We've Got Spirit : The Life and Times of America's Greatest Cheerleading Team

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous book! Why the controversy?
Review: "We've Got Spirit" gives an honest and touching portrayal of cheerleading and life in rural America. I felt that the book, which was wonderfully written, was very objective and allowed the reader to come to their own conclusions. I don't understand why people (mostly those from Greenup)are complaining! Nothing in the book is licentious or overly personal. I don't think anything less of the GCHS cheerleaders, quite the opposite in fact. The personal details are what made the book so moving. The struggles and hardships those girls in Greenup had to overcome is what makes them so special. If it were easy, everybody would do it. Greenup County should be proud, and those girls have reason to hold their heads up high. This book dispels the myth that cheerleading isn't a sport. It's a must read for all!

Rating:
Summary: Not just about cheerleading; about women striving to excell
Review: A page-turner, 'Spirit' takes us into the world of one of the U.S.' premier cheerleading teams and reveals the complex and demanding nature of a woman's sport that many of us know little about. In so doing, the author, who has a keen sense for character and for the telling quote and detail, paints a picture of an American region and its young women that is at once inspiring and poignant. Made me proud to be an American--and proud to be female. Greenup County -- its cheerleaders, their coaches, parents, and supporters --is home to so much of what is good about America. In the hopes, triumphs, and struggles of its main characters, 'Spirit' also shows the reader what price excellence can have. 'Spirit''s assemblage of admirable hard-working athletes, coaches, and parents may or may not be typical of many other American communities, but by the end of the book, I was hoping so. I am looking forward to visiting KY again, and this time I will not drive so fast. The story of this champion cheerleading team reflects how far women have come....and how far we have to go. I will never look at the sport the same again.

Had the excitement, bittersweet quality of the movie 'A League of Their Own.'

Rating:
Summary: Please look far beyond the cover and the title
Review: As a journalist and a woman still smarting from trying out for cheerleading seven times without making it, I have read Mr. McElroy's book several times and keep going back to it. Many of the reviews you will read here are of the "Harper Valley PTA" variety, which may satisfy some primitive gossipy fascination with the individuals in the book, which is unfortunate.

This is not about any stereotypical cheerleaders - nearly all of the girls on the Greenup County Kentucky squad know poverty or are just above it. They are not Daddy's princesses. They don't drive sports cars.

Yes, we do want to know what happened to the stars of the Greenup County Cheerleading team. This was their chance to escape a section of the country where women's opportunities are still limited. And in Greenup County, cheerleading is and has been a ticket out - a place where being able to land a standing back tuck (a relatively difficult tumbling stunt) can be the ticket to a college scholarship and dreams of a bright future.

Another update, nearly five years after the original printing, would be welcome, except I sure hope that all the girls don't all have babies and are working at Wal-Mart, that they haven't lost their dreams. I want to know that they made it, but according to the reviewers here, only Rachel Brown made it to continue to cheer in college. Right now I am using the first edition of the book for reference as I lent out my newer edition with the update, so please forgive my lack of clarity with this part.

I hope that Mr. McElroy, for all the abuse he has taken, is proud of the in-depth masterpiece he produced. Yes, he has a few facts wrong but when you consider the amount of comphrehensive information that he consumed and put forth, especially for a first book, I think it can be forgiven. I only say this because of the huge amount of criticism reviewers have blasted him with - people took this book real personally!

Some of his critics believe that he took advantage of the confidences of the girls. I think he was doing his job. If he were to go and do an in-depth story in any place - a ghetto, a debutante ball, the same technique would be used. As a journalist, I understand. He was right. Anything less would have not been this great book. It was necessary and right.

This book is a study in sociology. Mr. McElroy is going in-depth on a group of young women in a place that that probably no one else would bother with and does it with great insight and compassion. I hope to hear more from him in the future.

I have read both the original hardback and the paperback with added foreword. If any additional editions are published, I would recommend a different cover because the cover makes the book look like fluff. It is far from that. Also the title, "We've Got Spirit" is somewhat misleading. This book is no Afterschool Special. Another minor annoyance is the captions for the pictures are in the back of the book rather than with the pictures, making me have to work a little bit too hard. : )

Unfortunately, I doubt that many cheerleaders will read and discuss this book. It would benefit them to do so. I think that many teenagers would benefit from reading this rather than "Antigone," but please don't tell the people at my kids' school that - they will probably run me up the flagpole.

Rating:
Summary: Sad to hear
Review: I am a graduate of Greenup County and I find it very sad to hear that the county I am from is based on cheerleading. It is true too. GC is a river town that's biggest accomplishment is winning cheerleading championship. This takes the spotlight away from many other sports, not to mention students involved in Academics. I will admit that many of the comments that were made by the author were rude and many were lies. He made his own assumptions on many of the girls. When he called Wills, "Olive Oil", there was no need for that. He made her appear to be an unattractive person. I do not believe that the girls waltzed straight up to him and said all of their feelings. People must understand that while in practice you just say things to your team mates forgetting there is a man with a notebook and tape recorder sitting next to you. I know all of the girls that were written about in this book, and many of them were very hurt considering their age. Most of my best friends were/or still are a member of the GC Cheerleading Squad. Yes these girls do a great job, and I have watched them in competition, their routines and spirit is astonishing, but do not place the emphasis of GC on them. Oh yea before I forget, the author should not portray GC to be as "hickish" as he did. Yes we are a small community but we are not stupid. This town is the same as any other and we all do not think about cheerleading constantly. It was interesting though to read a book of the place I have grown up in since I was young and read about the people that I have known since I was young. These girls are normal, but he made his own sly comments that were uncalled for. Candy Berry is a wonderful person that knows what she is doing and does it well. I applaud her for a job well done.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting book!
Review: I read this book over Christmas Break. I thought that this book contained some interesting things because I am a cheerleader. However, I think that the book could have been better if someone with a knowledge of cheerleading had written the book and if the the book had lead up to a major climax. The book is about a cheerleading team from Greenup. The book is interesting when it comes to the girls lives, what they go through for cheerleading, and some of details of their competitions. The details of the competitions are very vague because the author has never been a cheerleader. I would recommend this book, for it is interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for REAL cheerleaders
Review: I think the author portrays what REAL cheerleaders go through...mess-ups, wrong dismounts, unstable bases. It really adds up and he portrays the pressures that cheerleaders are under going into competition or even just performing a new cheer at a game. I know because I am a cheerleader myself. Some things in the book may seem offensive to people but it is the complete truth of what goes on and how people actually feel when they step off the competition mat. They may be a part of a whole team but if they mess up, they feel like the bad link in the team and he really shows that you can only be as strong as your weakest player and cheerleading shows the utter truth in that statement; one of the most difficult SPORTS offered.

Rating:
Summary: True Spirit
Review: I understand the controversy surrounding this book. Mr. McElroy included such candid stories of some of the cheerleaders lives, I can understand how scary that must be for them, myself being their age. I just wanted to let any of them know who are reading this right now, the book did not make me feel like they were "hicks" or on display. Instead, I focused on the way the author showed their enthusiasm for their sport, the drive, the hunger they have to do well in competition. What I got from the book was that despite coming from a town that isn't a huge city, girls were harnessing their inner strength and bringing pride and recognition to their hometown. There can't be anything wrong with that. I was a gymnast and I know how hard that work is. I can only imagine what UCA cheerleaders go through. This book made it easier to imagine. All high school's have pregnancies, boyfriend issues, fighting. All high school organizations, clubs and sports teams experience these things. It's because We've Got Spirit showcased how normal, yet extraordinary, these teens are, that I felt inspired by the cheerleaders in the book. It made me want to go out and find something I'm a passionate about, because these were girls my age. I hope that a lot of high school girls read this book, because it shows you what you can accomplish at our age, with a lot of work and determination. Good luck Greenup!

Rating:
Summary: FYI - Rachel Brown has now achieved her life long dream
Review: This book is a must to any home libary of a cheerleader, soon to be cheerleader, cheerleading coach, or a parent of a cheerleader. This book shows the dedication and trials that a cheerleading squad goes through to earn their way to victory. I have watched Greenup cheerleading on TV now for about 4 years and I can only dream that I will ever be at their level. All I can say is that this book will change your view on cheerleading forever.

Rating:
Summary: Sad to hear
Review: This book is one of the closest inside looks into competitive cheering. It shows that not all cheerleaders are ditzes who just yell "yeah" "raw". Cheerleading isn't about football, basketball or wrestleing anymore. It's about squads who want to win and who cheer for sports but they cheer more for themselves. I was brought up to know that GreenUp is a legend in high school cheerleading and I can't wait to see and compete against them at UCA Nationals. GOOD LUCK GIRLS!

~CheerHSE~ %^) GO ROYALS!