Monday, October 16, 2023

Belle of the Ball

Casta, Mari. Belle of the Ball. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781250784131. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.


Regina is driven and dedicated. As a senior who's already mapped her future, Regina is both an overachiever who needs high grades to become a surgeon, the head cheerleader for the school varsity cheer team, and, of course, the school's most popular girl. Regina's girlfriend, Chloe, is by far the school's best soccer player and all around athlete, but academics are not her strengths. She'd rather play sports, videogames, or go to renaissance fairs. She most likely will get recruited to play in college, but she's got to finish her senior year first. Hawkins is the school's mascot. She tried out for the cheer squad in 9th grade, but found hiding in the mascot costume easier emotionally. Also a senior, Hawkins doesn't have a roadmap in front of her. She's not sure what she wants to do with her life in the future, but for now she wishes she and Regina could be a couple.

Hawkins gets her chance when she hears the rumor that Regina and Chloe have broken up. Unfortunately, they're already back together, but Regina, always the schemer, sees this crush as a great opportunity. Hawkins offers tutoring services, and Chloe desperately needs to pass her English class. Plus, Regina is pretty sure her charms will convince Hawkins to do it for free. Unfortunately for Regina, her plan works too well. Hawkins and Chloe start spending a lot of time together, and, unbeknown to Regina, both of them knew each other as children in elementary school, way back when Hawkins used to dress up as a princess every day, and Chloe was strangely attracted to her. 

As Chloe and Hawkins' relationship is rekindled and grows into something more, Regina struggles with identifying what she really wants from life. With the end of senior year getting closer with every passing day, with prom and other events quickly filling up their calendar, will Hawkins, Chloe, and Regina figure themselves out?

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