Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston is a poignant young adult novel that follows Hermione Winters, a high school cheer captain whose life spirals after she is drugged and raped at cheer camp, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. Set in the small town of Palermo Heights, where cheerleading reigns supreme, the story explores Hermione's journey of reclaiming her identity amidst judgment and stigma from peers and community. The novel is structured in four parts, beginning at cheer camp, where Hermione and her team undergo rigorous training. After a celebratory dance, Hermione finds herself incapacitated and later wakes up in the hospital to devastating news about her assault. Despite the trauma, she resolves to have a successful senior year and takes control of her situation, eventually deciding to have an abortion. As Hermione navigates the fallout from the assault, including strained relationships with her unsupportive boyfriend Leo and the complexities of her friendship with Polly, she discovers her inner strength. The narrative culminates at the championships held at the camp where the attack occurred, forcing Hermione to confront her trauma. Ultimately, she not only leads her team to victory.
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