The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading

I started reading this book as a filler; it was night and I was too chicken to read a zombie novel that I had already begun. It was supposed to just be a book that kept me entertained for a few hours until I started to fall asleep, but I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t want to put it down.

I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite. I typically avoid the cliché cheerleading/high school angst books because I was a lot like Bethany in high school but some of my closest friends were popular cheerleaders, so I found the whole “cheerleaders are evil” concept kind of stupid. But this book focuses more on how Bethany finds herself and her relationships changing when she and her equally geeky best friend join the cheerleading squad. show more It’s not a deep, thoughtful novel - for me, at least - but the authors did an awesome job at making lovable characters seem ignorant and vice versa.

There were times where I feared the novel might take a turn for the horrible, like an almost-love-triangle that involved a gorgeous, popular jock and a geeky friend of Bethany’s that would’ve had me closing the book immediately. But it’s not one of those predictable cheesy chick-lits. Quite the opposite actually; Jack Paulson was a complete mystery to me. Are his intentions good or is he a disgusting slime ball? I love a book that can keep me guessing!

Overall, The Geek Girl’s Guide To Cheerleading was a very entertaining book and I’m glad I picked it up. It’s a quick and light read, not meant to pull on heartstrings or emotions, but it’s cute enough to leave you in a good mood when you’re finished reading. I definitely recommend it for a rainy day! show less

The Geek Girl's Guide To Cheerleading had been on my radar, but I did not have too much desire to read it due to its lackluster cover until I stumbled across it at the new neighborhood library and thought "Why not? I'll give it a whirl since it attacked me from the shelves." And am I sure glad that I gave it a chance!

I have read the fluffy and sparkly teen books such as The Naughty List (absolutely delish by the way!) and expected this to be of similar nature. However, I was seriously impressed with the unexpected depth and insights that this book contained. It felt totally realistic - don't get me wrong, I don't think all geek girls should go out for cheerleading - but I could see how it worked for Bethany and liked how she still kept show more a good head on her shoulder even if she almost lost all circulation in her legs during a Minnesota winter. I would have loved to be BFFs with Bethany!

I did not expect to be so enthralled with The Geek Girl's Guide To Cheerleading, but realized my complete devotion when I panicked a little towards the end. There did not seem to be that many pages left, but the love triangle between Bethany, the basketball player, and her longtime best guy friend still remained unresolved - I feared that somehow the authors would postpone the answer until next time...and I was not sure if "next time" had happened yet. Talk about nailbiting! But, rest assured, everything worked itself out to its satisfactory end.

All the characters - both good and bad, geek and non-geek - had wonderful pagetime. I loved the mix of bad guys, reformed bad guys, nice guys, and in-the-closet-geeky guys among the jocks and cheerleaders. It made the whole experience very well-balanced, and there were many boys in this book that really warmed my heart. Too bad that there were like 20 of them and only 1 Bethany - although the boy she ends up with is absolutely perfect for her. :)

Go read this book - it takes cheerleading to a whole other level - and the romance makes me sigh like I just ate my fill in white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. show less

Bethany and Moni are smart geek girls who usually just try to remain invisible to the cool crowd. They get annoyed by their male friends drooling over the cheerleaders, so they try out for the squad and surprisingly, make it. Now they are thrust into a whole new social sphere and into the limelight. The story is told from Bethany's point of view as she struggles with her new-found fame and the attentions of the cutest boy in the school.

It's refreshing to read a young adult book where the characters are intelligent and grounded, their parents aren't reduced to one-dimensional cliches and nice kids do finish first. There's a little Pride & Prejudice thrown in for good measure, too. Altogether an enjoyable read, especially for those of us show more who spend high school feeling we are on the outside looking in. show less

Book Title: The Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading

Author: Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

Published By: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Young Adult

Recommended Age: +13

Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavoc

Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community

Rating: 4 Ravens

I think we all grew up with the stereotypes and clicks in school , there was always something that separated a group of people from another and no matter how many could have had the same thing in common there was always something or someone that kept them all separated singled out and with their own “herd” as one of my teachers use to call it. When they would rant rave and wander down the hallway trying to get around all of us as we stood about talking or just show more walking and taking up most of the hall. It comes a time when we all question and wonder what it would be like to be in a separate group. Would our friends be different or the same would there be more trust in one and not in the other. And then we questioned ourselves. Where did we fit? Who were we most like or not like? What was it like to be so and so?

This book was a perfect fit for that we go through seeing two best friends facing family turmoil and things that most would say were not them and trying to step outside that box. Two “geek “ girls join the cheerleading squad together they actually try and end up going separate ways for a little while before they realize that they were the perfect set up and match of best friends there should be both have their flaws and both have to work for their friend ship they are tried and tested but it’s surprising to see where they come out in the end but then again maybe it’s not so surprising. It’s a very good book that shows that just cause you think your one way doesn’t mean you can’t step outside your box and try something new who knows you might even like it and make some really good friends at the same time too. show less

At Prarie Stone High School, Bethany and her friend Moni usually navigate the halls and gauntlet of popular kids and cheerleaders holding their breath. When Moni's "geek" friend Brian makes is so apparent that anything in a cheerleading uniform is worth watching, Moni "encourages" Bethany to try out for the winter varsity squad. Bethany never dreams they will actually make it, but of course, they do. From Coach Shelia's surprise help, to learning how the other half lives, this story deftly shows both sides of the high school battle lines. Moni's difficulty with her parents divorce cause her to look blindly at wrestling superstart Rick, while we wonder if the handsome, star basketball player Jack will really fall for Bethany? The girls show more learn that cheering takes a lot of hard work, along with keeping up with all their honors classes. I both cheered and was saddened with various decisions the characters made, and really enjoyed what I think is a super novel. As with many teen novels these days, there's a touch of Pride and Prejudice in the mix, plus some Minnesotan common sense (and a tuna noodle hotdish). show less

this was really cute. I just had to suspend my disbelief - I agreed with Bethany....this "line" of Geek and Cheerleader - I'd never seen or heard of it being crossed.

but Jack and Moni and Bethany were just wonderful to read and the story was well done.

The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading treads a well-worn path in its examination of high school social hierarchies and romance, but the characters are well-developed and likeable enough to make it worth a read. Shy Bethany Reynolds, a self-proclaimed geek, is surprised when she and her best friend Moni are selected to join the varsity cheerleading squad. This causes shock waves in the established social structure at Prairie Stone High, and soon Bethany is grappling with the resentment of old friends, hostility of new teammates, and possibility of romance with her Big Man on Campus jock crush, Jack. The developing relationship between Bethany and Jack, a bet Jack and his friend Rick make about Bethany and Moni, and the eventual show more culmination of all the tribulations Bethany faces over the course of the cheerleading season hold few surprises, but Bethany’s first person perspective is engaging and readers will find her compelling enough that they will cheer for her happy ending. Issues like divorce and teen sex and alcohol use are handled sensitively and never go beyond the PG. This novel is a worthwhile, although non-essential, addition to collections catering to ages 12 and up. show less