Illustrated by Joanna Cacao
5 stars
What a fantastic read! Though I typically am not drawn to realistic fiction, cheerleading is a topic I can’t resist. As I was reading this, I was pleasantly surprised that the book was about much more than cheerleading.
Christina Soontornvat recounts her experiences in seventh grade, centered around the very public tryouts for the cheerleading team. She works in arguments with friends, feelings of not fitting in, making new friends, trying new things, facing your fears, bullying, and the prevalence of racism and othering in everyday life (name calling, negative comments about traditional foods, mispronunciation and lack of trying to pronounce one’s last name).
This story worked perfectly as a graphic novel. The art is fantastic. Cute, yet realistic style that really got the emotions of each scene across.
At the end is a note from the author about her real-life experiences that inspired the story and a collection of photos from her early life. It was fun to see the basis for different characters.
Such a great read. There are quite a few lessons worked in such as working hard for what you want, standing up for yourself, and exploring your interests even if they’re different from your friend’s. The lessons are worked in very naturally so they don’t feel over the top.
A wonderful story, perfectly executed.