The Squad Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Squad Series:
Perfect Cover and Killer Spirit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Review by: Erica Moore

Two, four, six, eight who do we appreciate? Have you ever suspected your high school cheerleaders might be more that just cheerleaders? Well of course not, and that’s why they are the perfect cover.

Toby Klein a sophomore is invited to join the varsity cheer squad at Bayport High. At first she thinks the written invitations are a joke, but with a closer look, she notices they are encoded with hidden messages. Toby is not cheerleader material at first glance. She is a black belt in karate, wears combat boots and has computer hacking as her hobby. She does not sparkle with glitter (yet). But she has exactly what they want.

Bayport’s varsity cheer squad is a cover for a group of teen government operatives. They are hot and deadly and they take their cheer responsibilities as seriously as their spy missions--5:30 am cheer practice.

There is adventure and mystery intermixed with high school politics, fashion and a little romance. The books don’t take themselves too seriously, although I wish they were more on the campy side since the cheerleaders are spies and the cover art has a Charlie’s Angels theme to it. The girls rule the school of course as the “God Squad” and it’s impossible for them to get into trouble at school. There is a lot of humor in transforming Toby into a cheerleader and uber popular girl with perfect, clothes, hair, makeup and glitter. Who could want for a more perfect life?

Teens who want more will like Ally Carter’s I’d Tell You I love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

The YA YA YA's: "...these books were just plain fun. They’re entertaining, kept me reading, and I had a good time reading them. " (read more...)

Abby (the) Librarian: "It's hilarious and smart and fun. Jennifer Lynn Barnes takes an outlandish scenario and makes it seem plausible. It's Alias meets Bring It On. It had me laughing out loud and I didn't want to put it down. " (read more...)

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "What makes both of these books work is the inherent conflict between Toby's rebellious, loner nature and her immersion into a group of hyper-popular, perfectly groomed cheerleaders. She fights back, but also finds herself seduced by the power, and the satisfaction of being part of a team." (read more...)



More info:
Perfect Cover:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (February 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385734549
• ISBN-13: 978-0385734547
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Killer Spirit:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (February 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385734557
• ISBN-13: 978-0385734554
• Source: Review copy from publisher