Time elapsed in this book: About a month
Length of their junior year: Approximately 8.5 months
Jessica’s love interests: Tim Bradley, Skip Harmon
Annie Whitman’s love interests: Rick Andover, Tim Bradley, Ricky Capaldo, Billy, Bruce Patman
Entertainment rating: 4/10
This is a book I never especially liked as a kid. The characters don’t have a lot of redeeming qualities (something I didn’t care about when I was 12), and the drama goes from about a 2 to a 10 in the blink of an eye (something I was all about when I was 12). My younger self was mostly disappointed there wasn’t much Liz/Todd action, nor was there any romance or crazy hijinks, plus it’s kind of depressing. My adult self agrees with these points and also wants to add the terrible messaging about reputations and gossip. But let’s dive in anyway, because this deserves to be revisited.
We open with Jess looking at the list of girls who’ve signed up to try out for the cheerleading squad. Apparently everyone wants to be a cheerleader. Why? Let me quote the book to explain:
The cheerleaders at Sweet Valley High were cream of the crop–the prettiest, most sought-after girls not only in the school but in the entire town of Sweet Valley, California.
This seems like a bit of hyperbole, but it’s a sentiment I never questioned as a kid. Why wouldn’t they be the cream of the crop city-wide? It would certainly explain why college dudes like Scott Daniels are going after Jessica instead of dating girls his own age. And oh, how I hope this is the age limit of the guys seeking these girls out!
Anyway, there are currently only five cheerleaders and the squad has two open spaces. The first round of tryouts start in two weeks, and seventy-five girls have signed up. WTF? Seventy-five?!? I can’t believe there are that many people who want to be on the cheer squad. I also can’t believe their squad only has five members right now and will soon only have seven. Also, they literally just held cheer tryouts six books ago, when Robin Wilson transformed into cheerleader material overnight and was immediately made co-captain. Where were the throngs of wannabe cheerleaders then?
Jess feels like she’ll have an oversized say in who joins the squad, since she’s co-captain. Liz reminds Jess that she’s already promised one of those two slots to Cara Walker, so really there’s only one open slot. We get some backstory here: Cara and Lila both used to be on the cheer squad, but they were kicked off after a game against Palisades High, during which they sabotaged the other school’s cheerleading squad by turning on the sprinklers in the middle of their performance. Their probation is now up, and Cara wants back on the team. Lila does not, saying she’s not crawling back after being humiliated by school officials. The book doesn’t note when this happened, but Lila and Cara were on the cheerleading squad only five books ago so who knows. You’d think this would have been a plot point we read about, but no. Alas. That sounds like one of the best SVH books never written.
Jess furious when she sees Annie Whitman’s name on the sign-up list. Liz asks why this is a surprise, since Annie literally told Jess she planned to try out. Jess says she can’t have “Easy Annie” and her reputation tainting the rest of the cheer squad. Liz says Annie isn’t that bad and that she’s been helping Annie bring up her grades so she can make the team. Jess tells Liz that she heard from Caroline Pearce that Annie was out with Rick Andover the night before. How convenient for Jess to ignore the fact that she herself went out with Rick once. Liz doesn’t believe it, but when they get to school, everyone’s gossiping about how Annie was out with Rick. Annie herself even mentions to Liz that she was out with Rick instead of studying for the math test because Rick wanted to show off his new car.
Annie is frustrated that she bombed her math test and says she feels worthless. Liz tells Annie that she’s not worthless, she’s one of the most beautiful girls in Sweet Valley. I have to sigh. What a terrible message.
Liz goes over to Annie’s apartment to help her study. Annie talks a lot about her life, and Liz feels sorry for her. Annie’s mom had her when she was only sixteen and has done her best, but Annie’s lonely a lot. Annie’s dad disappeared five years ago, and her mom now lives with some guy named Johnny. Annie says her mom’s a model and that she herself has done some modeling too. Annie said she hasn’t had time to make friends, but she’s just sure that if she makes the cheerleading team, classmates will respect her!
At home, Jess helps Cara learn some of the cheers and they discuss who else should make the team. Jess thinks Sandra Bacon might be a good candidate. Steven appears, seeming distracted, and disappears inside. Cara has a crush on him, and Jess tells her she’ll eventually find a way to get them together. When Cara leaves, Jess goes inside to see what’s up with Steven. He tells her he’s home from college due to a situation with his girlfriend, Tricia. Apparently Tricia’s dad, the town drunk, hit a woman with his car and got arrested, so now Steven needs to support Tricia.
Cheerleading tryouts start! Jess introduces the squad: she and Robin Wilson are co-captains and the other members are Helen Bradley, Jean West, and Maria Santelli. Jess also introduced Ricky Capaldo, who’s their manager. I think I was vaguely confused about this as a kid but now I’m even more confused. Their cheerleading squad has a student manager? What does he even do? And also, why aren’t there any adults to help run this thing? I mean, The Oracle has Mr. Collins has an advisor and all the sports have coaches, but the cheer squad is completely run by students?
As the current squad and various spectators in the stands watch (including Enid and Liz, who’s writing about this for The Oracle), the seventy-five girls try out. It’s clear that only about forty of them have any potential. It’s also noted that some freshmen are trying out but they rarely make the squad, so they’re really just practicing for their sophomore year. Apparently there’s no JV squad? I have no idea how this school’s sports teams work. It’s like life begins when you’re a junior in high school (a message I totally believed as a kid). But having actually attended high school, I can say with confidence that at a big school, there usually is a JV squad that cheers on the JV teams. And I guarantee that at my own high school, which was almost certainly bigger than SVH, there weren’t seventy-five people vying to make the squad. Anyway, they pick twenty-five semi-finalists. Annie’s one of them, much to Jessica’s displeasure, because everyone else was impressed by her performance. Jess watches as Annie talks to Tim Bradley, Helen’s older brother, which just makes Jess even angrier because she herself is interested in Tim.
Ricky Capaldo posts the list of semi-finalists the next day and Annie is so thrilled to see her name that she kisses him. Apparently this is just how you show thanks in Sweet Valley. Liz asks Annie if she can write in her Eyes and Ears gossip column that Annie and Tim are an item. Annie says no, that she just went out with Tim once. Liz is amazed by Annie’s quick romances. Really, Liz? Your own sister goes through dudes this fast too. Annie tells Liz that she kind of has a crush on Ricky Capaldo but that she actually has two other dates that night: someone named Billy is taking her to the Dairi Burger after school, and then Rick Andover’s taking her to the beach for a late night swim. We get it. She has a lot of dates! You know Jess is jealous of this, even if she won’t admit it.
Jess assures Liz that Annie will never make the squad. Liz helps Annie with math. Annie gets an A on her math test and is thrilled. After exams are done at school, everyone heads out to the Beach Disco to celebrate. Jess is there with a senior named Skip Harmon, who it took her about two weeks to land because he claims he never looks at any of the juniors. Annie shows up with Bruce, wearing a slinky skirt with a slit almost to the top of her thigh. Liz, dancing with Todd, worries about what’s about to go down. A dance contest starts (something I used to think was normal at all dances… until I actually attended a dance and discovered these don’t actually happen). Skip Harmon is clearly the best dancer there, so he and Jess are crushing the competition. But Annie and Bruce are also amazing! The two couples keep dancing, and finally the manager of the Beach Disco says it’s a tie! Annie is thrilled and thinks this means she showed Jess that she’s good. Obviously, Annie is terrible at reading the room since Jess is actually pissed and is now even more determined to keep Annie off the squad.
The second round of cheer tryouts happen after school on Monday. Jess tells Liz she already knows who will make the cut when they reduce the list from twenty-five to eight, but Liz refuses to take the list of names to print in The Oracle until the semifinals actually happen. In The Oracle office, Mr. Collins asks what’s on Liz’s mind and if she wants to talk about it. She says she thinks she does but doesn’t know if she should. Mr. Collins tells her that maybe she should sign up for a new course being offered at the school next year called “Decisions.” LOL, next year. We have a lot more of junior year to go! They briefly talk and Liz decides to let Annie and Jess work out their problems themselves and to not get involved.
The semifinal cheer tryouts happen. The squad is disappointed to find out that more than half of the semifinalists can’t do the splits. The squad votes and the list of eight is announced. Cara and Sandra Bacon are on it. So is Annie. Jess can’t believe it!
Liz goes out to the Dairi Burger with Enid and tells her a bit about what’s on her mind. Liz worries that Annie’s reputation is going to keep her off the squad. Enid says she’s heard rumors about Annie too but that that’s how the rumor mill works. Liz says she’s been tutoring Annie, and Enid agrees that Annie seems like a natural cheerleader. Liz worries that Jess is going to hold Annie’s past against her. Enid isn’t surprised at all, having been on the receiving end of Jessica’s gossip in the past, but tells Liz that only Annie can change her own life.
Now that the squad is close to selecting the new members, Jess goes into overdrive to find the votes she wants. She doesn’t know who Robin will vote for, and since Maria keeps raving about Annie, Jess figures she’s pro-Annie. So Jess meets with Helen Bradley. First, Jess confirms that Helen’s planning to vote for Cara. She then says Helen should also vote for Sandra Bacon. Jess says Sandra already has two votes (her own and Jean West’s, since Jean is Sandra’s best friend) so only one more vote is needed to get her on the squad. Helen agrees to vote for Sandra.
The final audition for the cheerleading squad begins. There are loads of spectators, although I’m not sure why people are this interested or why gawking is encouraged. Sandra Bacon goes first and falls after a jump, to her mortification. Cara does a great job, as does Annie. The other five nameless girls are okay. The five members of the squad discuss who should make it while Ricky listens in. They all agree Cara is a shoo-in. But then it’s down to Sandra and Annie. Jean and Jess both vote Sandra. Maria and Robin say that Annie was better. Jess points out that Annie’s a sophomore while Sandra’s a junior and says there’s more at stake than just looking good. Strange, since we’re in Sweet Valley and looking good is basically the most important qualities one can have. Everyone looks to Helen for her opinion. Helen admits that Annie was better. So that’s three votes for Annie. Jessica can’t stand it and says that if they let “Easy Annie” on the team, she’s going to quit.
The results are revealed the next day at school. In fourth period Spanish class, the only class Annie shares with Ricky (does this mean Ricky’s a sophomore too?? Yet he’s somehow “managing” the cheer squad??), he gives her a note informing her that she didn’t make it. Cara and Sandra are the new cheerleaders!
Annie demands answers from Ricky, who doesn’t want to tell her at first but then spills all and explains how Jess really didn’t want her on the team due to her reputation and that she threatened to quit if Annie joined. Annie is furious and mortified and runs off. Ricky seeks out Liz (because that’s who everyone goes to when they have a problem; as a kid, I thought it was amazing how everyone knew they could count on her to be a busybody help out and I sooo wanted to be her!). He says he told her everything and that apparently Annie hadn’t been aware of what people were saying behind her back. He feels terrible! Liz confronts Jess about why she kept Annie off the squad. Jess is unconcerned and says she didn’t say anything mean to Annie’s face and that Liz knew she didn’t want Annie on the squad.
Changing gears for a moment: Monday afternoon, the Wakefield parents announce that Ned’s college roommate, who lives in New York, has a daughter their age named Suzanne, who will be coming to stay with the Wakefields for two weeks. While Suzanne visits, they think one of the twins should go to New York in her place, while the other twin shows Suzanne around. They haven’t yet decided who will be going to New York and who will stay home. Jess and Liz are ridiculously excited about this and can’t decide where they want to be. More on this insane plot in the next book.
The phone rings. It’s Ricky, calling for Liz. He says it’s about Annie. She’s in the hospital after trying to kill herself!
The twins race to the hospital. Ricky is there already. He says he went over to Annie’s apartment and broke down the door, worried after not hearing from her, and found her on the bathroom floor. Annie’s mom and her boyfriend show up. Her mom’s kind of a mess and keeps referring to Annie as “my kitten.” Things are tense. The doctor comes out and says that Annie keeps slipping in and out of consciousness. She should be doing better, but it’s like she doesn’t have a will to live anymore. Jess tells the doctor she’s the reason Annie doesn’t have a will to live and he suggests that Jess talk to Annie and if she truly means what she says, then perhaps Annie will come out of her coma. I mean, why not? This magic has worked in the past in Sweet Valley.
Jess talks to Annie and tells her that they’re expanding the cheerleading squad to eight members and that the eighth member will be Annie. There’s no immediate response, and Jess worries that it’s hopeless. But then Annie stirs! She’s awake! The prospect of becoming a cheerleader has given her the will to live again! This entire plot and its resolution is so cringy. Zero discussion about mental health (I suppose fitting for the 80’s) or about depression or anything else.
Annie is given her official cheerleading sweater, and the rest of the squad gathers outside the hospital window to do a cheer for Annie.
Notes:
The whole concept of Annie wanting to kill herself because she didn’t make the cheerleading squad was ridiculously melodramatic. I didn’t like this as a kid because it wasn’t entertaining and felt awkwardly over the top. As an adult, I don’t like it because it seems to trivialize the entire concept instead of actually tackling the issue.
How does Jess not have a reputation as “Easy Jessica”?
Coming up next: Suzanne Devlin wrecks havoc in Sweet Valley while one of the twins takes on NYC!