The School Story

Zoe Reisman is Natalie’s best friend and acts as a secondary protagonist as well as a sidekick character to Natalie. Zoe and Natalie have been friends since kindergarten and their differences create a dynamic that keeps the story moving forward. Contrary to Natalie, Zoe “had always been a talker” (42). Zoe “was a little spoiled and a little head-strong” when she met Natalie in kindergarten (45), and she “learned very quickly that if she wanted to have a friend, she couldn’t have her own way all of the time—just most of the time” (45).

Zoe uses her talent for talking and getting her own way to boost Natalie’s novel through the process of publication. She puts all her energy into her agent persona, Zee Zee Reisman, and works hard to keep Natalie motivated and pull strings at the publishing company, ultimately ending in the successful publication of Natalie’s book. Zoe masterminds and executes the plan through her charisma and manipulation tactics.

Zoe’s motivation comes from a place of care. Natalie is Zoe’s best friend, and Zoe understands that publishing the book “would be good for Natalie, and good for her mom, too” (55). Zoe recognizes how Natalie is still grieving the loss of her father and has placed those feelings into the characters of the novel. She believes getting the book published would help Natalie’s family process their grief. Zoe’s compassion for Natalie motivates Zoe to accomplish her goal of publishing Natalie’s novel.

In the end, Zoe manages to pull off every detail of her plan and make Natalie’s book a smashing success. Natalie wants Zoe to continue to be her agent, even now that she’s a successful author.

Hannah Nelson is Natalie’s widowed mother. She and Natalie live in a loft outside of New York City and commute to the city every day for school and work. Hannah works at the publishing company Shipley Junior Books as an editor. Hannah is frequently overworked by her boss, Letha Springfield. Hannah aspires to advance in her publishing career, but Letha makes it difficult for Hannah to get ahead. Hannah’s main conflict involves contending with Letha over the editing rights for The Cheater.

Hannah is introduced in the first chapter, when Natalie recalls why she began writing her book in the first place. Hannah tells Natalie about how the publishing company wants more school stories. So, when Hannah ends up with Natalie’s book in her hands, she feels that she’s found exactly what the company wants. Hannah compares her excitement to “finding a new island out in the middle of the ocean […] Then every time you look at a map, you see the island, and you say to yourself, ‘That’s the one I found!’” (120). Hannah feels strongly about the novel and believes editing it will help her build her career.

Unfortunately, Hannah “[happens] to be cursed with a selfish boss” (131). When Letha recognizes the potential in The Cheater, she takes the assignment from Hannah and claims it for herself despite already being in an established and prestigious position. As upset as this makes Hannah, she knows she cannot fight back against her boss, and she “[feels] sorry for [Letha]” because Letha must take from others to be satisfied.

With the intervention of the company’s president and the clever thinking of Zoe, Hannah winds up in charge of The Cheater manuscript after all. The book’s immediate success and the revelation of Natalie’s identity boost the company’s profile as well as Hannah’s. Hannah overcomes her fear of Letha and realizes “Letha is actually scarier than ever. It’s just that I’m not afraid of her anymore” (177). Hannah gets promoted into Letha’s former position and grows closer to her daughter in the process.

Laura Clayton is Natalie and Zoe’s sixth-grade English teacher at The Deary School. She is in her second year of teaching, and she is struggling with “the daily grind of classroom teaching” (63). Ms. Clayton thinks highly of Natalie’s writing, which is why she agrees to take a look at The Cheater and consider getting involved in the girls’ “publishing club” (67). When confronted with an envelope full of Zoe’s money and careful instructions for renting a temporary office, Ms. Clayton doesn’t “feel right about this” (85) and tries to back out.

However, Zoe’s charisma and manipulation wins Ms. Clayton over. Zoe suggests she get Mr. Karswell to be their advisor instead. Mr. Karswell is a cool, rebellious teacher whom Ms. Clayton both envies and has a crush on. Ms. Clayton wants to be seen as cool and courageous like him. She worries backing out would “brand herself as a coward” (88), so she agrees to go through with the plan. Ms. Clayton dutifully helps the girls check their office mail and advises them on how to approach each step of their plan. Though she seems happy to be involved, praising herself as “Ms. Clayton the Bold” (91), she worries about getting in trouble at her job.

During a tense phone call with Zoe’s father, Ms. Clayton believes he intends to chew her out for playing a role in Zoe’s scheme. However, Mr. Reisman validates Ms. Clayton. He commends her for being “very courageous” and teaching the girls “[r]eal stuff in the real world” (160). This phone call helps to reassure Ms. Clayton that she’s done the right thing. At the end of the book, Ms. Clayton gets to attend The Cheater’s publication party and watch her student’s success. She also boosts the profile of the school and catches the interest of Mr. Karswell herself. Ms. Clayton’s story arc concludes with her being the cool and brave teacher she aspired to be.