The Cheerleader Effect

10. Dare Me – Megan Abbott

There’s something about lip gloss, glitter, hair gel, and cigarette smoke together that just screams “cheerleading competition.” We could go to state, you know, having a new, young, fresh, hip coach could help us get to state and like, do better stunts, and win. Win competitions. All we have to do is just act like total bitches on our off time and help cover up the coach’s inappropriate behavior. We’ll hang out at her house and make sure her husband doesn’t know she’s cheating with the ROTC guy and maybe we can make regionals if no one gets murdered or smears their eye make up too hard.

Considering that the image of cheerleaders as completely wholesome enthusiastic youth just trying to inspire the crowd with yelling and yet more athleticism is not one I ever knew to be true…well, whatever. I mean, some of them are infected by Simon Fear’s evil and some of them are promiscuous and can’t get off their phones. Mine’s a werewolf. They’re just like all other girls but compartmentalized by their outfits and having people stare at them at games. And now, that staring will also be on TV.

Will I watch teen girls be edgy just because I read the book? Maybe. I thought this book was not that good though, so, maybe not. I like Abbott’s re-telling of that one girl murdering her dad and becoming a scientist better. She was scary. Beth was mostly bitter and greedy for power over other teens while she could still be cool. Just like the coach, which is just sad.

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Being a more skittish pig keeps Salem out of all kinds of trouble. He’s not on probation, he’s not smoking at motels with high school students, he’s not a bad influence of the children he’s not coaching, he’s never put on lip gloss…