Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk deliver a tightrope-taut "will-they, won't-they" YA rom-com with gay shenanigans, queer longing, and a lovable found family in this excellent stand-alone follow-up to Call Your Boyfriend.
Cheer captain Davie (high school senior, white, lesbian) must get her squad, the Hornets, to nationals to earn a specific scholarship. The funding needed to attend, however, is threatened after the school board alleges that the all-queer crew "is discriminating against... heterosexuals"--Davie must "diversify" or lose the money.
Cheer isn't on new girl Kendall's mind--until "dreamy" Davie asks her to join. Kendall (senior, Black, and not known at this school as bi), is warmly welcomed by a "hella affirming" queer and gender non-conforming squad. She's drawn to Davie, but when the two finally kiss, Davie panics, and Kendall learns she was chosen to be their "token straight." Now Kendall must wear a "heterosexual nose-and-mustache" and only make out with Davie in secret. As Kendall crumbles under this yo-yo romance, Davie realizes she is "hurting a queer girl while trying to keep other queer kids from getting hurt." The choice is clear: lose the squad or lose the girl.
Cole and Woodfolk build a beautifully complex relationship between Davie and Kendall. They are affectionately disarmed by each other as they work through who they are, both inside and outside the Hornets. The compelling plot includes competition against rival squads, a close-knit sister relationship, protests, drag queen fun, and plentiful splits, stunts, people pyramids, and chants. Teen fans of Bring It On and But I'm a Cheerleader simply must check out this spirited high-flier. --Samantha Zaboski, freelance editor and reviewer