Content Warning: This section contains racial slurs in reference to Christina’s direct experiences.

Cheerleading is the central motif in The Tryout and acts as the catalyst for change both within Christina and between her and the social world. It is a demonstration of How Growth Changes Friendship and illustrates The Desire to Fit In and Feel Understood. When Christina first sees the cheerleaders, she is deeply moved; they are illustrated in bright colors and with sparkles around them, as though they exude some sort of magic. Christina immediately and desperately wants what they have, and she agrees to try out with Megan. Over the next several months of grade seven, their courage and confidence, as well as the friendship between them, are tested.

Christina and Megan initially try out for cheerleading together, but when Megan partners with someone else, it challenges Christina’s idea of friendship and she starts to worry that she will lose Megan forever. Christina sees Megan as the better gymnast and far more likely to succeed at cheerleading, and she begins to feel jealous of Megan. Christina likes cheerleading right away: “When we’re all doing a cheer together, I just feel… right.