What do you think?
Rate this book
Cheer!: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders
A behind-the-scenes tour of competitive college cheerleading describes every aspect of the sport from spring tryouts through the NCA Nationals, drawing on the personal experiences of accomplished athletes from three top cheer schools. 60,000 first printing.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
16 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 22, 2008
I was really excited about this book mostly because I kept reading and hearing about it everywhere, from NPR to Newsweek to Entertainment Weekly, as well as the NYT Book Review. I figured if all of my most commonly referred to review sources said that this was a must read, than this was a must read. Let me say that I am glad that I read the book, it was a good book about the world of college cheerleading. That said, however, I wish that I didn't insist on keeping the book to finish it even though it was overdue from the library, because I'm not sure it is worth me having to pay 60 cents. In my opinion the book could have used a little less detail regarding specific chearleading moves (the actions just don't translate well to words), and more detail into the personal lives of the cheerleaders and their families etc.
September 22, 2017
This book is about college cheer leading and that there's three different teams that want to win nationals. The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack cheerleaders from Nacogdoches, Texas seem destined to win their fifth National Championship in a row until their coach must leave. The Southern University Jaguars from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an African American team hoping to raise $17,000 to participate at Nationals this year. And finally, the University of Memphis All-Girl cheerleaders from Tennessee hoping to gain as much respect as the Co-ed teams get. When trying out for the teams to preparing for nationals to stepping on the mat to compete, Kate provides a glance to the teams relantionships to the competition days.
My favorite character has to be Casi, because i am exactly like her. She can lift people in the air by herself and that's what i can do. When i was reading this book I was guessing what will happen on the next page, and i was espically biting my nails when the temas were preforming for the national champonship. I developed that the Lumberjacks and University of Memphis teams the most interesting, because they had the most riding on their competition season, unfortunately the Jaguars story kind of slowly does along, with their coach's disaffected manners throughout the pages. I felt like the sad scences were written very good because when Kate was writing about girls with eating disorders and unbelievable injuries she put you right in the scene. I like that because I felt like I was really there with the girls and while the teams going trough these tragedy's. I swear, my heart stopped when sierra fell from her basket toss and I was thinking if Sierra would ever recover from her concussion and skull fracture. So, this book almost made me cry. Yes, this book kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know what will happen next.
But, perhaps it would have been better if she had just focused on one school. I would have felt more of an attachment. I felt badly for all the girls who were called "another SFA girl" or whatever school after she names two of them. it was really well-written, but I think, perhaps, it was really over board. I was a bit confused with this book because it kept on going back and fourth with the three teams and with that I didn't know what team she was taking about. I found it easy to care about the main character because she made it straight to the point and didn't put anything but the point. The story was not scary at all because cheer isn't a really scary thing to talk about.
I would recommend girls who like cheerleading or are interested in what cheerleading is. I think this novel deserves a 4 star rating because I kind of got confused on what teams they were talking about but overall it was a good book.
My favorite character has to be Casi, because i am exactly like her. She can lift people in the air by herself and that's what i can do. When i was reading this book I was guessing what will happen on the next page, and i was espically biting my nails when the temas were preforming for the national champonship. I developed that the Lumberjacks and University of Memphis teams the most interesting, because they had the most riding on their competition season, unfortunately the Jaguars story kind of slowly does along, with their coach's disaffected manners throughout the pages. I felt like the sad scences were written very good because when Kate was writing about girls with eating disorders and unbelievable injuries she put you right in the scene. I like that because I felt like I was really there with the girls and while the teams going trough these tragedy's. I swear, my heart stopped when sierra fell from her basket toss and I was thinking if Sierra would ever recover from her concussion and skull fracture. So, this book almost made me cry. Yes, this book kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know what will happen next.
But, perhaps it would have been better if she had just focused on one school. I would have felt more of an attachment. I felt badly for all the girls who were called "another SFA girl" or whatever school after she names two of them. it was really well-written, but I think, perhaps, it was really over board. I was a bit confused with this book because it kept on going back and fourth with the three teams and with that I didn't know what team she was taking about. I found it easy to care about the main character because she made it straight to the point and didn't put anything but the point. The story was not scary at all because cheer isn't a really scary thing to talk about.
I would recommend girls who like cheerleading or are interested in what cheerleading is. I think this novel deserves a 4 star rating because I kind of got confused on what teams they were talking about but overall it was a good book.
April 3, 2010
My meandering tour of journalism related to female-dominated sports has led me to cheerleading. And, yes, cheerleading is a sport. While competitive college cheerleading in the US is considered an "activity", not a sport (the reasons behind which are very political and very much related to Title IX, which is something I wish the author had covered), anyone who lifts another person above their head deserves to be called an athlete.
Cheer! is an enjoyable read that follows a year in the life of three very different competitive cheerleading teams: the defending National champions in Coed cheerleading; an All-Girl team who came close to a National victory last year and are hoping to strike gold; and a predominantly-black team, who have the moves to hit the big leagues, but not the funding.
Having read some other, piss-poor sports journalism recently (look out for my review of Perfect 10: The UGA GymDogs & the Rise of Women's College Gymnastics in America, if I ever manage to stagger through its crashingly-boring final 100 pages), I have to note the understated ability Kate Torgovnick possesses to turn sports into drama and engage the reader with the sports' participants. Even knowing next-to-nothing about cheerleading and having no visual frame of reference for what a 'Rewind' or an 'Awesome' is, I still found myself invested in each team's competitive outcome.
That's not to say that Torgovnick's writing is without its flaws, however. The author seems a little too hung up on herself and her place in the narrative. Sure, it's cute that a nerdy Jewish girl from New York City becomes an honorary cheerleader over the course of the book, but it deserves to be mentioned about 10x less frequently. This also ties in with the fact that the book -- a hefty 350 pages -- could stand to be a 100 pages shorter. Easily achievable with less of this kind of blather: "and they did this and then I did this and it was so funny because you know I'm just a journalist from New York".
Torgovnick also suffers from Tortured Poet syndrome. I get it: you wanted to be a poet, but you ended up a journalist instead. Torgovnick's lapses into purple prose are just unforgivable, however. Her similes are both nonsensical and melodramatic: a video camera's 'on' light is described as Rudolph's nose (why?), and Torgovnick recounts receiving bad news as having an atomic bomb dropped on her (WHY?).
Perhaps most offensive is her continual inability to describe black and multi-racial people in terms other than coffee. No white character's skin tone is remarked upon, but the multi-racial characters always have "mocha" skin.
Cheer! is a solid, accessible book about men and women with impressive and underrated athletic abilities. Not without its stylistic flaws, it's still worth reading.
Cheer! is an enjoyable read that follows a year in the life of three very different competitive cheerleading teams: the defending National champions in Coed cheerleading; an All-Girl team who came close to a National victory last year and are hoping to strike gold; and a predominantly-black team, who have the moves to hit the big leagues, but not the funding.
Having read some other, piss-poor sports journalism recently (look out for my review of Perfect 10: The UGA GymDogs & the Rise of Women's College Gymnastics in America, if I ever manage to stagger through its crashingly-boring final 100 pages), I have to note the understated ability Kate Torgovnick possesses to turn sports into drama and engage the reader with the sports' participants. Even knowing next-to-nothing about cheerleading and having no visual frame of reference for what a 'Rewind' or an 'Awesome' is, I still found myself invested in each team's competitive outcome.
That's not to say that Torgovnick's writing is without its flaws, however. The author seems a little too hung up on herself and her place in the narrative. Sure, it's cute that a nerdy Jewish girl from New York City becomes an honorary cheerleader over the course of the book, but it deserves to be mentioned about 10x less frequently. This also ties in with the fact that the book -- a hefty 350 pages -- could stand to be a 100 pages shorter. Easily achievable with less of this kind of blather: "and they did this and then I did this and it was so funny because you know I'm just a journalist from New York".
Torgovnick also suffers from Tortured Poet syndrome. I get it: you wanted to be a poet, but you ended up a journalist instead. Torgovnick's lapses into purple prose are just unforgivable, however. Her similes are both nonsensical and melodramatic: a video camera's 'on' light is described as Rudolph's nose (why?), and Torgovnick recounts receiving bad news as having an atomic bomb dropped on her (WHY?).
Perhaps most offensive is her continual inability to describe black and multi-racial people in terms other than coffee. No white character's skin tone is remarked upon, but the multi-racial characters always have "mocha" skin.
Cheer! is a solid, accessible book about men and women with impressive and underrated athletic abilities. Not without its stylistic flaws, it's still worth reading.
November 4, 2015
Book Review
“Cheer!” By Kate Torgovnick
“Cheer!” by Kate Torgovnick is an eye opening book. It gives you a whole new perspective on cheerleaders. Before reading this book, I never realized how much athleticism and pressure goes into cheerleading. In this book you go on an adventure with 3 teams competing for one prize. The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack cheerleaders from Nacogdoches, Texas seem destined to win their fifth National Championship in a row until their coach must leave. The Southern University Jaguars from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an African American team hoping to raise $17,000 to participate at Nationals this year. And finally, the University of Memphis All-Girl cheerleaders from Tennessee hoping to gain as much respect as the Co-ed teams get. Along the way you meet several unforgettable characters. Mary, a freshman flyer at a Texas college talks about how stressful it is to be satisfied with your appearance while participating on a competing cheerleading team. She takes us through her long journey of using cocaine and how she quit. You also meet Sierra Jenkins, a cheerleader on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks who has never lost a competition. And Doug who has been a cheerleader in college for eight years. Kate Torgovnick encounters girls with horrific eating disorders to unimaginable injuries. Getting to experience how much pressure is on cheerleaders is unrealistic. They must maintain a specific body weight and appearance. Cheerleaders fly up to 30 feet in the air and make a harsh landing into their teammates arms. The risks and danger hazards involved include life-long injuries and in some cases even death. Seeing cheerleaders perform seems easy, but to make it look picture perfect is certainly not a piece of cake. Late nights and long hours are put into making their performances look spot on. So much is involved to make sure the flyers are safe. If you don’t get to your assigned position at the correct time you could cause some serious damage and injuries to your teammates and yourself. I would recommend this book to people wanting to know more about what cheerleaders do and how to appreciate all of the time and effort they put into every performance. I would not recommend this book to people who don’t have much background knowledge to what cheerleaders even do because they will find this book very confusing with all of the fancy terms. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like this book, but after getting far enough into it, I started to enjoy it. I liked how Kate Torgovnick told the story through her experience with all three of the teams. She included her opinions, thoughts, and observations as to how the individuals felt and acted.
September 15, 2020
I picked this up because I enjoyed the Netflix series "Cheer", but although the names are the same the book came out much earlier, and also feels less sensationalist than the show.
This is a fun read, in the embedded journalist genre. Kate follows three squads from three different colleges for a season, and you can tell that she is really invested in all of them. They, in turn, treat her as a friend, which opens doors to a scene most of us never experienced.
Two thumbs up, would recommend.
This is a fun read, in the embedded journalist genre. Kate follows three squads from three different colleges for a season, and you can tell that she is really invested in all of them. They, in turn, treat her as a friend, which opens doors to a scene most of us never experienced.
Two thumbs up, would recommend.
March 30, 2015
It must be something of a gamble when authors write this sort of book—Torgovnick followed three cheerleading teams over the course of a year, each team hoping to place (or, really, win) at Nationals. It's higher stakes for the teams, but a risk for the author too...if all three teams were to flop, the ending would be less satisfying than if at least one team—or all three—did well.
I gave the book four stars because I found it to be an engrossing read. It reminded me of Pledged, and I'd recommend it to those who liked Pledged and its ilk. I can't say that I've ever given much thought to cheerleading, frankly, but Torgovnick does a good job of explaining what's going on and keeping the tension high.
That said, I have a couple of big problems with the book. First, there's way too much of the author in here. Some works of nonfiction take well to author placement within the narrative—this is not, apparently, one of them. Torgovnick might have an interesting story, but for all that she is the writer here, this is not her story. I don't need to know what she is feeling thinking doing.
Second, although the writing is good, the descriptions get a little too...creative...in places. Sometimes it's little things (xiii: her eyes coated in purple glitter—really? Her eyes? Not her eyelids? How can she see?). Sometimes it's just really weird comparisons, like suggesting that the University of Miami's team name (the Hurricanes) is analogous to a NYC team calling themselves the Terrorists (246). There's a reference to the unbridled thrill that made Brandi Chastain whip off her soccer uniform (247)...which, noo, she whipped off her shirt (just like male athletes do without provoking any kind of comment). Sorry, but there's a difference. Odd distinctions—when a woman uses the word boobs, the author comments that A beauty pageant winner, I'd expect Jasmine to use the word chest rather than boobs (266). Proofreading gaffes like waivers instead of wavers (281).
If that all sounds like nitpicking...well, it probably is. Minor, but it grated after a while.
There's also a fair amount of contradiction—for all that the author claims that Cheerleaders are not a carrot-stick-and-grilled-chicken-breast kind of crowd (15) and that male bases would rather have a female partner with good muscle control than one who is extremely light, there's an awful lot of discussion of salads and of male cheerleaders complaining that their flyer is 'heavy'. (I would have loved some deeper digging into politics of weight, eating disorders, steroids, etc.—it's touched upon, and not in an insignificant way, but it seems like it's a bigger part than the author really wanted to go into.)
There are some great observations, though. Take this (bold emphasis added):
I could go on—I know I've focused heavily on the negatives in this review, but it was a really fun read. I never had the inclination (nor talent, nor skill!) to cheerlead, but, well, now I desperately want to watch Bring It On. (There's a handy glossary with lots of stunt terms in the back of the book, and I looked several up on YouTube...cripes.) It's interesting, though—for all that the teams talk about being families, etc., they're quick to turn on each other when something goes wrong. I wonder whether many of them truly stay close.
I gave the book four stars because I found it to be an engrossing read. It reminded me of Pledged, and I'd recommend it to those who liked Pledged and its ilk. I can't say that I've ever given much thought to cheerleading, frankly, but Torgovnick does a good job of explaining what's going on and keeping the tension high.
That said, I have a couple of big problems with the book. First, there's way too much of the author in here. Some works of nonfiction take well to author placement within the narrative—this is not, apparently, one of them. Torgovnick might have an interesting story, but for all that she is the writer here, this is not her story. I don't need to know what she is feeling thinking doing.
Second, although the writing is good, the descriptions get a little too...creative...in places. Sometimes it's little things (xiii: her eyes coated in purple glitter—really? Her eyes? Not her eyelids? How can she see?). Sometimes it's just really weird comparisons, like suggesting that the University of Miami's team name (the Hurricanes) is analogous to a NYC team calling themselves the Terrorists (246). There's a reference to the unbridled thrill that made Brandi Chastain whip off her soccer uniform (247)...which, noo, she whipped off her shirt (just like male athletes do without provoking any kind of comment). Sorry, but there's a difference. Odd distinctions—when a woman uses the word boobs, the author comments that A beauty pageant winner, I'd expect Jasmine to use the word chest rather than boobs (266). Proofreading gaffes like waivers instead of wavers (281).
If that all sounds like nitpicking...well, it probably is. Minor, but it grated after a while.
There's also a fair amount of contradiction—for all that the author claims that Cheerleaders are not a carrot-stick-and-grilled-chicken-breast kind of crowd (15) and that male bases would rather have a female partner with good muscle control than one who is extremely light, there's an awful lot of discussion of salads and of male cheerleaders complaining that their flyer is 'heavy'. (I would have loved some deeper digging into politics of weight, eating disorders, steroids, etc.—it's touched upon, and not in an insignificant way, but it seems like it's a bigger part than the author really wanted to go into.)
There are some great observations, though. Take this (bold emphasis added):
The judges open their University of Memphis binders, and I peek over one of their shoulders to look at the score sheet. The first category is Look, where the judges give up to ten points for the cheerleader's appearance. Next, each cheerleader will do a running tumbling pass of their choice for five points. Then they will do the cheer Carol taught them yesterday. They'll be judged both on the cheer itself (five points), for the Toe Touch Back Tuck in the middle (five points), and the group stunt that comes at the end (five points). Finally, in groups of five, they'll perform the fight song, worth five points for the dance and five points for a stunt on the end. Out of all the things the All-Girl hopefuls will do today, their appearance is the single item that counts for the most points. (39)One thing that I've noted in this kind of journalistic book is that the authors sometimes get closer to their subjects than is ideal for an unbiased portrait. There's a tradeoff, of course (you want the subject to trust you, and future subjects to trust you, and thus you don't want to paint them in a lousy light or spill all their secrets), and I suspect it's worth it—but even so, sometimes it's tiring. There is only one cheerleader about whom Torgovnick is unenthusiastic, and he is described as raising a Neanderthal eyebrow (309); a few pages later he lumbers slowly behind her [another cheerleader], walking with his feet first, his arms hung dead at his sides (317). A bit different from the accolades heaped on the rest of the book's cheerleaders.
I could go on—I know I've focused heavily on the negatives in this review, but it was a really fun read. I never had the inclination (nor talent, nor skill!) to cheerlead, but, well, now I desperately want to watch Bring It On. (There's a handy glossary with lots of stunt terms in the back of the book, and I looked several up on YouTube...cripes.) It's interesting, though—for all that the teams talk about being families, etc., they're quick to turn on each other when something goes wrong. I wonder whether many of them truly stay close.
July 25, 2008
I started this book thinking that I would read about the gossip and such of cheerleaders. No, it was really actually about the athletics of cheerleading. I also learned that cheerleading is more than just pep rallies, being mean to fat kids, and such. Ok, probably that’s because this was exclusively about collegiate cheering, but seriously these people should not be called ‘cheer leaders’. They should be called, “high-in-the-air-flippity-floppers”. Sure, there might be a better name, but rather that just do pom-pom stuff they do some amazing stunts, like girls standing on top of other girls shoulders. I would just like to say that my shoulders hurt after a minute or two of Benjamin (my almost two year old nephew, ie a little kid) sitting on my shoulders. I seriously do not think I could carry even an 80 pound girl around while she stood on my shoulders with sneakers. Benjamin’s bum is much softer than a sneaker.
So you know how when you go to the gynecologist you never really totally relax? Even when she says, “Just relax…” and you try, but you are not totally relaxed, ever. Seriously, how can you be? Anyways, one time I went and the nurse was a cheerleader from my jr high school. That girl, I am tempted to name her except for the reason that I will share below, was so mean to me back then that I almost just put my clothes back on and left the doctor’s office. Then I realized that this would be my one chance to moon her and get back at her a little. But for now I always ask and make appointments on days when she is not going to be there.
I did not name her because she was a meanie in jr high. Ok, so I am still scarred by it, but she is probably now a perfectly nice individual. If she isn’t, I’ll let karma take care of that. Also, I’ll bet I know a whole bunch of people who used to be cheerleaders, but they are very nice people and I like them a lot. And, as I ponder upon how people mocked me horribly in jr high and high school (ooo…even now I am getting that scaredy uncomfortable feeling) I realize that it wasn’t just cheerleaders. It was mostly the “popular kids”. Also, the gangster kids. They didn’t like me very much, which I always thought was weird because they wore bandanas and so did I! Why was it so different if they wore them on their heads and I wore mine as a kerchief ‘round my neck, usually with some coordinating plastic beads tied on the homemade fringe?
Ok, so the book: the narrative was awesome. She followed three teams through tryouts, practice, and competition. The teams all had very different dynamics, so they didn’t run together in my brain. And I came out of the book with an actual respect for cheerleaders as people who are dedicated to a sport. That’s weird because for the most part (ok not mostly, but TOTALLY) I just don’t get “sports”. Why are people so revered to running around holding a ball? I can do that. No one ever gave me a car, money, or a medal for it. Maybe I’m better than the people who do it and get paid, but I just never tried, ok?! I think there should be a championship book-reader/quilter/kitty-litter-box-cleaner/junk-mail-recycler sport. I think I would be an all around winner there. Or at least in the top 10 or something.
My one complaint about the book is that is was 345 pages long. I could have gotten the same respect for the cheerleaders in 245 pages. Nevertheless, I enjoyed all 345 pages.
So you know how when you go to the gynecologist you never really totally relax? Even when she says, “Just relax…” and you try, but you are not totally relaxed, ever. Seriously, how can you be? Anyways, one time I went and the nurse was a cheerleader from my jr high school. That girl, I am tempted to name her except for the reason that I will share below, was so mean to me back then that I almost just put my clothes back on and left the doctor’s office. Then I realized that this would be my one chance to moon her and get back at her a little. But for now I always ask and make appointments on days when she is not going to be there.
I did not name her because she was a meanie in jr high. Ok, so I am still scarred by it, but she is probably now a perfectly nice individual. If she isn’t, I’ll let karma take care of that. Also, I’ll bet I know a whole bunch of people who used to be cheerleaders, but they are very nice people and I like them a lot. And, as I ponder upon how people mocked me horribly in jr high and high school (ooo…even now I am getting that scaredy uncomfortable feeling) I realize that it wasn’t just cheerleaders. It was mostly the “popular kids”. Also, the gangster kids. They didn’t like me very much, which I always thought was weird because they wore bandanas and so did I! Why was it so different if they wore them on their heads and I wore mine as a kerchief ‘round my neck, usually with some coordinating plastic beads tied on the homemade fringe?
Ok, so the book: the narrative was awesome. She followed three teams through tryouts, practice, and competition. The teams all had very different dynamics, so they didn’t run together in my brain. And I came out of the book with an actual respect for cheerleaders as people who are dedicated to a sport. That’s weird because for the most part (ok not mostly, but TOTALLY) I just don’t get “sports”. Why are people so revered to running around holding a ball? I can do that. No one ever gave me a car, money, or a medal for it. Maybe I’m better than the people who do it and get paid, but I just never tried, ok?! I think there should be a championship book-reader/quilter/kitty-litter-box-cleaner/junk-mail-recycler sport. I think I would be an all around winner there. Or at least in the top 10 or something.
My one complaint about the book is that is was 345 pages long. I could have gotten the same respect for the cheerleaders in 245 pages. Nevertheless, I enjoyed all 345 pages.
August 9, 2011
How I Came To Read This Book: I think Jen on here read it, that's the first place I saw it...eons ago really.
The Plot: Kate Torgovnick examines the world of American college cheerleading through a journalistic lens over the course of a year. She follows three teams - the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, five-time national champions, considered the 'Yale of cheerleading' despite being a tiny party school in a small Texan town. The Southern University Jaguars - a historically black school with a 'Bring It On' vibe thanks to their money woes and competitive drive. And the University of Memphis All Girls squad - a team that outshines their coed counterparts in competition but is frequently overlooked by the school for support and funding. From tryouts to football cheering to preparing for the national championships, Kate provides glimpses into the three teams from their stunts to their interpersonal relationships to the agony and ecstasy of competition days.
The Good & The Bad: Generally speaking, this is an enjoyable, insightful book. By the nature of the three teams, I found the Lumberjacks and U of Memphis teams the most interesting, because they had the most riding on their competition season - unfortunately the Jaguars story kind of plods along, with their coach's disaffected manner shining through on the pages for an altogether uncheerful story.
That being said, I felt like Torgovnick basically wrote a 300-page feature magazine article. Things come off a little too technical and detached at times, and since we see the 'world' through her eyes, you're often sidelined with her, watching in awe at these impressive if somewhat crazy athletes. I definitely prefer a nonfiction book that embellishes conversations and makes you feel like you're reading a true-life novel - the girls rarely get to say more than a sentence or two in response to a direct question asked by Torgovnick, so it comes off very journalistic instead of a strong work of storytelling.
There's also a LOT of technical language in there. My experience with cheerleading is limited to movies and television (including the fantastic docu-series 'Cheerleader Nation'!) so a lot of the terminology took some time to wrap my head around, although I was surprised at how much of it I *did* know despite not ever cheering myself. I definitely recommend looking up some of the championship footage from the last few years to get a feel for what she's referring to - even then, I still felt like some of the sections were just so dense with play-by-play descriptions of the routines, it was a little dry to get through.
That being said, it was an insightful, sometimes dramatic take on college cheerleading. Some of the injuries, body issues, and personal drama was pretty surprising. And I stayed up late two nights in a row, biting my nails during the U of M and SAF teams' performances at Nationals. I also see on GR here that this book served as the inspiration for that terrible 'Hellcats' TV show.
The Bottom Line: A little technical for the average Joe, but a mostly interesting, feature-length feature-magazine article.
Anything Memorable?: If you want to watch the team's performances, check out Kate's Vimeo account - http://vimeo.com/662324 or visit cheerthebook.com!
60-Book Challenge?: Book #60 in 2011
The Plot: Kate Torgovnick examines the world of American college cheerleading through a journalistic lens over the course of a year. She follows three teams - the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, five-time national champions, considered the 'Yale of cheerleading' despite being a tiny party school in a small Texan town. The Southern University Jaguars - a historically black school with a 'Bring It On' vibe thanks to their money woes and competitive drive. And the University of Memphis All Girls squad - a team that outshines their coed counterparts in competition but is frequently overlooked by the school for support and funding. From tryouts to football cheering to preparing for the national championships, Kate provides glimpses into the three teams from their stunts to their interpersonal relationships to the agony and ecstasy of competition days.
The Good & The Bad: Generally speaking, this is an enjoyable, insightful book. By the nature of the three teams, I found the Lumberjacks and U of Memphis teams the most interesting, because they had the most riding on their competition season - unfortunately the Jaguars story kind of plods along, with their coach's disaffected manner shining through on the pages for an altogether uncheerful story.
That being said, I felt like Torgovnick basically wrote a 300-page feature magazine article. Things come off a little too technical and detached at times, and since we see the 'world' through her eyes, you're often sidelined with her, watching in awe at these impressive if somewhat crazy athletes. I definitely prefer a nonfiction book that embellishes conversations and makes you feel like you're reading a true-life novel - the girls rarely get to say more than a sentence or two in response to a direct question asked by Torgovnick, so it comes off very journalistic instead of a strong work of storytelling.
There's also a LOT of technical language in there. My experience with cheerleading is limited to movies and television (including the fantastic docu-series 'Cheerleader Nation'!) so a lot of the terminology took some time to wrap my head around, although I was surprised at how much of it I *did* know despite not ever cheering myself. I definitely recommend looking up some of the championship footage from the last few years to get a feel for what she's referring to - even then, I still felt like some of the sections were just so dense with play-by-play descriptions of the routines, it was a little dry to get through.
That being said, it was an insightful, sometimes dramatic take on college cheerleading. Some of the injuries, body issues, and personal drama was pretty surprising. And I stayed up late two nights in a row, biting my nails during the U of M and SAF teams' performances at Nationals. I also see on GR here that this book served as the inspiration for that terrible 'Hellcats' TV show.
The Bottom Line: A little technical for the average Joe, but a mostly interesting, feature-length feature-magazine article.
Anything Memorable?: If you want to watch the team's performances, check out Kate's Vimeo account - http://vimeo.com/662324 or visit cheerthebook.com!
60-Book Challenge?: Book #60 in 2011
February 18, 2017
This book is not as scandal-filled as I had hoped. I suppose the worksheets for book club/class use found at the back of the book should have tipped me off. Sample question: "Before devoting an afternoon to community service at a retirement home, Casi mentions she might lose her job on account of missing so much work for cheer practice. Later, Kristen mentions missing a friend's wedding for a cheerleading commitment. Cheerleading, it seems, always takes precedence over the rest of a cheerleader's life. What other examples of this did you find in this book?"
The author, who writes regularly for the New York Times, mentions often how unpretty she feels around the 19-year-old athletes. Almost the entire time I read this book I felt like I was inhabiting the body of the frumpy dorky girl from school whose latest obsession is nerding out on cheerleading. The author obviously yearns to be included rather than just report on events. When I wasn't reading the diary of the reporter I was racking my brain to remember what a "double full" looked like.
Author Torgovnick explains each move and then painstakingly repeats the routines, move by excruciating move, to you throughout the book in an awe-inspired tone. This is terribly dull for readers who were more interested in hearing about eating disorders and intra-team sex drama. Maybe a little steroid use. God, I miss after school specials.
The paltry amount of photos she includes just upholds my vision of her as uber-fangirl, they are mostly obsessively close-up shots of team members doing things like "screaming her heart out." Now I remember why I let my New York Times weekend subscription lapse.
The author, who writes regularly for the New York Times, mentions often how unpretty she feels around the 19-year-old athletes. Almost the entire time I read this book I felt like I was inhabiting the body of the frumpy dorky girl from school whose latest obsession is nerding out on cheerleading. The author obviously yearns to be included rather than just report on events. When I wasn't reading the diary of the reporter I was racking my brain to remember what a "double full" looked like.
Author Torgovnick explains each move and then painstakingly repeats the routines, move by excruciating move, to you throughout the book in an awe-inspired tone. This is terribly dull for readers who were more interested in hearing about eating disorders and intra-team sex drama. Maybe a little steroid use. God, I miss after school specials.
The paltry amount of photos she includes just upholds my vision of her as uber-fangirl, they are mostly obsessively close-up shots of team members doing things like "screaming her heart out." Now I remember why I let my New York Times weekend subscription lapse.
July 30, 2013
Color me surprised, I actually had an emotional experience from a book about three teams of competitive cheerleaders. Before this book, I'd rarely taken the time to think about cheerleading competitive or otherwise. I actually just picked up this book because I heard the new CW show Hellcats is based at least somewhat on this book. But it blew me away, I read it in like two or three days. Torgovnick takes the reader on a journey following the Memphis All Girl, Stephen F. Austin Co-ed, and Southern squads through their successes, failures, and near misses. Something happened to me throughout this book, I found myself lost in the pages hoping that Southern would miraculously find more people for their squad, or that Sierra would recover from her concussion and skull fracture (I stopped for several hours at that point.) I even found myself wanting SFA to take home the cheerleading title because Torgovnick made me as the reader feel emotionally invested in these people. That is the mark of an excellent writer and journalist. One had critiqued that she let herself become part of the book at some points, which is bad for journalism. To feel is to be human and after hanging out with these girls, I don't know how anyone would not find themselves becoming emotionally invested in these teams, even on the small level Torgovnick does.
There is also something sad about "Cheer" from the stories of Mary and Ashley who where doing cocaine and anorexic respectively because they weren't thin enough to be cheerleaders. Even the successful cheerleaders seem to speak of cheerleading as a sickness or addiction at some points like towards the end of one the sections on Memphis, I believe one of the girls passes a twelve year old in full cheerleading uniform and says something like "Sometimes, I just want to walk over to her and tell her to get out while she still can." This certainly isn't the picture of the smiling never ending ball of pep that I always had running through my head...
There is also something sad about "Cheer" from the stories of Mary and Ashley who where doing cocaine and anorexic respectively because they weren't thin enough to be cheerleaders. Even the successful cheerleaders seem to speak of cheerleading as a sickness or addiction at some points like towards the end of one the sections on Memphis, I believe one of the girls passes a twelve year old in full cheerleading uniform and says something like "Sometimes, I just want to walk over to her and tell her to get out while she still can." This certainly isn't the picture of the smiling never ending ball of pep that I always had running through my head...
July 14, 2008
i think this book would have been stronger if she had chosen three teams from the same division (though it's still unclear to me if Southern would have competed against SFA). while i enjoyed seeing the differences in the squads, i wanted more comparison. i also wished there was a companion dvd so i could see the stunts and the team perform, even though the author does a fairly good job of describing some of the stunts.
i liked that it took cheerleading to the level of a NCAA sport, all the while talking about why it isn't a "sport" and how it's looked down on. i swear, my heart stopped when sierra fell from her basket toss, and the dedication - you really get a sense of how this is an addiction for them.
the endings of the three schools were bitter-sweet - or just bitter, and that's probably why i can't give it four stars. it left me sad. i know this is sports, i know this is real life, but part of me did want the "bring it on" movie aspect to it. and oh, how i FELT for the girls that fumbled their routines!
(i also think james brown is a total jack-ass and wished someone had said something to that effect.)
perhaps it would have been better if she had just focused on one school . . . you would have felt more of an attachment. i felt badly for all the girls who were called "another SFA girl" or whatever school after she names two of them. it was well-written, but i think, perhaps, a little over-ambitious.
i liked that it took cheerleading to the level of a NCAA sport, all the while talking about why it isn't a "sport" and how it's looked down on. i swear, my heart stopped when sierra fell from her basket toss, and the dedication - you really get a sense of how this is an addiction for them.
the endings of the three schools were bitter-sweet - or just bitter, and that's probably why i can't give it four stars. it left me sad. i know this is sports, i know this is real life, but part of me did want the "bring it on" movie aspect to it. and oh, how i FELT for the girls that fumbled their routines!
(i also think james brown is a total jack-ass and wished someone had said something to that effect.)
perhaps it would have been better if she had just focused on one school . . . you would have felt more of an attachment. i felt badly for all the girls who were called "another SFA girl" or whatever school after she names two of them. it was well-written, but i think, perhaps, a little over-ambitious.
November 18, 2010
Kate Torgovnick follows three different college cheer squads through a year of training, cheering and competition – two co-ed squads – one former championship team and one from an all-Black school and an all-girls cheer squad.
After a background of the history of cheerleading in the United States, Torgovnick introduces us to the men and women that she will be following for her story.
All of the cheerleaders are devoted athletes – despite what many think. They work out both aerobically and with weights on a regular basis. The do high-energy gymnastics and dance routines and build high and dangerous pyramids during 3-4 minutes musical routines. In addition to devoting time to train for cheerleading competitions, they regularly cheer at athletic events – for athletes who don’t consider what they do a sport. (It’s not a recognized sport at any college at the time the book was written.)
Torgovnick does a great job of making you root for each of the teams. As I read the story of each time, I realized the dedication and love for the sport that each team member must have to continue on with the sport. At one point, one of the girls is injured, but the injury isn’t recognized for its severity right away and has near-tragic results for her. I found myself incredulous and furious that her coach, a former cheerleader herself, didn’t recognize the potential problem quickly enough.
A very intriguing book and great inside look into the world of cheerleading.
After a background of the history of cheerleading in the United States, Torgovnick introduces us to the men and women that she will be following for her story.
All of the cheerleaders are devoted athletes – despite what many think. They work out both aerobically and with weights on a regular basis. The do high-energy gymnastics and dance routines and build high and dangerous pyramids during 3-4 minutes musical routines. In addition to devoting time to train for cheerleading competitions, they regularly cheer at athletic events – for athletes who don’t consider what they do a sport. (It’s not a recognized sport at any college at the time the book was written.)
Torgovnick does a great job of making you root for each of the teams. As I read the story of each time, I realized the dedication and love for the sport that each team member must have to continue on with the sport. At one point, one of the girls is injured, but the injury isn’t recognized for its severity right away and has near-tragic results for her. I found myself incredulous and furious that her coach, a former cheerleader herself, didn’t recognize the potential problem quickly enough.
A very intriguing book and great inside look into the world of cheerleading.
February 25, 2009
There is much more to cheerleading than the perky smiles, short skirts, and pom-poms. Cheer! by Kate Torgovnick delves deep into the inner-workings of three cheer squads from three very different colleges and follows them from try-outs to championships, while exposing the dangers, the controversies, and the drama that surounds and at times plagues squads around the world.
Cheer! is a fun and interesting book about a subculture I know very little about. I found myself actually caring about the cheerleaders presented in the book, which surprised me slightly. I didn't expect to feel for these men and women in the way that I did. I certainly didn't expect to root for them.
Torgovnick portrays the cheerleaders honestly--highlighting faults and strengths---making them very real to the reader, especially readers who may only know cheerleaders through the many stereotypes.
Recommended, even for those that don't care for this type of non-fiction, as it's very readable and fast paced with enough detail and dramatic moments to hold interest.
Cheer! is a fun and interesting book about a subculture I know very little about. I found myself actually caring about the cheerleaders presented in the book, which surprised me slightly. I didn't expect to feel for these men and women in the way that I did. I certainly didn't expect to root for them.
Torgovnick portrays the cheerleaders honestly--highlighting faults and strengths---making them very real to the reader, especially readers who may only know cheerleaders through the many stereotypes.
Recommended, even for those that don't care for this type of non-fiction, as it's very readable and fast paced with enough detail and dramatic moments to hold interest.
October 15, 2008
I heard about this book from an unlikely source: Backpacker magazine. I'm not sure why they decided this book fit in with the outdoor-adventure-themed books they usually review, but I'm glad they did.
I really enjoyed this book. At UW, band and cheer are both in the same division of the athletic department, and we traveled together. I even knew some band folks that got into cheer because of this relationship. So, as someone that was aware of the world of competitive college cheerleeding from a peripheral perspective, this book took me a bit deeper.
Torgovnick's storytelling is compelling. I'm not sure this book will be as universally interesting as it was to me, but I thought it was worth a read. Certainly, if you think there's nothing more to cheerleading than waving pom-poms on the sideline at football games, this should widen your horizons a bit.
I really enjoyed this book. At UW, band and cheer are both in the same division of the athletic department, and we traveled together. I even knew some band folks that got into cheer because of this relationship. So, as someone that was aware of the world of competitive college cheerleeding from a peripheral perspective, this book took me a bit deeper.
Torgovnick's storytelling is compelling. I'm not sure this book will be as universally interesting as it was to me, but I thought it was worth a read. Certainly, if you think there's nothing more to cheerleading than waving pom-poms on the sideline at football games, this should widen your horizons a bit.
September 30, 2009
Wow! What a great read! Okay, I admit I did my share of crowd yelling and spirit fingers back in high school. But I think this is a great read for anyone wondering what those girls are thinking during the cheer championships on TV. The author (who skipped school during all the pep rallies in high school) follows three very different college squads. One coed squad is used to winning championships and they have the financial support to prove it. One black coed squad has no financial support, but wows other teams at camp. Finally, one all-girl squad is trying to win the love that coed squads receive. Through all these stories, Torgovnick uses great sports writing to suck us into the lives of these cheerleaders. I read half the book and looked up to see that it was 2 am. That's the sign of good storytelling!
November 26, 2015
I've always been fascinated by competitive gymnasts, dancers, and cheerleaders... probably because I ABSOLUTELY cannot do what they do, and I always wished I could. (True story: I got kicked out of gymnastics when I was a little kid because I couldn't ever do a cartwheel.) So this book was right up my alley: all about the injuries, emotional turmoil, competitiveness, and athletic genius that go into competitive cheerleading at the collegiate level. Kate Torgovnick's decision to follow three college teams, though it probably yielded different results than she originally anticipated, provided a lot of perspective on the realities of the sport. There were moments when the narrative dragged and when the cheerleaders' behavior and personalities started to wear, but overall it was a really interesting read.
September 5, 2009
Ready? Okay!
I must start by saying that I am not now, nor have I ever been a cheerleader (but I have been known to watch cheerleading competitions on ESPN...it's a guilty pleasure). In my high school, they were pretty wimpy (or slutty - whatever). Now, if'd they'dve been like the girls in this book, I would have had so much more respect. This was a pretty good book overall.
I thought it was telling that all three teams were trying to win Nationals, but none of them did (...ok SFA did, but only on a technicality). These girls are tough, and while I understand the mental focus needed to perform on this level, you will never catch me doing a basket toss or anything else where I have to throw myself (or be thrown) into the air. Sorry. Not for me. I'll just read about it. :)
I must start by saying that I am not now, nor have I ever been a cheerleader (but I have been known to watch cheerleading competitions on ESPN...it's a guilty pleasure). In my high school, they were pretty wimpy (or slutty - whatever). Now, if'd they'dve been like the girls in this book, I would have had so much more respect. This was a pretty good book overall.
I thought it was telling that all three teams were trying to win Nationals, but none of them did (...ok SFA did, but only on a technicality). These girls are tough, and while I understand the mental focus needed to perform on this level, you will never catch me doing a basket toss or anything else where I have to throw myself (or be thrown) into the air. Sorry. Not for me. I'll just read about it. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2008
A fascinating looking inside the world of competitive college cheerleading. If you think that cheerleaders are just cute blondes who wave pom-poms on the sidelines of games, your assumptions will be both challenged and shattered by this book.
Cheer follows three teams in their pursuit of a national championship in college cheerleading. Along the way, we'll meet the coaches behind the teams and the members who make up each team. You'll see their triumphs and failures as they work toward their ultimate goal.
If you don't think cheerleaders are athletes, read this book. You'll come away with a new respect for what they do and the hard work it takes.
Cheer follows three teams in their pursuit of a national championship in college cheerleading. Along the way, we'll meet the coaches behind the teams and the members who make up each team. You'll see their triumphs and failures as they work toward their ultimate goal.
If you don't think cheerleaders are athletes, read this book. You'll come away with a new respect for what they do and the hard work it takes.
July 27, 2011
I have never been a cheerleader but this book took me right inside the action, explaining things so even (clueless) I could understand and picture what was going on in my head. I have such respect (some of it newfound) for cheerleaders particularly at the collegiate level now. This book was so enjoyable and so well-paced that I actually stayed up til 3 in the morning because I couldn't bear to put it down--I just HAD to know what happened next! You'll like this even if you've never enjoyed cheering or know nothing about it. Informative and fun, one of the best nonfiction books I've read and one of the best books I've read in a long time!
September 2, 2008
This book less unpacks the stereotype that cheerleaders are nitwits and more adjusts it to a general sense that cheerleaders are really athletic nitwits. Sadly, I think Ms. Torgovnick was going for the former, and I would really have expected more from her (for those of you who read Jane magazine, I'm pretty sure she was the one who always did the stories where she was an amateur stripper for a week, or had to only tell the truth for a week, or had to be Amish for a week). How the mighty have fallen. Or risen. Or something.
October 11, 2008
I like books explaining subcultures I know nothing about, and this book about competitive college cheerleading definitely fit into that category (my college didn't even have cheerleaders, and my knowledge of the sport was pretty much limited to the stereotypes). The writer followed three very different teams through their seasons, from tryouts to end-of-the-year competitions, along the way explaining the culture of the sport and what drives the men and women who participate despite the risk of serious injury.
December 22, 2008
i really enjoyed this book, but mostly because i am a former cheerleader. i'm not sure how much this would appeal to people who don't understand cheer-lingo (descriptions of stunting etc.), however a helpful hint is to search for these schools squads on you tube. then you can understand how amazingly cool and insane some of the things these kids do.
overall, a great peek into what it's like to be a cheerleader, especially a competitive one. and i bit my nails down to nothing during the last few chapters at nationals.
overall, a great peek into what it's like to be a cheerleader, especially a competitive one. and i bit my nails down to nothing during the last few chapters at nationals.
September 9, 2010
If you don't know a girl involved in competitive cheerleading, you will soon. This is a look at one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., particularly in the South. It follows three teams of college cheerleaders as they prepare for the Nationals competition. I think that if you are not familiar with the jargon of competitive cheerleading, you may get lost with the author's descriptions. I also think it might have been a little better if the author had narrowed her focus down a bit. Overall, a very exciting and informative look at this very physical and sometimes dangerous sport.
March 23, 2011
I'm giving this three stars because the writing was fairly pedestrian and I thought the author needed more techniques than just inserting her own emotions into the narrative all over the place (I mean, yes, it's important to show that she got emotionally involved in the teams' journeys, but change it up a little), but overall an enjoyable and interesting read, and I'm glad to know more about the sport. (NCAA aside, I think it's pretty clear that cheerleading is a sport.) I think I bored my friends while watching Bring It On by talking about the difference between NCA and UCA competitions.
April 23, 2011
Color me surprised, I actually had an emotional experience from a book about three teams of competitive cheerleaders. Before this book, I'd rarely taken the time to think about cheerleading competitive or otherwise. I actually just picked up this book because I heard the new CW show Hellcats is based at least somewhat on this book. But it blew me away, I read it in like two or three days. Torgovnick takes the reader on a journey following the Memphis All Girl, Stephen F. Austin Co-ed, and Southern squads through their successes, failures, and near misses.
B-
B-
September 26, 2012
Cheer! by Kate Torgovnick follows three college cheerleading teams from tryouts to nationals while exploring the triumphs and trials of what it means to be a cheerleader. As someone from the Northeast, it was fascinating on its own to read about people from the South and Southwest because that in itself is like a totally foreign culture to me. Then add the cheerleading obsession to it and it’s like reading about people on a different planet. It wasn’t the best piece of non-fiction I’ve ever read, but I like reading about American subcultures so this fit the bid perfectly.
Read
November 5, 2016Torgovnick's editor at Jane magazine assigned her a story on the rise of cheerleading-based injuries, and the reporter was sucked into a subculture whose members were more obsessive and competitive than she had ever imagined. A book on the college cheerleading scene was essential, she decided, so she followed cheerleaders and their squads at Stephen F. Austin University, Southern University and the University of Memphis through the trials and tribulations of tryouts, the 2006-07 football season and finally the NCAA Nationals competitions.
June 11, 2008
My interest level in cheerleading falls somewhere between soap carving and French politics, but I read a good review and took a chance. And this book had me riveted; when I got to the final chapters, I had to postpone everything else so I could finish it. Would the all-girl team stick their pyramid? Would the plucky but underfunded team make it to Nationals? Would the champs overcome injuries to prevail? It proves that a good writer can make anything fascinating.
November 10, 2008
Like Pledge, which takes an inside look at sorority life, Cheer! focuses on competitive cheerleading, a strange corner of femininity I have never inhabited.
An engrossing, if alien read.
I stayed up way, way too late, reading about three cheerleading teams trying to make it to national championships. Would they make it? Would they do all their stunts flawlessly?
Some of the suspense came from how lethal a failed stunt could be. Yikes! I had no idea cheering had so much peril.
An engrossing, if alien read.
I stayed up way, way too late, reading about three cheerleading teams trying to make it to national championships. Would they make it? Would they do all their stunts flawlessly?
Some of the suspense came from how lethal a failed stunt could be. Yikes! I had no idea cheering had so much peril.
November 25, 2008
I'm fascinated with competitive cheerleading, so I liked this book! The whole culture is interesting to me. However, it got a little long winded at times. Torgovnick occasionally took several paragraphs to describe a stunt, and honestly, I have a hard time picturing it. So I kind of skipped and just browsed paragraphs here and there. I got the idea, but I couldn't keep paying attention.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews