Book in the Making: Inside My Upcoming Cheerleading Kids’ Graphic Novel Series

If you’ve ever wondered what actually goes on behind the scenes when a cheerleading book is being born… well, grab your giant water jug, your lukewarm coffee, or whatever’s keeping you upright today. We’re opening the next chapter, literally and creatively.

I’m Alison Sack — cheer coach of 20+ years, author by accident, storyteller by passion, and someone who regularly finds glitter in places glitter should not be. Today I’m giving you a proper sneak peek into my next big project: a whole new cheerleading kids’ graphic novel series.

Yes, you read that right. Graphic novels. Cheerleading. Kids. All wrapped up in action, heart, and a good pinch of chaos.

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Why This Series Is Happening

This all kicked off because I kept meeting kids — in my gym, at comps, through book events — who wanted something a bit different to read. Something fast-paced, fun, illustrated, and still full of real cheer energy.

Let’s be honest: cheerleading books for children can be a little thin on the ground, and the ones that do exist often don’t reflect the actual sport our athletes live and breathe.

So I thought… right, let’s fix that.

This series is built for young readers who love cheer, want to feel understood, and enjoy a bit of drama sprinkled between stunts.

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Behind the Writing Desk (Brace Yourself)

Now, when I say “desk,” I mean:
• a questionable-looking pile of notes
• highlighters that mysteriously vanish
• a stack of half-drunk teas
• character drawings stuck everywhere like a conspiracy board

This is where the magic (and mild chaos) happens.

For this series, I started with the heart — the characters. Who are they? What do they struggle with? What makes them tick? What makes them launch themselves into a round-off like their life depends on it?

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Meet the Early Characters

You’ll get to know:
• The overthinker who wants every stunt to be perfect
• The bold one who jumps first and worries later
• The quiet kid who’s stronger than they realise
• The new athlete finding their place on the team

Each of them is inspired by real athletes I’ve coached over the years — kids with heart, grit, wobbles, meltdowns, breakthroughs, and all.

Every character has purpose. Every storyline has a lesson tucked inside it. And every book is crafted to help kids build confidence without even realising it.

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The Art Style

We’re going for a bright, energetic, slightly-Disney-inspired look — expressive faces, dynamic movement, and lots of emotion. Cheer isn’t static, and the art shouldn’t be either.

The illustrations help kids:
• follow the storyline quickly
• understand cheer skills visually
• feel part of the team
• connect with characters instantly

It’s storytelling with spark.

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The Themes Running Through the Series

These books cover the big stuff — the things we see week after week in the gym:
✨ Friendship
✨ Confidence
✨ Teamwork
✨ Perseverance
✨ Problem-solving
✨ And yes… the occasional glitter explosion

Mixed with humour, cheer chaos, and the ups and downs of training, comps, and daily life as a young athlete.

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Why Representation Matters

Kids need to see themselves in stories — in body types, in personalities, in emotions, in challenges.

Cheerleading isn’t one look, one style, or one personality type. And neither are these books.

We’re building a world where every child (and their mum hiding in the corner with a coffee) can say:
“Oh! That looks like me/my kid/my teammate.”

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How It All Fits Into the Bigger Picture

This graphic novel series sits alongside the existing Cheer books, the activity journal, and the future series in the works. It’s another piece of the big mission:

Bring cheerleading to more kids. Teach life skills through storytelling. Help families feel connected to the sport.

And yes — keep them reading. Especially on long comp weekends when the queue for the toilet wraps around the entire venue.

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Want to Follow the Journey?

If you want updates as pages get illustrated, characters evolve, and the story comes alive, keep an eye on:
📍 thecheerleaderbookclub.com
📍 @thecheerleaderbookclub on socials

I share sneak peeks, character sketches, writing updates, and the occasional “What on earth is this scribble” moment.

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Thanks for Turning the Page With Me

I appreciate you being here, cheering on this wild creative ride. Writing these stories for young cheerleaders has become one of my favourite things to do, and I can’t wait to share more as this series comes together.

Until the next Cheer Chapter, keep your coffee warm and your spirits high.

Allison xx

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Allison xx