Eleanor and Chanel are seniors planning for a great year. Both want their competitive cheerleading squad to not only entertain the fans at sporting events, but also win at the state and national level. Winning for Franklin High would prove their sport is just as important as all the others. They are also hoping to take cheerleading to the college level next fall.
Eleanor has the added challenge of getting back into the game as a flyer after having suffered two concussions. She is following doctors' orders and trying to stay in shape so she can get the required signature on the precious paper stating that she can rejoin the squad in her old place. All the hard work and prep she and Chanel have done won't mean anything if she has to cheer the other members of the squad from the bench.
Everything is going according to plan until news reports featuring a former Franklin High alum turned pro football player gets in trouble for taking a knee during the national anthem. Eleanor and Chanel are bothered by the negative response to what they feel should be a gesture of freedom of speech. It is agreed that the cheerleaders will take a knee during the pregame anthem at the next game. They know it could be met with criticism but believe they have the right to protest peacefully.
Much to their surprise, other school groups come forward to support the cheerleaders' gesture at the next football game. Unfortunately, the school administration has a different opinion. As a result, Chanel is suspended for 9 days. This angers Eleanor and others since none of the white students were disciplined, just Chanel who is black. The negative critics begin to speak up more loudly forcing the administration to tell the cheerleaders they are not welcome to participate in pregame activities. Will further protest help their efforts to speak up or hurt their case? With college acceptance on the line and friends and family members angry about their protest, Eleanor and Chanel's friendship crumbles.
Authors Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal team up to bring peaceful, political protest to the forefront of their second YA novel. Readers may know this writing duo from their first book titled I'M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT. This reader appreciated the inclusion of the sport of competitive cheerleading which doesn't get a lot of attention in the YA book world.
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