Game On

July 29, 2013
In a story created in partnership with cheerleading brand Varsity, ninth-grade best friends Chloe, Emily, and Kate are all on the JV cheerleading squad and utterly devoted to their sport. Chloe, whose older siblings were cheerleading champs, seems like a shoe-in for captain until new girl Devin shows up at practice. Devin doesn’t even want to be a cheerleader (she’s an expert tumbler), but she agreed to give it a try since there’s no gymnastics team in the area. When Devin and Chloe are elected co-captains, the friction is immediate; all that team troublemaker Leila has to do is tell a few lies to get their feud going strong. Third-person narration moves breezily among the girls, highlighting their strengths and insecurities, in this first book in a planned series. The story lifts up the virtues of teamwork, hard work, and the power of a smile as it builds toward a co-captain blowout and a big competition at Regionals. While the endless positivity may overwhelm some readers, the friendship dramas and cheer action should keep fans of the sport entertained. Ages 12–up.

December 1, 2013

Gr 5-9-This series starter introduces a junior varsity cheerleading squad and highlights the athleticism and competitiveness of this contemporary sport. The Northside High JV squad members have known one another for years and they are ready to compete for regional and state honors. Chloe comes from a family of captains and she fully expects to head up this year's squad. A new girl and gifted athlete, Devin, arrives and quietly challenges Chloe's leadership. They end up as cocaptains, and an envious and conniving teammate works to drive a wedge between them, a move that threatens the team's chances of success. A narrative that shifts focus among four or five team members results in shallow characterizations while cheers and stunts are described in great detail, making cheerleading itself the star of this book. Unfortunately, the constant pettiness and jealousies that the girls display and a very homogenous group of young teens hark back to the stereotypical trappings of another time, undermining the book's success as contemporary sports fiction. While there is sure to be a following for this book, it is an additional purchase.-Martha Baden, Prescott Public Library, AZ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2013
Grades 6-9 Like Glee, only with cheerleading, this series starter follows the fortunes of four freshmen trying to push their JV squad to Regionals. Of course, it's not all pom-poms. Chloe hopes to be the team captain, but in walks new girl and phenomenal gymnast Devin Isle. Will she upstage Chloe? Kate is fearless in a competition, but she's shy, especially when it comes to boys. So what should she do about Adam, geeky but awfully cute. Emily takes on too many tasks and activities. Will she make time for what's really important to her, singing? Cheerleading buffs will appreciate all the routines and intrateam travails, but for everyone else, this has plenty of boys, problems, and a few giggles. It's all fairly generic (their school is in Sunny Valley, California), but this will attract kids looking for a light read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)