School Story

Amazon.com
Don't mess with Zee Zee Reisman from the Sherry Clutch Literary Agency. Especially when she's promoting the hot new novelist Cassandra Day. New York's publishing scene is familiar with tough players like Zee Zee, and impressed by the book she's pushing... but stunned when they find out Zee Zee and Cassandra are both 12-year-old girls. Zee Zee is really Zoe, fiercely loyal and self-assured best friend to Natalie Nelson, a.k.a. Cassandra Day. When Natalie writes a story, a really good story, Zoe is determined to let the whole world know. Using her formidable wits and all the resources available to a well-to-do New York City girl, Zoe, along with their timid English teacher, Ms. Clayton, proceeds to chip away at the challenge. The catch? The editor Natalie wants happens to be her own mother, an editor at Shipley Junior Books. But Natalie wants her authorship to remain a secret to her mom so that she'll get a fair shake. What ensues is a masterfully elaborate plot to get the manuscript in the right hands--and away from the arrogant, unfriendly editor in chief.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Tales of determination and perseverance strike a chord with young readers, and they will become instantly engaged with 12-year-old Natalie, an enthusiastic writer who has penned a novel. It's a school story entitled The Cheater, and if Natalie's best friend, Zoë, and her English teacher, Ms. Clayton, can be believed, it's an exceptional tale. So it's a good thing that Natalie's mother works as an editor at a major New York City publishing house. Except for one thing -- Natalie wants the book to succeed on its own merits and not just because she's the editor's daughter.

Together, Natalie and Zoë cook up a scheme that involves submitting Natalie's book under a pseudonym, while Zoë pretends to be an agent. It seems far-fetched at first, but with a little help from their teacher and some last-minute assistance from Zoë's father, they not only submit the book and get it accepted -- after its release, it becomes a bestseller. But all is not rosy. Some unanticipated events place Natalie's mother's job in jeopardy, putting Zoë and Natalie's talent for scheming to a true test.

Award-winning and bestselling children's author Andrew Clements not only provides a pretty thorough education about what goes on in the publishing industry; he also offers a tale-within-a-tale by providing snippets from Natalie's book. The story and its characters are further brought to life through the finely detailed drawings of Brian Selznick. The School Story emphasizes aspirations and possibilities, while also providing a great lesson on recognizing and celebrating the differences, strengths, and weaknesses in all of us. As such, this delightful tale should ignite a creative spark in young minds, making it an excellent platform for launching classroom discussions and projects. (Beth Amos)

ANNOTATION

After twelve-year-old Natalie writes a wonderful novel, her friend Zoe helps her devise a scheme to get it accepted at the publishing house where Natalie's mother works as an editor.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Twelve-year-old Natalie Nelson has written a powerful school story. It's a short novel called "The Cheater," and her best friend Zoe is certain it should be published. All Natalie has to do is give the manuscript to her mom, an editor at a big publishing house. However Natalie doesn't want any favors from her mom. Still, Zoe won't drop the idea.

Spurred into action, Natalie invents a pen name for herself and Zoe becomes a self-styled literary agent. But if the girls are to succeed, they'll need support from their wary English teacher, legal advice from Zoe's tough-talking father, and some clever maneuvering to outwit the overbearing editor in chief of Shipley Junior Books.

Andrew Clements, the best-selling author of Frindle, The Landry News, and The Janitor's Boy, delights his audience with this story of two irrepressible girls who use their talent, ingenuity, and a little cunning to try to make a young writer's dream come true.

FROM THE CRITICS

Book Magazine

Twelve-year-old Natalie Nelson has written a novel set at a school. Her best friend, Zoe, loves it and is convinced it should be published. Although Natalie's mother is a children's-book editor, Natalie hesitates to show her the manuscript. Zoe convinces Natalie to submit the novel to her mother under a pen name. When Mrs. Nelson shows an interest in publishing the work, Zoe, posing on the phone as an agent, drives a hard bargain—but Natalie starts to worry about the consequences of deceiving her mother.

Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW called this book about a 12-year-old aspiring author a "standout. Indeed a `school story,' this is at heart a tale about the love between a father and a daughter." Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Children's Literature

Natalie is writing a book—a good book. The problem is, how does a twelve-year-old girl get a book publisher to take her seriously? Her friend Zoe comes to the rescue by becoming her imaginative and surprisingly competent literary agent. Careful and credible plotting makes this unlikely adventure almost believable. Aspiring young writers will be particularly interested, but should understand that today's demanding market isn't likely to find a twelve-year-old to be professional enough to publish. Nevertheless, readers will be dying to find out if Natalie succeeds, and will gain a lot of accurate and interesting information about slush piles and the publishing industry. Minus the credibility problem, this is an engaging story, though the beginning chapters lack some of the immediate vitality of Clements' earlier works. Black-and-white drawings lend additional interest to the already strong characters. Reviewer: Betty Hicks

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6 Actress Spencer Kayden does a wonderful job reading Andrew Clements' upbeat story (S&S, 2001) about Natalie, a sixth grader who has written an amazing short novel with a school setting, The Cheater. Natalie's dynamic and enterprising friend, Zoe, thinks that the novel should be published. Natalie's dad died unexpectedly, and what moves Zoe about the story are the passages about the love between a father and child. She convinces Natalie to pursue publication. Taking on the pseudonym of Cassandra Day, enlisting the help of her English teacher, and passing Zoe off as her bold agent, Natalie sends the manuscript to the publishing company where her mother works as an editor. Clements includes facts about the children's book industry as the amusing yet surprisingly poignant story unfolds. Kayden handles the touching scenes between Natalie and her mother quite well, but really shines as the exuberant Zoe. This pushy and excitable character almost steamrolls the novel with her comic antics, but Clements knows instinctively when to pull back and let Natalie's story prevail. Although things work out a bit too easily for Natalie, Clements' empathy for the characters makes The School Story work. Kayden's reading is energetic and fun, especially when she tackles the story's comedy and brings to life various New Yorker types. -Brian E. Wilson, Evanston Public Library, IL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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