James Cheats!

Gr 3–5—These choppy, didactic beginning chapter books feature African American cousins who live with their grandparents in Washington, DC. In James Cheats!, the title character is repeating sixth grade because of his stealing problems the previous year, while his academically talented cousin has skipped fifth grade, landing them both in the same class. Under pressure to do well and compete with Greg, James buys cheat sheets from an older boy. In Choice, the cousins are asked to start earning their allowances by doing household chores. James isn't about to help out around the house, but he does find a way to make money—by joining a group of neighborhood kids who steal electronics. In both books, he gets caught and is faced with deciding what to+ do next. These stories might work well as discussion starters but they're not going to turn kids on to reading. Occasional full-page black-and-white illustrations show the characters in various situations, but they're often static and stiff.—Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI