Cheat Challenge (The Chain Gang) - Hardcover

Robin and Chris Lawrie wrote the Ridge Riders books together, and Robin illustrated them. Their inspiration for these books is their son. They wanted to write books that he would find interesting. Many of the Ridge Riders books are based on adventures he and his friends had while biking. Robin and Chris live in England, and will soon be moving to a big, old house that is also home to sixty bats.

Grade 2–6—Combining the appeal of a graphic novel and the readability of an easy reader, the Lawries have created an engaging series for struggling readers. "Slam" Duncan and his friends, downhill mountain-bike racers, star in these fast-paced stories. In Cheat Challenge, Slam accidentally stumbles on the map to a new racecourse. While he keeps the information secret from the other Ridge Riders to prevent cheating, their practice sessions on the wrong course put them in danger and Slam in a quandary. In Fear 3.1, the protagonist must conquer his fear of heights to save a friend. Similarly, he races to save the day once again in Snow Bored. Finally, in White Lightning, it's Slam's turn to be rescued by one of the Ridge Riders just in time for the big race. All four titles have full-color illustrations that are less graphic than the "graphic novel" stamp on the cover implies, but speech bubbles and sound-effect bursts help to blur the line. The action-driven narratives zip along like a downhill racecourse despite flat characterizations. Endings are vague and may leave less-experienced readers wondering if there is a page missing at the end. A glossary, a kid-safe Internet site, discussion questions, and writing prompts provide support for low-level readers but also give the books a distinct "school" feel." Despite the series limitations, kids will clamor for more.—H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL
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