I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader

Cheerleader Trilogy #1

by Kieran Scott

Annisa Gobrowski has a problem - everyone at her new Florida high school is blonde. If Annisa's New Jersey attitude didn't make her stand out enough, her dark pixie cut sure does. Yet no lack of golden highlights is going to stop Annisa from making the best of Sand Dune High, especially once she checks out their competition-level cheerleading squad, and her uberhot, guitar-playing new neighbor Daniel.

But a disastrous first day during which Annisa accidentally breaks the nose of the most popular girl in school, ticks off Daniel's girlfriend for even existing, and discovers the cheerleaders all hate her is almost enough to make a girl run for a box of Herbal Essences Amazon Gold. Nevertheless, the cheerleader in Annisa just won't let her quit. Sand Dune High had better watch out--this non-blonde is here to stay.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Sports

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2005

About the author

Kieran Scott is the author of domestic suspense and mystery novels including WISH YOU WERE GONE, REGRETS ONLY and PEOPLE WILL TALK. She has also written several young adult novels, both under her own name and for Alloy Entertainment under the pseudonym Kate Brian. These include the New York Times best-selling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, as well as MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS and many others. She grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, attended Rutgers University, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons and one goofy dog.

Reviews

[nini ♥︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

STOP I FORGOT I READ THIS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL 😭 the memories…I ate this shit up.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anisa is a brunette, transferred from New Jersey to Florida during the middle of the school year. She starts attending a new school, where apparently every female is blond--except one. The school also boasts a competitive cheerleading squad that is in the running for a national title.

When Anisa runs into the guidance counselor at the convience store, getting a pint or two of ice cream after a horrible first day, two of the girls are kicked off the squad for smoking. Everyone assumes Anisa ratted them out to create room on the squad for her, but she tries out to become a cheerleader anyway. And makes the squad.

If you're expected a book that delves new ground in the fish out of water and outsider genre, you're not going to really find it here. But if you're looking for a fun, breezy and entertaining book that hits all the right notes, then you'll probably enjoy this one.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

This is an early work by Kieran Scott, and while I thought it was decent, it’s nowhere near as good as her later stuff.

Part of the problem might be me as a reader. I was never a cheerleader and didn’t have any interest in cheerleading in high school. That, compounded by the fact that at my high school, cheerleaders weren’t popular at all, made it a somewhat strange reading experience for me. It was weird to read about classic stereotypical, snotty, popular cheerleaders, when the reality of my high school experience was so different.

I do like the Jersey rep - especially the dig about terrible drivers in NJ.

Overall cute, but definitely not my favorite by this author.

[Aja]

The book I recently finished reading is called I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott. This is a fictional book that focuses around something everyone can relate to, friendship and how worst enemies can become best friends.

The main character in this book is Annisa Gobrowski who has moved around about six or seven times throughout her life. She and her family are currently living in San dune, Florida. Which almost there entire population is blonde (hints the title of the book). She has a terrible first day involving being humiliated in front of her geometry class, being one of the two non-blonde people in the school, breaking Tara timothy’s (most popular girl in school-cheerleading captain) nose, and outshining her English class (something you never want to do your first day). Then on her second day she tried out for two emergency cheerleading spots to be part of the SDH [San Dune High:] fighting crabs cheerleading team.

This book is extremely interesting enemies become friends. Friends become stronger friends then break-up get back together. And she gets the guy or her dreams. I would recommend this book to any one who likes cheerleading [like myself- the reason I even picked it up:] this is one of my favorite books it didn’t take me that long to finish it but longer than it should have

While reading this book I was inspired and am now going back to coaching stunts for The South End Titans cheerleading team. This book has inspired a lot of people my friends in Florida who read this book followed Annisa and joined the cheerleading team even though some of them didn’t like her.

This book has taught me to follow my dreams and not to let anyone or anything get in my way. I know what I’ve come to do and I will do it as long as I’m allowed.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was realy awsome! I felt exactly like this girl because I am a non-blonde cheerleader. It realy teaches you to be who you are and not who everyone wants you to be are to try to be like everyone else. It teaches you to just be yourself and thats all that matters. I loved this book and i would reconmend it to all teen cheerleaders who are not blonde are just anyother girl out there looking for a good book! :)

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a Non Blonde Cheerleader is the most hilarious book I've ever come in contact with. Kieran Scott takes the classic "new girl and popular hot guy" situation and turns it into a hilarious read that will leave your sides aching. It also delves into the "rawer" side of being a teenager: biting romance, testing friendships, and of course, winning cheerleading competitions.

[Juniper Shore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plastic cover of my copy advertises itself as a "SPLASHPROOF BEACH READ," which is a fair description of the book. This isn't a particularly deep or moving novel, though it occasionally hints at serious issues in the background of the plot. For the most part, it's like one of the better teen series on CW. There are mean girls and parties, fighting and making-up with friends and a lot of swooning over cute boys. Our heroes are just a little nicer and more adult than teenage girls really are, but what's wrong with that?

As the story opens our heroine, Annisa, has just moved from New Jersey to Florida and started classes in a new high school. For the first few chapters the plot reads like a typical dorky-new-girl-has-trouble-fitting-in narrative. But then things take a twist: Annisa, who has cheerleading experience, tries out for the squad. And The Plot Thickens.

The narration is consistently good-humored and pleasant to read. Even the worst villains in the story aren't so horrible as to dampen the light tone, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. The romance is believable, the comedy is handled well, and Scott has employed her insider cheerleading knowledge to good effect. The only major flaw in the book is its title--I passed up on reading this at least twice because of its terrible name.

Five stars for excellent entertainment and a cast I enjoyed spending time with.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed this book because it had very relative things that you can see happening. It relates to our school becasue many other students might do the same. Copying others and trying to blend in. Instead, this book will make you get inspired to pop out of the crowd. That is one reason I really like this book. Annisa Grobrowski was the main character. She had burnette hair, and was also new to her high school. She found out everyone dyed there hair BLONDE! How crazy!?! She was new and probaly had a hard time if it was me. Instead, she doesn't dye her hair like others. She just be's herself. I know there is 2 more editions. I would want to read the next two. If you want to know how she deals with all this pretty delcious drama go ahead and pick it up! :)

[Cloie Rainilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
My friend let me borrow this book, and I found it very easy going and enjoyable. Sure there was a lot of drama, but it wasn't enough to give me a headache. I really liked the main character's personality and for some reason I especially liked the character Mindy. Don't know why, I just did. One thing that surprised me was finding out the age of Annisa. I was shocked to find out she was a sophomore. I was so sure that she was my age. She just seemed older. Anyways that's besides the point. The setting was cool and the story was nice. There were a few things that bugged me, but they're not all that important. I liked this book and I'll probably eventually read the rest of the series.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annisa moves to Florida, and is horrified to discover everyone at her new school is blonde. But she won't let the blondeness stop her from trying out for the cheerleading squad, not the blondeness, or a series of mishaps that include breaking the nose of the team leader!
I enjoyed this light story of a determined girl with can-do spirit!

[Cathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from New Jersey and being a "non-blonde", I really enjoyed this book. It was nice, light reading and PG-13 in content. There was some of the typical "mean girls" business but nothing too heavy or dramatic. I've since recommended it to my nieces and their friends.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great !!! After reading through 10 pages i fell in love! I was a non blonde cheerleader was probably one of my favorite books ever . It was totally relatable and i loved the authors note !

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hilarious. It showed a lot about being in high school and fitting in, though it made everything seem more funny with its witty remarks and crazy attitudes of everyone in it.

[Shireen Zehra · Rating 5 out of 5]

i luved it it waz reely good even if it doesnt look like it. dont judge a book by its cover!:D

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved doing a re-read of this one!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tuesday 10/29 - 70 mins

[Monica Caldicott]

Sophomore Annisa has moved from New Jersey to Florida, where she gets off on the wrong foot almost immediately, especially with the cheerleading squad. She attracts one girl's boyfriend, moves into another's recently vacated home, and hits a third in the nose with a door. So when she makes the squad, the welcome mat is not exactly out. Her most visible difference is her dark, short hair; even the team's African American coach is a blonde.

Annisa, a New Jersey transplant, quickly realizes that she is the only brunette in her Florida high school full of glamorous blondes. Whether natural or bottle, none of these Barbie-doll clones are interested in Annisa, except to put her down about her looks. To make matters worse, her new best friend is a punk rebel, she is falling for a popular girl's boyfriend, and she accidentally breaks the nose of the captain of the cheerleading team. When a spot opens up on the squad, Annisa decides to go for it, even though most of the team already hates her. 

[Jasmine Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my full review of "I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader" on my review blog:

https://readinginsomnia.wordpress.com...

Give me a C! Give me a R! Give me an A! Give me a B! Give me an S! What does that spell?! CRABS! That’s right they all have crabs!

Just kidding, no one in this chick-lit has crabs but they definitely have the crabs spirit! In “I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader” by Kieran Scott, Annisa Gobrowski is a new resident of Florida and a new student at Sand Dune High, home of the Fighting Crabs! This book was filled with humor, teen drama, and lots and LOTS of BLONDES! Supposedly, every girl in the school, even the teachers, have blonde hair (natural or peroxide) except for Annisa’s first real friend Bethany who has purple hair. I’m not sure if its the girls who all have blonde hair or the guys too, but either way it seems highly unrealistic, in my opinion.

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book desperately wants to be a statement about teen superficiality on both sides of the hot/weirdo schism but it mostly skips over the real depth in its POV character. I reread it because I randomly remembered the vague idea of it, did some quicky googling, and found a free online copy to read. Glad I got my first book of the year down, but I do wish it was the book it wanted to be instead of a book as shallow as the teen culture it condemns. Three stars for a tight little plot with appropriately executed stakes and foreshadowing, but for a title so much about a character, that's the thing you don't get.

[n🫶🏽 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole everyone-in-school-is-blond thing was far-fetched and ridiculous, but I wasn't exactly looking for a serious read here so I can't complain. Too much. I mean it would have been nice if the love interest was developed at all, or if he at least had some sort of personality so the romance was something other than insta-attraction. But he wasn't in the book that much so it wasn't too painful.
And can I just say, I don't care how much of a bitch a girl is, you don't fantasize about stealing her boyfriend away from her, especially when you don't even know the guy. Seriously.

[Addison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this book was okay and TBH I'm only here for the stupid high school drama to get me pumped up for school. Cause it's starts in like a week. And I'm not ready. At all. But anyone this book was kinda cute, kinda okay, but didn't stand out to me in any way. Except for the fact that in Annisa's school every girl is blonde. Creepy.

[Crimelpoint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Świetna książka. Jednak z pierwszych, które przeczytałam. Wciąga od pierwszych stron, jest ciekawa i lekka. Zrozumiały i prosty język sprawia, że czyta się ją bardzo szybko.
Nie brak tu śmiesznych momentów, ale też wzruszających. Choć jest to pozycja trochę naciągana i nierealna, to jednak idealna dla nastolatek.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Annisa is one of the most believable heroines I've experienced lately. Sure, some things are stereotypical and fluffy and overblown but honestly, anything well-written is enjoyable. Sometimes we need a little simple fluff.

[Lauren Lassiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of this book was really a three star, but the first time I ever opened this book was on a beach trip at my grandmother’s. I never finished the book until now. Five stars all around for being the book that brought me back to my childhood and to her. I miss her everyday. ❣️

[Rich Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh this was kind of a formulaic YA about a teenager seeking to fit in and connect with the popular crowd.There was nothing that really grabbed my attention.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wanted something fluffy and this certainly delivered 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Kayla Plutzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. This was one of my favorite series for awhile. I loved this.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining quick read. Stereotypical teenage stuff, and super white-centric, but it was good. Definitely need to read more diverse stuff, though.

[fatima]

wait the titles in this series r so funny... and they say girls with brown hair cant wear jeans 😴😴

[Zakiiyah]

i love it