I WAS A NON-BLONDE CHEERLEADER

The excellent writing in this new offering from Scott, who wrote The V Club (2004) as Kate Brian, belies its silly title. Sophomore Annisa Gobrowski has moved from New Jersey to Florida, and experiences a disastrous first day at Sand Dune High School where every girl in the school is blonde. She makes quick friends with the school outcast and attracts the attention of a wonderful boy, but inadvertently alienates all of the popular girls. Alas, all of them are members of the school’s crack cheerleading squad, Annisa’s particular enthusiasm. Despite their hostility, she makes the squad, but suffers constant attacks from most of her teammates. Additional problems develop in a prank war with a rival school and slumping grades. The story follows Annisa’s efforts to uphold her individuality while trying to make friends. Scott shows incisive insight into the culture of adolescent girls while delivering suspense and well-developed emotional conflicts that should hold young readers’ interest throughout. (Fiction. YA)