Cover Image: Cheer Up

Cheer Up

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

There were so many important conversations in this graphic novel about what it means to be trans and how people can be better allies. This is the story that I wish I had when I was first learning about the LGBTQ+ community. It's entertaining yet eye opening and it encourages acceptance. I highly recommend this graphic novel to everyone. It's about so much more than just cheerleading and if you happen to like cheerleading, then that's just added encouragement for you to read this graphic novel when it's released.

Was this review helpful?

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for providing an arc of the book. This book has been released on 10th August 2021. So, if you like my review then order the book.

Cheer up was the ideal, candy-coated realistic novel to lose myself in following a monotonous day. With a furious, hefty size lesbian main character and Sapphic, the biracial trans-girl main character, this story was loaded with the portrayal and various encounters. I especially loved finding out the sports element, girl power, and, obviously, sapphics so this felt like the ideal realistic novel for me!

This book figured out how to pack a ton of information into a little space while never feeling surged or lacking. Everything was appropriately evolved despite the high speed and the readers become more acquainted with and comprehend the principal characters rapidly. I cherished the personal advancement the two of them went through, and the manners in which that they gained from one another were remarkable. I likewise cherished the group elements as the young ladies all became companions and started to trust one another. Furthermore, the artistry! The illustrations are shockingly beautiful, splendid, beautiful, and commendable.

This book additionally handled some significant subjects and issues which I felt were taken care of delicately and with a ton of subtleties. I liked how the occasion of transphobic perceived hostilities was managed, just as showing numerous hefty size characters in a game group who didn’t abruptly get thinner through working out (which was very realistic). They were displayed as fat, solid, and strong-minded people. Even though it managed a portion of the biases these characters face, this realistic novel was in general carefree, soft-read and I appreciated it! It had an amazing message of supporting ourselves which I appreciated. I would enthusiastically recommend it to the readers who like sports group elements, the beloved companions to foes to sweethearts’ plot, and charming sentiments. I trust there’s a spin-off because I can’t get enough of these characters! I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves reading books around strong-headed characters.

Was this review helpful?

Very cute. Great representation, didn't make this about the main characters transition. Which as a trans person, this is a much appreciate perspective. Loved the illustration, I hope there is more to come!

Was this review helpful?

I review this book and purchased it for my school library. We have already recommended it to many students! Stories with LGBTQ characters have been especially popular in the past few years, and graphic novels are always favorites. This particular story throws the mean cheerleader stereotype on its head and delightfully features lots of cool girls supporting each other. We highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

This was such a fun, sweet graphic novel about a group of cheerleaders! It stars two former best friends, Bebe and Annie, who are total opposites. Bebe is feminine, sweet, and well-liked, while Annie is a bit rough around the edges. But when Annie joins Bebe's cheer team, they rekindle their friendship...and maybe more.

I loved that this was a diverse graphic novel! Bebe is a trans girl and Annie is plus-sized lesbian, and there are many other BIPOC, queer, and body-diverse characters. Cheer Up touches on Bebe's transition, and also on microaggressions and harassment she faces. Although it deals with heavy subjects, it's also just so heartwarming and sweet.

This teen graphic novel is a must-read for fans of the following series: Fence, The Avant-Guards, or Check Please! I really hope this will continue as a series.

Was this review helpful?

Ah I just loved this graphic novel so much! I loved how messy and complex and sweet the characters were. Nobody is perfect and they were so real and relatable in a way that I think a lot of writers don't quite get right in YA. I especially loved Annie, our little plus-sized, athletic hot-head. I loved seeing her grow especially, but also stay true to herself. Bebe and Annie learnt so much from each other and were such a sweet match. I really hope this ends up in school libraries because the trans rep, queer rep and fat rep was just lovely to see. And they way the girls learn to stand up for themselves and protect each other was just lovely. I would happily read more about them in the future!

Was this review helpful?

Annie is an antisocial lesbian senior who has to join a team to look good on her college applications. She decides to try out for the cheer squad, where her former best friend, and trans girl, Bebe is the captain. Bebe has to keep her grades up and do well in activities so her parents continue to support her transition. Both Annie and Bebe have to deal with social pressures to follow the path society thinks they should be on.

I joined the cheerleading team at my school in my final year, like Annie did. This story explained the positions of the sport, so it gives a good overview of what it involves. This team appeared to be supportive of Bebe’s transition because they always put her in the spotlight. However, Bebe didn’t want to be in the spotlight, so they ended up putting a lot of pressure on her and making her stand out in ways that made her uncomfortable. Bebe had to figure out how to share her feelings so she was treated fairly on the team.

Bebe’s identity as a trans girl was an important part of the story. Some people in her life, such as her parents, thought they were protecting her by treating her differently. Her parents gave her strict rules to follow because they thought she would be targeted for being trans. There was also a boy at school who would harass her because he thought she wanted male attention. The most important thing is to treat everyone in ways that make them comfortable. If you don’t know what would make them most comfortable, like Annie wasn’t sure about how Bebe wanted to be treated, the best thing to do is to ask them.

Cheer Up is a fun queer cheerleader graphic novel!

Thank you Oni Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was soooooooo cute omg now I feel all happy and fuzzy and warm!

I especially loved the trans rep and how much Bianca’s confidence grew with every page. I’m not in a position to speak on the accuracy of this representation, but I did really enjoy this novel’s over-arching message on acceptance and self-love.

Can’t believe I was granted an early copy and waited so long to read it. I blame my daunting tbr and the reading slump from which I have been trying to claw my way out for like 2 years now. Wholesome and fun graphic novels like this one are the perfect remedy for it, though!

I recommend this to anyone in need of a good, fun and easy read!

Was this review helpful?

This is an adorable comic book that I wish I had access to when I was growing up, so that people of all genders would be able to see diversity in their gender and expression. The characters in the book are very lovable!

Was this review helpful?

This was such a joy to read.
When BeeBee and Annie are thrown together, after drifting apart, while doing Cheer squad, they come to realise they can help each other in more ways than just being a team player. Annie is joining the squad to improve her college applications, meanwhile BeeBee loves being on the squad but having recently transitioned, has to keep her grades up to keep her parents support.
The illustrations are charming and bring a warmth to the story. The story itself is tough in places, seeing the hoops BeeBee is being made to jump through to live as her true self. Annie, though fierce in herself, shows her softer side when she discovers it's not always easy to be yourself. The book deals with some serious and relevant issues in such a great way, especially on how to support someone transitioning.
On the whole this was a book I will be recommending this book.

Was this review helpful?

Such a wholesome book with amazing rep. Saw great reviews everywhere and now I understand why. Really enjoyed it and also loved the art work. HIghly recommend

Was this review helpful?

This was really good!!

A fun story celebrating just how to be yourself and why you should stand up for yourself!
Very queer and had nice themes of inclusion, touches on performance allyship.
The art is great, and the characters are easy to get attached to - but I would have loved to spend more time with them, and to see their friendships develop more (both between the main characters but mainly between the team and the mcs).

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute graphic novel and we need more reperentions in the bookish world! This follows a trans main character who is trainsiting to a boy from a girl and it was very dark but also light hearted read. The ending totally made me smile and a perfect graphic novel that I needed in my life at the moment! 4/5 Stars!

Was this review helpful?

This graphic novel is incredible. From start to finish, I was hooked.
I loved the illustrations, and the plot. The dialogue was fantastic, and the representation phenomenal.
I loved the fat rep, the trans rep, and the cute as heck sapphic love story, too.
This one was all kinds of beautiful.

Was this review helpful?

A seriously cute read that was fun and heartwarming but also packing a powerful message.

I'm hoping this will turn into a series because I loved getting to know BeeBee, Annie and the rest of the team and there is definitely scope for more books...especially if it means more of Annie's mum!!

Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 bc while it was enjoyable and had good rep, I felt it needed to be a bit longer. I was enjoying the story and then it just ended. I wanted to see more relationship growth and the length made that tough.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Oni Press for letting me reading this book in exchange for an honest review.

I decided to give Cheer Up 4 stars.

Annie is an antisocial teen starting her final year of high school and is under pressure to join the cheerleading team to strengthen her college application. Her former friend BeeBee (a trans girl who is under pressure to keep her grades up to ensure they continue to support her transition) is very different. The two girls rekindle their friendship which could lead to slightly more than pure friendship.

I thought this was a really fun and quick read with a range of LGBTQIA+ representation in. I loved the art style and thought it really fitted with the storyline of the book. If this is the start of a series I will be sure to continue reading it!

Was this review helpful?

This was a quick and cute read! I loved the art style! I also adored Annie, she is such a spitfire and cares so much about her friend, even after all this time. I also loved how the author brought attention to the pressure that trans-folks are often under to be "good".

Was this review helpful?

This was a really good slice of life graphic novel centering on the friendship and then budding relationship between trans girl Beebee and super tough take no nonsense Annie. Readers will notice it sort of starts in the middle of the story kinda because we find out later that Annie and Beebee were friends before her transition and there's some history there. Good representation of peer pressure and the highs and lows of high school and being trans and coming out.

Was this review helpful?

"Cheer up" is a great graphic novel that speaks about giving people second chances, not boxing people within labels and valuing people for who they are, not what they represent. It is definitely recommended.

Was this review helpful?