King Cheer

Ages 12 And Up, Grades 7 And Up

Heartstopper meets Bring It On in this contemporary graphic novel that reimagines Shakespeare’s King Lear as a queer dramedy!

When cheer captain Leah steps down months before graduation, the team is shocked. Waitlisted by her dream college, questioning her identity, and suffering from senioritis, Leah needs to hand the captain’s poms off and focus on her future.

But when the competition for captaincy goes awry, power-hungry twins take command of the squad and immediately pit the cheerleaders against the basketball team in a fight for glory. Balls fly, pom-poms shake, hearts are broken—and only one person can heal the rift between the teams. But first she’ll have to heal herself.

As full of heart as it is backflips and three-pointers, King Cheer is a warm and witty story of self-discovery, friendship, and finding the courage to face your future.

Story Locale:Modern day with magic realistic elements

About the Author

Stephanie Kate Strohm (she/her) is also the coauthor of Twelfth Grade Night. At sixteen, she played Cordelia in King Lear and suffered through a terrible crush on Edmund, and at seventeen, she picked up her first pair of pom poms. She’s online at StephanieKateStrohm.com and on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @StephKateStrohm.

Molly Horton Booth (they/she) is also the coauthor of Twelfth Grade Night. Molly grew up homeschooled, secretly longing to be a cheerleader. They earned their MA in English from UMass Boston (studying—twist!—Shakespeare), and now live with their partner and pet family in Baltimore. Her website is MollyHortonBooth.com and Instagram is @MollyHortonBooth.

Author Residence: Los Angeles, CA / Baltimore, MD

Jamie Green (they/them) is a book illustrator, content creator, and alum of Ringling College of Art and Design '20. When they aren't doing illustration for books, they can be found tattooing, lifting weights, or exploring outdoors. You can find Jamie on Instagram and Twitter @JamieMGreenArt or Jamie Green on YouTube.

Illustrator Residence:Chicago, IL