American Cheerleader, October 2010 (Vol. 15, No. 5), editor-in-chief Marisa Walker, Macfadden Performing Arts Media, 2010.
Plot Summary
While American Cheerleader contains articles on cheering it also includes features on teen stars, fashion, and general health. For example, in the October 2010 issue readers learn about Ashley Tisdale’s budding career, how to avoid texting harassment, and how to lose weight safely. Every issue contains certain features such as Hot Shots which shows a picture of a cool cheer move, the Contest Page which allows readers to win everything from DVDs to phone covers, and the Fab Fundraising page which gives ideas of events cheer squads can host to raise money. Other features that appear in every issue include Your Health where readers send in health questions and former cheerleader Nancy Redd* answers them, a section on Eating Smart, and an exercise section entitled Personal Health. Every magazine highlights both a Squad of the Month (the October 2010 issue showcases the talent of the Fairmont State University cheerleaders) and a Cheerleader of the Month (Jenny Blake appears in the October 2010 issue). Overall, the magazine is a great way for teenage girls to learn how to stay healthy and fit.
*Not only was Nancy Redd a former cheerleader, she is also author of two excellent non-fiction books for young adults, Body Drama and Diet Drama.
Critical Evaluation
While half the magazine seems to be made up of advertisements, overall American Cheerleader is a great magazine that promotes healthy body images as well as positive emotional well-being. Unlike fashion magazines, American Cheerleader shows real people in all its pictures (barring advertisements) and encourages teen girls to be happy with their natural bodies. For example, when an anonymous teen confesses to working out every day and eating little in order to lose weight author Nancy Redd responds, “Just because you’re bigger than your besties doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful and a brilliant cheerleader. The reason not eating very much isn’t working is because, even if you’d like to lose weight, you have to feed your body a healthy amount of food” (Walker, 2010, p. 75). This theme is echoed in the Your Look section on page 22 as the article encourages teens to maintain a natural look. Even Kathleen Hager’s Your Goodies section encourages girls to maintain a healthy cheer/school balance as she describes cute purses. “Roomy enough for books and chic enough for a college wardrobe, these are the perfect bags to carry you through a busy semester” she writes (Walker, 2010, p. 26). Overall, the magazine promotes positive body images for women of all ages and provides helpful tips on keeping fit both in body and mind. American Cheerleader is definitely a magazine that libraries will want to have in their collection!
Reader’s Annotation
American Cheerleader includes not only the latest news on cheering but tips on how to stay physically and emotionally healthy as well.
About the Editor-in-Chief
On the American Cheerleader website, Marisa Walker writes, “Growing up in Centerville, OH, cheerleading was my whole world—and with this job [as editor-in-chief], it still is! I cheered all through junior high…and high school…I coached, choreographed and taught camps all through college, while earning my degree in journalism at Ohio University, where I was the captain of the dance team. With my background, no one is ever surprised that this is what I do for a living…My job is so cool: It’s like being the captain of a super talented squad, all working their tails off to make something great happen. And to top it all off, I have the best readers in the world to learn from along the way…” (Walker, 2011).
Walker also loves caramel, Dulce de Leche Häagen Dazs ice cream, and board games (Walker, 2011). When not working on American Cheerleader she enjoys reading and spending time with friends (Walker 2011).
Walker, M. (2011). Meet the editors. Retrieved from http://www.americancheerleader.com/meet-the-editors/
Genre
Sports, Teen magazine
Cheerleading, scholarships, awards, television, make-up, cheerleading uniforms, hair, purses, Ashley Tisdale, sexting, texting, Jenny Blake, stunts, diet, exercise
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalk Ideas
N/A
Reading Level/Interest Level
Reading Level: 7th grade
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade (14-18 yrs.)
Reading level was determined by the Flesch-Kincaide grade level tool available in Microsoft Word.
Challenge Issues
N/A
Why Was This Included?
I decided to include American Cheerleader because it seemed like the quintessential teen girls’ magazine as cheerleading is only practiced by teens and college students (as far as I know). I chose the October 2010 issue because it featured famous Ashley Tisdale.
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