The Accidental Cheerleader (Candy Apple Series #1) by Mimi McCoy

From the Publisher

When shy Sophie's best friend, Kylie, signs them both up for cheerleading tryouts, it's Sophie who lands in the spotlight - and Kylie ends up on the sidelines. Now Kylie is stuck playing mascot, and she doesn't exactly get along with Sophie's new friends on the squad. Things really spin out of control right before the big game, and Sophie has to choose sides. Can the girls rediscover how to root for each other before the clock runs out on their friendship?

Publishers Weekly

The debut novel in the Candy Apple series introduces two very different 12yearold best friends: introverted, quicktoblush Sophie and outgoing, impulsive Kylie. Sophie reluctantly agrees to be Kylie's partner at tryouts for their middle school cheerleading team. Rather predictably, gymnast Sophie makes the squad, but klutzy (if gutsy) Kylie is instead offered the position of team mascot—a costumed mule. Attending practices without Kylie, Sophie initially feels like an outsider amidst the confident, popular and mostly petty other cheerleaders, but gradually gets sucked into their superficial social sphere. The plot takes a melodramatic turn when Sophie is suddenly shunned by her old and new friends after she dances with a star football player on whom Kylie has long had a crush and whom the head cheerleader dated the previous year ("for three weeks"). Despite such contrivances, the tale convincingly conveys the social pressures of middle school, and the price and precariousness of popularity, offering a cheerworthy blend of fluff and substance. The second Candy Apple title, Laura Dower's The Boy Next Door(ISBN 9780439929295), is due out simultaneously. Ages 912. (Jan.)

Children's Literature

What girl doesn't want to fit in and make friends in junior high school? Sophie and Kylie are best friends, and very excited about starting the seventh grade. But once Kylie signs both girls up for cheerleading tryouts. Sophie's gymnastic abilities transition well into this new sport, while Kylie ends up on the sidelines as the football team's mascot. Sophie struggles to make new friends, to understand boys, and to maintain her friendship with Kylie. Sophie discovers that being in the "in" crowd is quite a bit of work. There are parties to attend, popular girls to please, and the "right" outfit that she must have in order to fit in. Eventually Kylie gets tired of being on the outside looking in at the cheerleading team, and plans the ultimate revenge—she mocks the snobby cheerleaders in front of the entire school. Sophie must then decide whether to still be friends with Kylie, or to continue hanging out with the cheerleaders. Can Sophie and Kylie rediscover how to support each other? Will their friendship stand the test of time and cheerleading angst? This is a delightful book that will appeal to young girls ages eight to twelve.

Children's Literature

Kylie and Sophie are best friends. Kylie announces to Sophie that she signed them up for cheerleading tryouts. When Sophie's anger subsides, she gives in to Kylie. The results are posted and Sophie is surprised that she makes the cut and Kylie is disappointed to be named the team mascot. As Sophie grows closer to the cheerleading squad, she and Kylie grow apart. During a pep rally, the mascot encourages the students to disrupt the cheerleaders. The mascot is suspended. At the game, the crowd and the football team are listless. Sophie gets the cheerleaders to lift the suspension. Now the crowd is pumped up, the team wins, and Kylie and Sophie are best friends again. This is a story that many young girls will relate to. Friendship, boys, competition, jealousy, and cheerleading are issues in this work of fiction. The main characters—Kylie and Sophie—are well developed. These two characters demonstrate how to resolve interpersonal problems, how to be a responsible person, and how to maintain a friendship. McCoy's story relays the message that there is no "I" in team.

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