Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!
Welcome to Pride month, readers! I am really excited to dive into all sorts of great queer books for the month of June but just a friendly reminder that these books are great to read year-round, too! As usual, my focus in June will be on great queer books I’ve enjoyed, and I hope that they add to your yearlong TBR! Today, I’m recommending a go-to YA graphic novel about friendship, allyship, first love…and cheerleading! Content warning for some instances of transphobia (nothing graphic or violent).
Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise, and Oscar O. Jupiter
Annie is a happily anti-social teen lesbian who feels cornered when her mom and principal team up and force her to join an extracurricular activity, then not-so-gently push her in the direction of the cheer squad. Annie is not the cheerleading type, but she’s pleasantly surprised when she heads to tryouts and finds that cheer is…not so bad? And the cheer captain is none other than Beatrice, aka Bebe, who was once Annie’s friend before they drifted apart and is now the squad’s first openly transgender cheer captain. Bebe convinces her squad to give Annie a chance and it’s not long before Bebe and Annie reconnect over early morning workouts and a true friendship is rekindled…that might evolve into something more.
I tend to care little for sports stories, so when I love one you know that it’s well-written and the characters are top notch! I fell in love with Annie’s sarcastic, intelligent voice and also her vulnerability around connecting with people her own age. I also loved Bebe—she’s sweet and kind, a little insecure in the spotlight, and genuinely happy to strike up friendship with Annie again. Their solo morning workouts are adorable, and it gives them a genuine connection and understanding for confronting some bigger issues amongst the squad. While on the surface the squad is the opposite of many cheerleader caricatures—they’re inclusive, excited to appoint Bebe as captain—they also have their own issues. Namely, they tend to tokenize Bebe in an effort to show just how inclusive they are, and while they always have her back, they don’t always check in with what she wants. The story also explores the inverse of many issues that get lots of attention in books about queer and trans folks—mainly, rather than having unsupportive parents, Bebe’s parents are so supportive they become overprotective.
The illustrations are bright and peppy, and the romantic storyline is sweet, making this a great read for all ages! I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a lovely story about what it means to listen to the queer and trans folks in their lives, and how be a good ally!
Happy reading!
Tirzah
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