Customer Reviews

We've Got Spirit : The Life and Times of America's Greatest Cheerleading Team

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a journalist and a woman still smarting from trying out for cheerleading seven times without making it, I have read Mr. McElroy's book several times and keep going back to it. Many of the reviews you will read here are of the "Harper Valley PTA" variety, which may satisfy some primitive gossipy fascination with the individuals in the book, which is unfortunate.

This is not about any stereotypical cheerleaders - nearly all of the girls on the Greenup County Kentucky squad know poverty or are just above it. They are not Daddy's princesses. They don't drive sports cars.

Yes, we do want to know what happened to the stars of the Greenup County Cheerleading team. This was their chance to escape a section of the country where women's opportunities are still limited. And in Greenup County, cheerleading is and has been a ticket out - a place where being able to land a standing back tuck (a relatively difficult tumbling stunt) can be the ticket to a college scholarship and dreams of a bright future.

Another update, nearly five years after the original printing, would be welcome, except I sure hope that all the girls don't all have babies and are working at Wal-Mart, that they haven't lost their dreams. I want to know that they made it, but according to the reviewers here, only Rachel Brown made it to continue to cheer in college. Right now I am using the first edition of the book for reference as I lent out my newer edition with the update, so please forgive my lack of clarity with this part.

I hope that Mr. McElroy, for all the abuse he has taken, is proud of the in-depth masterpiece he produced. Yes, he has a few facts wrong but when you consider the amount of comphrehensive information that he consumed and put forth, especially for a first book, I think it can be forgiven. I only say this because of the huge amount of criticism reviewers have blasted him with - people took this book real personally!

Some of his critics believe that he took advantage of the confidences of the girls. I think he was doing his job. If he were to go and do an in-depth story in any place - a ghetto, a debutante ball, the same technique would be used. As a journalist, I understand. He was right. Anything less would have not been this great book. It was necessary and right.

This book is a study in sociology. Mr. McElroy is going in-depth on a group of young women in a place that that probably no one else would bother with and does it with great insight and compassion. I hope to hear more from him in the future.

I have read both the original hardback and the paperback with added foreword. If any additional editions are published, I would recommend a different cover because the cover makes the book look like fluff. It is far from that. Also the title, "We've Got Spirit" is somewhat misleading. This book is no Afterschool Special. Another minor annoyance is the captions for the pictures are in the back of the book rather than with the pictures, making me have to work a little bit too hard. : )

Unfortunately, I doubt that many cheerleaders will read and discuss this book. It would benefit them to do so. I think that many teenagers would benefit from reading this rather than "Antigone," but please don't tell the people at my kids' school that - they will probably run me up the flagpole.

As a mother of a competition cheerleader in New Jersey, I was interested in reading this book to find out about those amazing GC cheerleaders. I thought the book was realistic, not offensive and portrayed high school life and cheering like it is and not like most teenage trash movies portray it. My daughter's team has won the Garden State competition 4 years in a row and it's true -- it's much harder to stay on top than it is to try to get there. The jealousy from other towns and parents -- the scorching remarks about the girls -- it happens here in New Jersey as well.

This book is a very fast read - and one that is hard to put down. Definitely recommend it.

"We've Got Spirit" gives an honest and touching portrayal of cheerleading and life in rural America. I felt that the book, which was wonderfully written, was very objective and allowed the reader to come to their own conclusions. I don't understand why people (mostly those from Greenup)are complaining! Nothing in the book is licentious or overly personal. I don't think anything less of the GCHS cheerleaders, quite the opposite in fact. The personal details are what made the book so moving. The struggles and hardships those girls in Greenup had to overcome is what makes them so special. If it were easy, everybody would do it. Greenup County should be proud, and those girls have reason to hold their heads up high. This book dispels the myth that cheerleading isn't a sport. It's a must read for all!

As a college cheer coach, and former resident of the Huntington-Ashland-Ironton area, I have mixed feelings about "We've Got Spirit". I have long admired Coach Candy Berry, her staff, and the talented and dedicated cheerleaders that head to Orlando, FL each spring for UCA's National High School Cheerleading Championship. I think the book accurately describes the hard work, dedication, and almost thankless sacrifice necessary to have a truly great Cheer Team. McElroy paints a realistic picture of the time commitment, lack of parity with other athletic programs, constant funding problems, and some of the normal "internal frictions" experienced each season by any team of young adults. I did become uncomfortable reading McElroy's deep digs into the personal lives of the cheerleaders, their parents, school officials and the community in an apparent attempt to paint a "well rounded picture". Some of the personal tragedies mentioned are absolutely heartbreaking. I was moved by the content, but occasionally asked "how can they print this"? Some of my cheerleaders come from far from ideal circumstances at home, and while I am privately aware of their circumstances, I know they would be humiliated and scarred by publishing that information in a hardback book with pictures. I'm sure the book won't play well in Greenup County, as too many names and faces are mentioned, but the book does chronicle the hard work and athleticism of competetive cheerleading. The introduction and epilogue are a "must read"! I finished the book with renewed respect for the young ladies who wear the green and yellow uniforms of a Greenup County Cheerleader.

As a new coach for our school, this book was a great eye opener. I finished it just before our first parents meeting and it helped to prepare me for some of the "usual" concerns and questions.

This book helped me to realize where our team is and what we need to do to get where we want to be... Disney World 2004.

Thanks for the info on what it takes to be the best. Hard work, dedication and alot of desire to be the best.

I bought 5 copies for our school library and have made it a requirement for tryouts that this book be read by both the cheerleader and the parents.

I commend James McElroy for his keen observation and attention to detail. "We've Got Spirit" offers a striking vignette of rural America, a charming time-warp juxtaposed against contemporary issues. It portrays a vivid picture of the perseverance of these cheerleaders, the dedication of their coaches, and the tremendous pressure they must impose upon themselves day after day, month after month, in order to reach a national championship level year after year. But while they aspire to be the best of the best, they are still teenage girls, burdened with teenage problems, exhibiting teenage behavior. If you are a female, you will recognize yourself somewhere among these girls. We have been there, done that. Much of it is familiar. The friendships, the boyfriends, the jealousies, personal challenges, family dynamics. It is part of growing up. What is different about these girls, what is extraordinary, is the intensity of their athletic training, the high expectations placed upon them, and what they must forego in order to succeed. I would say to these girls, you have much to be proud of. I found the author's reportorial style easy to read - a nice blend of rich descriptive passages contrasted with breezy dialogue. I like the way he takes the reader back and forth, introducing a scene, then retracing steps and leading you back to the present. He has an incredible eye for detail - body language, dialogue, the intricacies of interpersonal relationships. He paints a very convincing protrait of Candy Berry and her team, as well as of Greenup County. I highly recommend this book. Even if you never imagined you'd be interested in cheerleading. You'll be impressed.

Mr McElroy's wirting style leaves much to be desired. While reading this book, it is easy to see he needs to stick to reporting. Perhaps this method of writing is adequate....with regards to the subject he chose to write about. As for the content of the book...I found many truths in his explanation of Greenup County. Yes..this town is full of "hicks"....but that is what makes it...and us....Greenup County...just what we are...people in a rural area....tied to their homeland...just as in generations past. If there are those who are not proud of who they are....then leave...move to a city and see how the other half live. The problems in living in a small community are just as great as the advantages. You need to learn to take the good with the bad. See the world for what it is...be it here in Greenup...or elsewhere. The points to be learned in this book....are those we seem most ashamed of. The reality is...the things written about in the book are true....and the girls(cheerleaders) ...the community in general...need to open their minds and realize that the truth hurts. Teenage sexuality is normal. Revenge, bitterness, and outrage are all a part of the growing up process. In my opinion.....Greenup County needs to stand back...be proud of their youth and their accomplishments.....and thank goodness that there is a reason to be a tiny spot on the worlds map of pride.

I've read this poignant account of a year in the life of the Best High School Cheerleading program in the country and offer the following commentary:

The Coaches have done a spectacular job with a group of girls who have many things to distract them from the goal. Candy is portrayed as a Lombardi-like leader. Actually the word leader fits her to a tee. She puts much into the program without monetary gain. Leadership is showing others how to act, inspiring them to find that inner strength to achieve their goals. Candy exemplifies this throughout the book.... her fire is clear and those who choose to light their own fires using hers will excel in all facets of their lives.

The girls come from a wide variety of backgrounds. This made it difficult for them to meld as a group. They learned the importance of teamwork.... albeit too late. The coaching staff's approach to the girls was the right one to take, that is letting them discover this for themselves. This also may have cost them the championship. But the goal of the coaching staff transcended winning.... they wanted to teach the more important lesson.... one that Rachel Brown learned.... she took on the role of leader on the smaller team and grew immeasurably.

Remember the "It's a Wonderful Life" effect.... You never really know the effect of your actions..... perhaps without the program the teen pregnancy rate may be higher.... perhaps the discipline that is taught to the girls will see them through a difficult time.... it's hard to say. But I know this.... there are many times that as a coach I've touched a child's life..... either with understanding and instilling confidence ... teaching the gifted athletes how to lead, teaching the less than gifted athletes how to be their best.... These girls ARE better having been through this program.... and there isn't anything that will change that.

The author, in my eyes, seemed to be fair. Although he did quote the girls saying some things that he shouldn't have, or things that could have been taken out of context, given the significant pressures they are under, he was reasonable and didn't turn the book into a soap opera. I can also see how a small community could take the book and want to crucify the coaches with it.

My overall impression of the book was that it: 1. Put Cheerleading on the map for me 2. Made me aware that society puts an awful lot of pressure on success. Despite Candy's efforts, these girls know that a lot rides on their success. That's a shame. The quote regarding Rachel's sister saying that they were already saying that she was responsible for the loss was indeed telling. 3. illustrated that Candy should learn how to speak in public. The fund of knowledge she has amassed over her 20 some years in coaching could help other girls and coaches to succeed. Not necessarily with national championships, but with the lessons of life, those truly difficult learning experiences that we all dread but look back on with smiles after they are over, wondering how the hell we got through those tough times. 4. showed that the girls are truly humble, knowing they have been the national champs more times than anyone else. They should have more pride in that heritage. 5. ilustrated that this should be a sport, not an activity, and should be supported appropriately. 6. gave me more respect and admiration for those young women all over the country who wear the name "Cheerleader." 7. finally made me aware, and for all time, that the program at Greenup County High School is a truly excellent program at all levels due to the devotion of the coaching staff.

I read this book over Christmas Break. I thought that this book contained some interesting things because I am a cheerleader. However, I think that the book could have been better if someone with a knowledge of cheerleading had written the book and if the the book had lead up to a major climax. The book is about a cheerleading team from Greenup. The book is interesting when it comes to the girls lives, what they go through for cheerleading, and some of details of their competitions. The details of the competitions are very vague because the author has never been a cheerleader. I would recommend this book, for it is interesting.

I think the author portrays what REAL cheerleaders go through...mess-ups, wrong dismounts, unstable bases. It really adds up and he portrays the pressures that cheerleaders are under going into competition or even just performing a new cheer at a game. I know because I am a cheerleader myself. Some things in the book may seem offensive to people but it is the complete truth of what goes on and how people actually feel when they step off the competition mat. They may be a part of a whole team but if they mess up, they feel like the bad link in the team and he really shows that you can only be as strong as your weakest player and cheerleading shows the utter truth in that statement; one of the most difficult SPORTS offered.