Natalie Nelson waits anxiously while her best friend Zoe reads through the first two chapters of Natalie’s book in progress, titled The Cheater. Zoe is enjoying the story, so she takes her time reading. 

In the story, the narrator and main character Angela follows her classmate Sean to apologize. They have just had a hearing with the Penalty Board, and Sean has taken the punishment for Angela’s cheating. Sean is angry at Angela and does not want to be her friend anymore.

When Zoey finishes reading, she tells Natalie how good the story is. Natalie gives Zoey the rest of the completed chapters to read. Natalie has five more chapters to write to finish the book. 

Natalie decided to try to write a school story, or a story that takes place at school and features school-age main characters, because her mother’s publishing company is seeking that kind of book. Natalie has made a point to talk to her mother about her work since Natalie’s father passed away. That is how she found out about the company’s search for a school story four months ago. Natalie thought she’d be perfect to write it since she is in sixth grade and spends every day in school.