📕 Title: Bad Cheerleader
✏️ Author: Alex Thayer
📖 Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

BOOK BLURB

Seventh grader Bag loves to spend every afternoon reading at the library, despite the challenges of her dyslexia. But when her mother lands a new job, Bag no longer has a ride to the library and is forced to hang out at her sister’s cheerleading practice instead. Stuck at school, Bag begins to notice her sister’s strange behavior and starts to investigate.

REVIEW

The premise, while simple on its face, was immediately intriguing; what exactly is Bag’s older sister up to? As Bag begins to investigate, it quickly becomes clear that there is a lot more to the story. Her narration is engaging, interjected with random thoughts as categorized by the Dewey Decimal System. She is observant, yet naive at times, and struggles to accept the idea that she is actually smart despite her dyslexia, a disability that she feels obligated to hide.

I related to Bag’s frustrating experience being a younger sister, especially in the way that Minerva often acts annoyed and upset with Bag for no apparent reason. Despite being close in age, there is a rift between the sisters that Bag struggles to comprehend and overcome throughout the story. Their relationship is further strained by parents who are separated, a situation that has prompted numerous changes in their lives.

Bag must also navigate other relationships in her life, including her friend, her teachers, and the cheerleaders. I loved her growth throughout the story and how she ultimately learns to accept herself and her dyslexia.