Hermione Winters is co-captain of her cheerleading squad, along with her best friend Polly. Just like the rest of the team Hermione has given everything for her sport. Determined to go out on a high, the team attend what will be – for some – their final Cheer camp.
The first part of the book focuses on establishing the key characters within Hermione’s team and her relationship with them. It ends with the party to celebrate the end of camp. All we are told is Hermione remembers getting a drink, then she is taken outside and everything goes black.
With this title, the interest in staging is evident. I loved the fact that we are given regular Shakespearean quotes pertinent to the content. The structuring of the novel felt, at times, like a script for a performance.
There’s no spoilers in me telling you that Hermione is raped. We’re given very few details about the attack. This is more focused on the impact such an event can have on a person and their relationships, and how to come to terms with events about which you may have no recall.
Ultimately, this is a sensitive subject that many may shy away from. However, I feel this is an important book for people to consider reading although the focus on cheerleading might be off-putting.