BOOK REVIEW: 4 Stars for RADIATE by MARLEY GIBSON

Title:   RADIATE
Author:  MARLEY GIBSON
Publisher:  Graphia (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Pages:  416 pages (paperback) 2mb file (ebook)
Publish Date:  Ebook and Paperback due out Apirl 03, 2012
Acquired:  Ebook for review from publisher via NetGalley


RATING:  4 out of 5 Inspiring Hayley Stars!

Goodreads Description:

Hayley Matthews has one dream: to make it onto the varsity cheerleading team her senior year of high school. Odds are against her, but she doesn't let that stop her from trying. So she works hard for months, perfecting her gymnastics and dancing moves. And despite the odds, she makes the squad.
In an instant, Hayley's life changes. Now she's part of the popular crowd at school, dating a football player, and going to parties. And she's working hard to be as perfect on the squad as her captain expects them all to be.
But then one day Hayley notices a lump on her left leg and the steady throb she's been feeling has gotten much worse. She can barely walk. When Hayley goes with her mom to get it checked out, the diagnosis is cancer. The doctor can't say how bad it is or what the prognosis will be. At the minimum, she'll have to have surgery. At the most it could mean loss of her leg or even her life.
Once again Hayley's life changes in an instant. Now she must face the odds again and show everyone, including herself, just how strong she is. And through it all--three surgeries, chemo, radiation, rehab, and just getting back to a normal life--it's cheerleading that keeps Hayley focused and positive.
All she wants to do is cheer, and nothing, including cancer, is going to stop her.

REVIEW:

I went out on a limb and read something that is just "normal"! No vampires, zombies, were's, fae creatures, etc!!!  And I really really enjoyed RADIATE.

As the mother of a Cheerleader, Radiate caught my attention as there aren't too many cheerleader based fiction books available in Australia.  And if something is going to get my 14yo to read a book - it'll be something with Cheerleaders in it!!

Radiate brings us the story of Hayley Matthews - "band geek" and desperate to be a somebody.....what better way than to be a Cheerleader.  Hayley tries out for the Cheer squad in her Senior year and after getting in, claiming instant notoriety.....this is set to be a Senior year she will never forget. 

Gruelling cheer training and a cheer captain that could make them run rings around P90Xers (!) Hayley soon discovers she has a lump in her leg....and it's painful. When it won't go away Hayley is checked out at the doctors and yep....it's the big C - Cancer.  But hey....she's a cheerleader and NOTHING will stop her from cheering out Senior Year.  

She's one tough cookie and powers through with total determination that would have any athlete in awe and any parent proud.

Oh yeah.....being cheerleader also snags her the football star boyfriend that she's been crushing on for years.  But will he stick around or is it just the "cheerleader" status that he's interested?  

with  many obstacles to overcome Hayley is an inspiration to many.....and at the end of the book (no spoilers here!) - Marley Gibson shares what her inspiration was for the story....making it all the more worthwhile for anyone to read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone!  Out of this book I got not just entertainment....but inspiration and hope....and a few tears along the way!

ENJOY!

MARISSA