Customer Reviews

The Cheerleader

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first read The Cheerleader in high school in the 70's and recently re-read both it and the sequel, Snowy, which I was able to find at my local library. (Note: if you loved The Cheerleader, run- don't walk- to find a copy of Snowy because it was the best sequel anyone could have hoped for. It was a wonderful and poignant continuance of the story of the characters we grew to know and love in The Cheerleader.) I think Ruth Doan MacDougall's writing style is heart-warming and absolutely true to real human nature and emotion. I feel like I personally know her characters and see so much of myself at times in Snowy. Her writing just grabbed ahold of me and roped me in- my favorite time of the day would be when I could join Snowy and the gang in Gunthwaite, and then as Snowy grew older in the sequel, I ached for her in times of difficulty and sadness and rejoiced for her in times of success and happiness. I give this author my highest praise and want to say that The Cheerleader and Snowy have touched my heart in a way very few books have ever done.

The Cheerleader offers a painful, deeply realistic view of growing up in the 1950s, one that is at once compelling and alarming in its portrayal of teenage life. Snowy and her friend Puddles, eager for high school acceptance and the typical teenage experience, try out for the cheerleading team and make their way through the complicated maze of relationships along with their friend Bev.

What follows is a full description of dating, the most important aspect of high school, from the desire to go out with the "popular" boys to the pressure to go farther to please the boys. MacDougall is at once sympathetic and critical of Snowy's case, portraying her as the typical girl but taking an objective look at her at times. I often felt swept along with Snowy's perspective, but every now and then MacDougall pulled me out of the flow to subtly question the 1950s teen experience and I realized how devastating the "typical" experience really must have been for girls.

Though the book is set in the 1950s, much of its substance is still relevant today. As a girl between teenhood and adulthood, I felt that MacDougall was simultaneously writing a retrospective book and questioning my own upbringing, and I could see many parallels between Snowy's experience and my own high school years. As a purely entertaining book, The Cheerleader delivers a full look at the 1950s, but its true value lies in the depth of its devastating portrayal of the high school female experience.

I borrowed this book from my older sister when I was in Junior high. She had gotten it from the senior high school library. After I read it, I couldn't wait to get to Senior High school so I could read it again. There is something about this book that invites the reader to suffer the pangs of adolescence along with Snowy, the main character. You are excited when she is asked out by the boy of her dreams. Now, about 20 years later, I was happy to find this book at Amazon.com. For some reason it has been on my mind again. Highly recommend.

Oh, my. I purchased this book because I remembered reading (and loving) it in high school, but I was totally unprepared for the flood of memories and emotions it's unleashed!

I was amazed at the number of phrases, expressions and images that came back to me -- all the Puddles-isms I've repeated over the years, the descriptions of clothing and parties that have stuck in my mind. When I read this book the first time, I had no notion of the impression it was making on me. And that, to me, is the mark of an excellent book. To say "The Cheerleader" got under my skin is an understatement.

I'm sure the non-teenage girls (parents, guys) who saw my friends and me reading this book thought it was some frivolous, vacuous piece of adolescent fluff. Little did they know how much it taught us about the weighty issues on the road we were traveling - not to mention what goes on in the back seat of a car. And for that, we all - the guys especially - should be very grateful to Ms. MacDougall.

This book hits the nail on the head! For awhile there, I thought I was ready my diary, and then realized that Snowy had gone through many of the things that I did when I was in high school. A great way to remember those by-gone days and the sweet, simple life of a teenage girl. Now, I want to read the sequel, Snowy. Must know if there is life after high school!

I am such a fan of this book. I re-read it every couple of years or so - it's like watching a favorite movie over again.
A similar book about a golden girl of the 50's who breaks away from society's expectations is "Heartbreak Hotel" by Anne-Rivers Siddons. Both books are examples of superb writing.

I first read this book when I was 13 or 14 and am now in my 30s. I loved this book then and still love it. Oprah should choose it instead of those violent depressing books! I was searching used book stores with no luck but now have a brand new copy. Now, if we could get just get Snowy in re-print!

Amazing the similiarities between many of the reviewers; I was also a teen in the 70s when I first read this book, loved it so much that after checking it out numerous times from the school library I ended up (gulp...) swiping it, but also eventually lent it out to someone who never returned it. Looked in many bookstores through the years since, but could never find it. My astonished delight when surfing Amazon and seeing it had been re-released could almost be compared to what one would feel bumping into a long-lost and much-beloved sister on a strange and crowded city street. What captured me most when first reading it as a 15 year old were the familiarity of Snowy's hopes and dreams and desires. It was an eye-opener to me that teens in the 50s (ancient history to me then - that's when my MOTHER was in high school) were struggling with the same things. Re-reading it at 40, I could still identify with all those things, but noticed - and wondered about - others I had not as a younger reader - namely the moments when Snowy made particular life-determining decisions and why. When Dudley, who has NEVER gone steady with anyone, and who Snowy has deep affection for and more in common with than any other guy in the book, finally asks her to be his girl, her only thoughts are: "which might disturb Tom more more, going steady, or keeping a stable of boyfriends." She doesn't even see Dudley for the person he is, because of her obsession with Tom. Dudley and Snowy could have fit like hand and glove, but HE, although an academic whiz and very popular guy, was not a sport hero. The best thing about The Cheerleader is that it makes you (re-)evaluate your priorities, about WHY you choose for WHAT you choose, which is a good exercise for anyone in any day and age. I am trying to find the sequel (another reviewer asked for the title - it's called "Snowy", by the way), but have had no success yet via numerous booksellers (including second hand) on the net. These have also obviously been snapped up and are being hoarded. Is it not a good idea - author, publisher - to re-release this one as well?? Lastly, are you out there Kathy Tucker? I've searched through all kind of internet search engines with no luck,but this could well be the one place we could finally find each other again.

This book is a MUST HAVE!Whether you were a cheerleader, wanted to be one or HATED THEM, you HAVE to read this. The story has amazing character development, an interesting and unpredictable plot and references to the 50's lifestyle that will bring back memories to the older readers and will keep the younger readers giggling... this book brought me back to being 15 again and I couldn't thank the author more, just having what Snowy (the main character) would call a "milestone" birthday I needed to feel like a silly cheerleader again!
I LOVE THIS BOOK. Buy it, break out your pom poms and rah rah the night away!

One day when I was at the library I was searching for books about cheerleading becuase I was thinking about trying out for a sqaud. This book came up, so I put a hold on it. It isn't exactly what I was expecting, but I am so glad I got it. I love reading novels about different high school eras. I am now a high school student in the zero's, and I just love to see how it was back then. This book is so amazing, when good things happen I want celebrate with them; when bad things happen I want to cry, I feel like I know all the characters. It's an amazing book and I love the sequal too. I couldn't have come up with a better one if I tried. I'm so happy I stumbled upon this book and i hope the rest of you get the pleasure of reading it. Enjoy!