Wise’s fine-lined illustrations add to the novel’s specificity of character, from the rose tattoo emblazoned on Annie’s mother’s shoulder to Bebe’s koala-shaped phone case. As Bebe schools Annie in being a team player, and Annie tutors Bebe in history and self-advocacy, their friendship evolves into a romance and leads to a memorable homecoming night. Bebe admits she feels pressure to be perfect to avoid conflict she’d rather brush off passes from creepy schoolmate Jonah than confront him. The team tries to support Bebe, but as Annie notes, “they’re treating you like a mascot, not a person.” Meanwhile, Bebe’s overprotective parents make their support of her transition contingent on getting good grades. The former childhood friends reacquaint when Annie, needing extracurriculars, reluctantly tries out for cheerleading. Frasier seamlessly integrates the backstories of Annie, a chubby, white, sarcastic brainiac, and Beatrice (known as Bebe), a Latinx-cued teen who rose to school popularity as the state’s first trans cheerleader and who worries about putting people out. This sharply observed graphic novel overturns high school archetypes to present a nuanced portrait of queer cheerleaders.
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