The Cheat Book

Kamal usually fades into the background at school, but when he gets called Puke Boy after an incident in assembly, things have to change.

He finds a mysterious book in the library that promises him popularity – and he follows its advice. Soon, he’s obsessing over his ‘Popstock rating’ and how to cheat his way to becoming school captain. Perhaps he’ll even sit on the cool gang’s table! But is it worth abandoning his friends over? 

This debut story from cartoonist Ramzee is packed with brilliant illustrations and is full of humour. Kamal is a refugee, used to keeping his head down, but his everyday struggles of trying to avoid the bullies, trying to be cool, and finding his sisters very annoying are all very relatable. 

He has an angel and a devil commenting on his decisions – as per the Quran – and there’s a nice nod to the obsession with being ‘rated’ on social media that pervades contemporary life.

The message about being true to yourself and your friends, and not worrying about being cool, is given a light touch, as is the magic of the Cheat Book. Fun.