cover image Game On

Game On

Melanie Spring. Little, Brown/Poppy, $10 trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-0-316-22727-8

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. (Sept.)