there was every chance it wouldn’t hold up. But to my immense relief and delight, it remains a phenomenal book. Despite knowing what happens, I couldn’t put it down and read it in just over a day. Cappo’s writing is compulsively readable.
It’s such a wonderful story, about morality and community, about first love and how deep betrayals can cut. The quandaries our protagonist finds herself in would leave the best of us stumped… and I still don’t know if her choice at the end is the correct one, let alone whether I would have done the same thing. The supporting characters are a joy to read about, and Cappo truly makes you feel the bond that develops among them. And it’s a great portrayal of a downtrodden community that is nevertheless scrappy and looking out for each other.
It’s hard to put my finger on the specifics, but the book feels less… glossy than current YA. The characters don’t talk as if they hone their dialogue with the wittiest shows on television; there is no social media as a distraction; and the teenagers still view sex as something taboo and mysterious. It’s hard to put into words, but the book just feels authentic and nostalgic… this was my generation’s YA!
It’s a crying shame that this book is totally out of print and really challenging to get a hold of, because it’s such a terrific read that deserves to be read far and wide. But if anyone can get a hold of a copy, I hope they enjoy this book as much as I did, both then and now.
It was with no small amount of trepidation that I revisited the book after almost twenty years, since there was every chance it wouldn’t hold up. But to my immense relief and delight, it remains a phenomenal book. Despite knowing what happens, I couldn’t put it down and read it in just over a day. Cappo’s writing is compulsively readable.
It’s such a wonderful story, about morality and community, about first love and how deep betrayals can cut. The quandaries our protagonist finds herself in would leave the best of us stumped… and I still don’t know if her choice at the end is the correct one, let alone whether I would have done the same thing. The supporting characters are a joy to read about, and Cappo truly makes you feel the bond that develops among them. And it’s a great portrayal of a downtrodden community that is nevertheless scrappy and looking out for each other.
It’s hard to put my finger on the specifics, but the book feels less… glossy than current YA. The characters don’t talk as if they hone their dialogue with the wittiest shows on television; there is no social media as a distraction; and the teenagers still view sex as something taboo and mysterious. It’s hard to put into words, but the book just feels authentic and nostalgic… this was my generation’s YA!
It’s a crying shame that this book is totally out of print and really challenging to get a hold of, because it’s such a terrific read that deserves to be read far and wide. But if anyone can get a hold of a copy, I hope they enjoy this book as much as I did, both then and now.
June 4, 2016
This book wasn't bad, but I wouldn't say I loved it, either. This is about a high school student named Bernadette "Bet" who is in an AP English class, where they study and explore many classic books and poems. Her class participates in a test based on some of those classics, and they end up getting the top score out of all the schools! However, Bet suspects that there is something fishy going on, and that the only way they could have gotten that mark is if someone cheated. They have a quiz bowl coming up due to that high score, and will they still be able to succeed, despite the cheater? And who cheated? This book was pretty slow at first, but it picked up at just the right time! Because of the slowness at the beginning, I was pretty bored and had thoughts of potentially not finishing it, but I'm glad I stuck it through because this book wasn't too bad! To be honest, I'm finding it a bit hard to talk about the plot and the characters of this book without getting a tiny bit spoilery, but I will do the best I can. The premise of this story was so gripping, and even though it honestly wasn't really a surprise who the cheater was, some of the information behind the situation was quite interesting! Bernadette wasn't the most likeable character, but a character isn't a character without their flaws, right? Despite that, I felt like I could relate to her. If I had sensed something suspicious in the test results, I probably would've gotten right onto the case, just like she did! I found her to be quite the hard worker as she kept on going and going, and did not stop investigating until she found the culprit! It also takes a lot of time and effort to study for a literature bee, and I'm glad she persevered and tried her best! Unlike most young adult books, this one does not have much romance except for a couple of side characters which didn't really interfere with the plot, so if you're looking for a book without much romance for a change, maybe consider picking this one up! I would also recommend this book to high schoolers interested in a gripping mystery about cheating and tests, because this will remind you that cheating is unacceptable; and the consequences of doing so!
August 24, 2017
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Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bernadette wants only one thing: to beat Pinehurst. Wickham High has never beaten them in anything. When Wickham makes it into the Classics Bowl - with the highest scores - Bernadette is thrilled. But maybe some things are too good to be true. How has Wickham suddenly improved? Did someone cheat?
A classic coming of age story. Despite being originally published over ten years ago it holds up entirely. I never felt like the book was too dated. It deals with themes that are timeless; although the moral is a little direct.
There are quite a few things that kept me from loving this book. The first is that the book is so caught up in it’s complex mystery plot that it forgets about the characters. Each character feels flat despite numerous attempts to give them depth. Bernadette most of all. As our protagonist she should be connecting us to the story but she always feels distant. Even her relationship with her best friend and the terrible last minute romance don’t feel as though they bring Bernadette any closer to the other characters. As well Bernadette is just fairly unlikeable. She’s judgmental and superior and although she SAYS she’s learned a lesson by the end of the book it’s never really shown.
Secondly we have the pacing. The book feels extremely slow. Random unrelated events are tossed in to try and spice things up, instead of using the plot gaps for character development. There’s a weird crush on the teacher which makes everything a bit unsettling. The main issue of the book is...solved but not satisfyingly. There is no justice the conflict just ends and everyone moves on.
There were certainly moments of drama and humour that were enjoyable, but it wasn’t and A+ title.
Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bernadette wants only one thing: to beat Pinehurst. Wickham High has never beaten them in anything. When Wickham makes it into the Classics Bowl - with the highest scores - Bernadette is thrilled. But maybe some things are too good to be true. How has Wickham suddenly improved? Did someone cheat?
A classic coming of age story. Despite being originally published over ten years ago it holds up entirely. I never felt like the book was too dated. It deals with themes that are timeless; although the moral is a little direct.
There are quite a few things that kept me from loving this book. The first is that the book is so caught up in it’s complex mystery plot that it forgets about the characters. Each character feels flat despite numerous attempts to give them depth. Bernadette most of all. As our protagonist she should be connecting us to the story but she always feels distant. Even her relationship with her best friend and the terrible last minute romance don’t feel as though they bring Bernadette any closer to the other characters. As well Bernadette is just fairly unlikeable. She’s judgmental and superior and although she SAYS she’s learned a lesson by the end of the book it’s never really shown.
Secondly we have the pacing. The book feels extremely slow. Random unrelated events are tossed in to try and spice things up, instead of using the plot gaps for character development. There’s a weird crush on the teacher which makes everything a bit unsettling. The main issue of the book is...solved but not satisfyingly. There is no justice the conflict just ends and everyone moves on.
There were certainly moments of drama and humour that were enjoyable, but it wasn’t and A+ title.
May 8, 2016
What would you do if you suspected you and your classmates won a contest because of cheating? This is the question at the heart of Cheating Lessons by Nan Willard Cappo.
The novel follows Bernadette, a high school student with an above average intelligence who routinely judges her classmates, with the exception of her best friend, Nadine, and mostly finds them wanting. After Bernadette, Nadine, and some of their AP English classmates score high enough on a written exam to beat their rival school, posh Pinehurst, and gain entry to the Classics Bowl, Bernadette wonders how it's possible they could have obtained a high enough score because she knows she guessed on many questions and that some of her classmates just weren't smart enough. With her suspicions doused by her favorite teacher and crush, Mr. Malory, Bernadette and her team concentrate on obtaining as much knowledge as they can before the Bowl, even if it means reading a comic book version of Tom Jones and watching video versions of books.
"She would be more tolerant of books about bums. She would consider their circumstances, read what they had to say for themselves—and then hope they got killed off in the end."
Cheating Lessons is an engrossing and frequently witty read about a young woman's coming to terms with intelligence and integrity within herself and those close to her whom she idolizes and loves. Her black and white way of seeing the world is tested and, by the end, she recognizes that seeing the world in shades of gray is sometimes necessary.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult novels, stories about characters who must overcome their flaws, and characters who strive to do right and who are left trying to figure out exactly what that is.
NetGalley provided me with an ARC for an honest review.
This book was originally published in 2002 and will be republished on May 10, 2016.
The novel follows Bernadette, a high school student with an above average intelligence who routinely judges her classmates, with the exception of her best friend, Nadine, and mostly finds them wanting. After Bernadette, Nadine, and some of their AP English classmates score high enough on a written exam to beat their rival school, posh Pinehurst, and gain entry to the Classics Bowl, Bernadette wonders how it's possible they could have obtained a high enough score because she knows she guessed on many questions and that some of her classmates just weren't smart enough. With her suspicions doused by her favorite teacher and crush, Mr. Malory, Bernadette and her team concentrate on obtaining as much knowledge as they can before the Bowl, even if it means reading a comic book version of Tom Jones and watching video versions of books.
"She would be more tolerant of books about bums. She would consider their circumstances, read what they had to say for themselves—and then hope they got killed off in the end."
Cheating Lessons is an engrossing and frequently witty read about a young woman's coming to terms with intelligence and integrity within herself and those close to her whom she idolizes and loves. Her black and white way of seeing the world is tested and, by the end, she recognizes that seeing the world in shades of gray is sometimes necessary.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult novels, stories about characters who must overcome their flaws, and characters who strive to do right and who are left trying to figure out exactly what that is.
NetGalley provided me with an ARC for an honest review.
This book was originally published in 2002 and will be republished on May 10, 2016.
August 22, 2011
A bit slow to start, with a somewhat unlikeable main character, this book does get better and develops into an interesting story. Bernadette is an only child, with one good friend, and a belief in the importance of intelligence. She's passionate about debating, and passionate about her new English teacher, Mr Malory. Malory is British, and determined to extend his students. He's also very nice looking. Malory becomes the coach of Bernadette and 4 other students in an academic quiz against a neighbouring private school. The intense school rivalry means a huge amount of attention is on the quiz team, and Bernadette and her team members find themselves engaged in an intense studying excercise. But are their methods legitimate? And did they really qualify with the marks they were given?
A thoughtful read, it would suit a questioning teenager. The plot is difficult to follow sometimes, and the author assumes every reader will be American so readers who are not American will struggle sometimes with the schooling system, or fast food references. Anotehr off=putting feature is Bernadette herself, who is somewhat arrogant and judgemental. A nice character arc however, as she grows and learns through the decision making required to do what's right in this quiz.
A thoughtful read, it would suit a questioning teenager. The plot is difficult to follow sometimes, and the author assumes every reader will be American so readers who are not American will struggle sometimes with the schooling system, or fast food references. Anotehr off=putting feature is Bernadette herself, who is somewhat arrogant and judgemental. A nice character arc however, as she grows and learns through the decision making required to do what's right in this quiz.
October 15, 2014
This book started off slowly, the first few chapter were just describing Bernadette Terrell and her normal life. Then suddenly the principle barged into the classroom and that's when things started getting interesting. When the principle shared the news that there class had the highest scores on the test and had qualified for the Classics Bowl, she couldn't believe it. She knew her peers were smart, but not this smart. Something seemed fishy. Bernadette took responsibility for finding out if the test had been rigged and if so, by who? Bernadette uses her Sarah Sloan detective skills and slowly pieces it all together. When I was reading this book it was quite obvious who the cheater was because of how he was described as a charming, insanely intelligent man. Any man like that could get away with a lot, and for $10,000 and a chance to beat Pinehurst, why wouldn't he do it? But when Bernadette found out what would she do? Tell the judges and disappoint her teammates? Or do nothing a feel guilty? Overall I enjoyed reading this book. It felt as if I was in the story, trying to help Bernadette make the right decisions. Although it started slow, I found myself wanting to read it more and more at the end. I enjoyed reading this book
June 18, 2016
I received a copy of this from netgalley for review.
Cheating Lessons is about a group of public school kids who must go up against a private school in an academic competition. Bernadette is the main girl and also the captain of her team. She isn't a very likable character and often times, her attitude got a bit annoying. Halfway through the book, she got a bit better. She is paranoid about how her school got into this competition and how their grades were good enough. She is kind of a loner with only one real friend. Luckily we got to watch her growth throughout the book when she realized that she really did need other people in her life. It didn't matter that they weren't as smart as she is. I wish she would have realized it sooner because it would have been easier to read. I almost quit about halfway through, but then the book picked up and it was less of Bet's whining and more story. So overall, the book is good, but not great. It's probably a good read for middle school and high school students.
Cheating Lessons is about a group of public school kids who must go up against a private school in an academic competition. Bernadette is the main girl and also the captain of her team. She isn't a very likable character and often times, her attitude got a bit annoying. Halfway through the book, she got a bit better. She is paranoid about how her school got into this competition and how their grades were good enough. She is kind of a loner with only one real friend. Luckily we got to watch her growth throughout the book when she realized that she really did need other people in her life. It didn't matter that they weren't as smart as she is. I wish she would have realized it sooner because it would have been easier to read. I almost quit about halfway through, but then the book picked up and it was less of Bet's whining and more story. So overall, the book is good, but not great. It's probably a good read for middle school and high school students.
June 25, 2016
*This book was provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was quite a good book with a like-able and real main character that deal with the moral dilemma of cheating. Bernadette's final decision in the ending; the way she decides to handle the knowledge of the cheating is quite admirable and I think a good lesson in humility and morality for all people young and old. The thing that was a bit creepy was all the high school girl's obsessions with Mr Malory. It was a bit creepy and weird and I'm glad Bernadette gets over her infatuation with him. Bernadette's character development was also really good; she goes from being quite an intolerant intellectual snob with only one friend to a tolerant, kind and mature girl. I especially liked the skillful way immorality was dealt with in the book; the reader isn't slapped in the face with the message 'Cheating is bad!', but instead the message is artfully woven into the novel itself.
Overall, this was a good read with a good message on cheating and morality.
This was quite a good book with a like-able and real main character that deal with the moral dilemma of cheating. Bernadette's final decision in the ending; the way she decides to handle the knowledge of the cheating is quite admirable and I think a good lesson in humility and morality for all people young and old. The thing that was a bit creepy was all the high school girl's obsessions with Mr Malory. It was a bit creepy and weird and I'm glad Bernadette gets over her infatuation with him. Bernadette's character development was also really good; she goes from being quite an intolerant intellectual snob with only one friend to a tolerant, kind and mature girl. I especially liked the skillful way immorality was dealt with in the book; the reader isn't slapped in the face with the message 'Cheating is bad!', but instead the message is artfully woven into the novel itself.
Overall, this was a good read with a good message on cheating and morality.
November 7, 2016
What would you do if you thought someone had cheated, especially on an important test?
This book is about sixteen year old, Bernadette and her struggles when she things that someone has cheated on the test to let them go to the state level trivia challenge. She loves her mystery novels and uses what she has learned from some of them to find out what is going on. Was it one of her fellow students, the teacher, or even the principal that cheated on the test? She has to find out and figure out what to do with the information that she acquires.
I personally feel that with all the academic pressures on students today, this book is very relevant to the middle school and high school age group. Bernadette has to figure out what to do with the information that is figures out, which is an every day issue growing up. Who do you tell, or not tell, and how do you deal with the emotions associated with what you find out.
I received a free copy of this book from Tadmar Press and NetGalley to give an honest review.
This book is about sixteen year old, Bernadette and her struggles when she things that someone has cheated on the test to let them go to the state level trivia challenge. She loves her mystery novels and uses what she has learned from some of them to find out what is going on. Was it one of her fellow students, the teacher, or even the principal that cheated on the test? She has to find out and figure out what to do with the information that she acquires.
I personally feel that with all the academic pressures on students today, this book is very relevant to the middle school and high school age group. Bernadette has to figure out what to do with the information that is figures out, which is an every day issue growing up. Who do you tell, or not tell, and how do you deal with the emotions associated with what you find out.
I received a free copy of this book from Tadmar Press and NetGalley to give an honest review.
May 3, 2016
This book is an academic mystery with flavors of a darker side "The View From Saturday" mixed in. Students from an underachieving school finally score well enough to compete in the Michigan Classics Bowl against a top-tier school, guided by their mysterious English teacher. Bernadette suspects that they may not have qualified completely on their own, but is herself struggling with the normal tasks of growing up - finding herself, making friends, worrying about school and her future.
It's a fast-paced book and an easy read but enjoyable, racing along to the end. Nothing groundbreaking here but I was caught up in it. I also enjoyed the string of literature jokes strung into one chapter. Fun, breezy read, and without the typical (and often boring) trappings of modern YA trends (no vampires, romance tainted by illness, dystopian narratives here), which is refreshing.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's a fast-paced book and an easy read but enjoyable, racing along to the end. Nothing groundbreaking here but I was caught up in it. I also enjoyed the string of literature jokes strung into one chapter. Fun, breezy read, and without the typical (and often boring) trappings of modern YA trends (no vampires, romance tainted by illness, dystopian narratives here), which is refreshing.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2008
Bernadette Terrell has always known the right thing to do. Not the most popular girl in school, her focus has always been on academic, not social, success. When her favorite teacher names her to Wickham High School's state championship quiz bowl team, she believes that she has reached the pinnacle of her high school academic career. However, her elation quickly fades as she begins to suspect that perhaps someone cheated to get Wickham into the contest and is cheating still.
In her search for answers, Bernadette must contend with a situation that isn't black and white, where a community's hope, hard work, and pride are on the line. Is a team -- and a school -- implicated by one person's behavior?
Cappo's blend of suspense and humor makes Cheating Lessons a riveting story about right and wrong -- and the downside of trust.
In her search for answers, Bernadette must contend with a situation that isn't black and white, where a community's hope, hard work, and pride are on the line. Is a team -- and a school -- implicated by one person's behavior?
Cappo's blend of suspense and humor makes Cheating Lessons a riveting story about right and wrong -- and the downside of trust.
June 7, 2008
This book was very much detailed throughout the whole book.
From this novel, I learned more about the main character and her struggles in finding a cheater from her school and debate against them. I thought that this book was informative on ways to debate and how one person will be able to debate her whole life and make herself different from other people because she was not afraid to express her thoughts. It showed me the different ways people deal with problems and how to get out of them easier of others.I also thought that this novel was interesting because I got to look into the main character's mind and see how she was able to find things through her process of debating. This book was different then any other book i had read.
From this novel, I learned more about the main character and her struggles in finding a cheater from her school and debate against them. I thought that this book was informative on ways to debate and how one person will be able to debate her whole life and make herself different from other people because she was not afraid to express her thoughts. It showed me the different ways people deal with problems and how to get out of them easier of others.I also thought that this novel was interesting because I got to look into the main character's mind and see how she was able to find things through her process of debating. This book was different then any other book i had read.
June 1, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Rounding up to 2.5 stars. I had two major issues with this book.
Firstly, I have never struggled so much to like a main character. The whole entire time I wanted to smack Bernadette across the face. She was uppity, a know-it-all, and acted like she was 5 while living in a fantasy world where everything is black and white.
Secondly, I found the writing extremely bizarre. I had to read paragraphs 3 or 4 times to understand what was going on. A few times I thought I had missed whole pages.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the book and found the story interesting enough to finish. It also did not seem outdated to me even though it was first published back in 2002.
Rounding up to 2.5 stars. I had two major issues with this book.
Firstly, I have never struggled so much to like a main character. The whole entire time I wanted to smack Bernadette across the face. She was uppity, a know-it-all, and acted like she was 5 while living in a fantasy world where everything is black and white.
Secondly, I found the writing extremely bizarre. I had to read paragraphs 3 or 4 times to understand what was going on. A few times I thought I had missed whole pages.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the book and found the story interesting enough to finish. It also did not seem outdated to me even though it was first published back in 2002.
October 4, 2016
This story reminded me of a Lifetime movie or an after school special. Bernadette "Bet" is on the debate team and sees the world as black and white. She becomes part of an academic decathlon of sorts. Before the competition, she discovers that someone has cheated and she is torn on how to handle this information.
While the story is classed as a mystery/thriller novel, I didn't feel there was a mystery at all. It was pretty clear the whole book what was happening, and who did what, and who was just a red herring. I enjoyed the story as a young adult novel (I was a sucker for those after school specials!)
I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While the story is classed as a mystery/thriller novel, I didn't feel there was a mystery at all. It was pretty clear the whole book what was happening, and who did what, and who was just a red herring. I enjoyed the story as a young adult novel (I was a sucker for those after school specials!)
I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2008
Almost everyone at Wickham High School is thrilled with their victory over Pinehurst in the Classics Contest. Everyone but Bernadette, who has a sneaking suspicion that somebody cheated. When Mr. Malory (the hottie Classics coach) convinces her that the scoring was legitimate, she and her teammates begin spending all their free time studying for their rematch with Pinehurst in the Classics Bowl. But something still doesn't feel right to Bernadette. In Cheating Lessons, a first novel by Nan Willard Cappo, our heroine learns to trust her feelings, but at what price to her team and to her school?
July 26, 2016
This story was a bit lighter than some others I’ve recently read, but it still have a sort of mystery going on and it’s all in a realistic setting, so if you’re looking for a contemporary book like that, this is a great option.
The characters in this book are quite interesting, although most I found a bit underdeveloped as they seemed like they could’ve had an interesting backstory or even moments, but we saw very little apart from the lead character, which I find a bit of a waste and a great what-could’ve-been.
FULL REVIEW: https://melgoethals.wordpress.com/201...
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters in this book are quite interesting, although most I found a bit underdeveloped as they seemed like they could’ve had an interesting backstory or even moments, but we saw very little apart from the lead character, which I find a bit of a waste and a great what-could’ve-been.
FULL REVIEW: https://melgoethals.wordpress.com/201...
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2009
Not what you think—it’s not the kids who are cheating. Bernadette goes to Wickham High--and she has a smashing English teacher who encourages her and other top students to compete in a statewide quiz bowl. The kids do unexpectedly well in the written test, so well, in fact, that they will compete with their rival “rich kids” school for the state championship. However--did they come by their scores honestly, or did the favorite teacher “cheat”? Positive, though a little simplistic in places.
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