Usman Grant and the Cheating Cherub: Thimbleberry Mysteries, #1

By Walton Burns

Somehow Troy Angelo, whose face is as sweet as an angel but his personality is as sour as lemons went from being the worst student in  history class to getting a perfect score on the test! Seventh-grader Usman Grant who loves movies, dressing up for school, and getting perfect scores himself, and his best friend, Dana Batyrov, punk rocker and softball queen, are recruited by Mr. R to find out if and how Troy cheated and if it has anything to do with a cafeteria food fight, Dana's favorite band, the Odious Oddballs, or Usman's non-stop movie references?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alphabet Publishing
• Release date: Feb 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9781956159431

Book preview

Lunchtime Labyrynth

It was lunchtime at Nathaniel Harrison Intermediate School in Thimbleberry, Connecticut. Seventh-graders Usman Grant and Dana Batyrov were heading to their usual spot at the back of the cafeteria.

To get there, they had to pick their way through a maze of obstacles: narrow aisles between the tables tightly packed together, ­­chairs that scooted out unpredictably, backpacks tossed on the floor, and kids stopping abruptly to chat with friends. Navigating the cafeteria required lightning-fast reflexes.

"This feels like the market from Raiders of the Lost Ark," Usman said to Dana as he sucked in his stomach to slip through a narrow crack between a huge gym bag hanging on the back of a chair and a clique of girls making Swiftie bracelets.

Except Indy was trying to avoid getting captured by Nazi soldiers, Dana said, pointing at the captain of the football team sitting nearby. We’re facing real dangers here. Hunt will give you a charley horse that’ll leave your arm numb all day, if you bang into him!

Usman added, And if we make Morgan and Cam spill their beads, they’ll hit us with a devastating putdown and mocking laughter. It’ll be the end of our reputation.

Oh no! Our reputation as the biggest nerds in school will be ruined. Dana laughed. Besides, we both know what you’re worried about!

Usman sighed. I hate it when I spill my apple juice into my mashed potatoes. It makes for soggy, terrible-tasting potatoes. And the mashed potatoes are the best part of beef stew day!

And you might also stain your beautiful clothes!

I just like to look good. Is that a crime?

Just as Usman’s dad had taught him to love older movies, Usman’s mom had taught him to respect school. That meant listening to the teachers, studying hard, and being polite. It also meant dressing well: slacks and a button-down shirt every day for school. But that didn’t mean he had to look boring. His shirt was always bright and colorful. Today he was wearing his favorite one, purple. And his light-blue blazer was shiny as silk even though he was pretty sure