Monday, April 3, 2023

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, art by Val Wise, 127 pages

In this short graphic novel, jaded outcast Annie is encouraged by her mom to try out for the cheerleading squad, something that Annie's mom loved in high school, but Annie's a bit skeptical about. Meanwhile, Annie's former friend Bebe is the first trans girl to join the squad, and is constantly fretting about being the perfect girl, both while she's cheering and when she's not. But cheering together reminds the pair about why they liked each other in the first place, rekindling their friendship as they both learn to be comfortable and confident.

What a sweet story, especially for those who don't fit easily into stereotypes. While yes, this focuses on a trans girl and a short and stout lesbian, there are a lot of lessons here that teens and even adults can glean from Annie and Bebe's story. Highly recommended for all.

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