The Squad

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Break out your pom poms! The highly anticipated, stand-alone companion to the instant #1 bestseller The Tryout promises even more cheer, higher stakes, and relatable middle-school drama. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.

STEP UP. COMMIT. FOLLOW THROUGH.

It’s eighth grade and Christina and her besties, Megan and Leanne, are once again going through the brutal trials of cheerleading tryouts. This year, Christina feels more confident: She dresses in her own style and has amazing friends, even her first crush. But what if the girls don’t all make the squad? Worse than that, Christina learns her parents’ marriage is collapsing. Suddenly, her family, her future, and her identity seem in total freefall. Can Christina keep it together and still make her cheerleading dreams come true?

This high-flying, heart-filled story will make you laugh harder, cry more, and cheer louder than ever!

An Instant New York Times Bestseller!
Named to the Texas Little Mavericks Graphic Novel List

Check out all the cheers for THE TRYOUT:

An Instant #1 Indie Bestseller!
An Amazon Bestseller!
Starred Reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness, and School Library Journal
New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
Illinois Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee
Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award List
Rhode Island Middle School Book Award List
Virginia Reads Middle School Book Award List
Pennsylvania Keystone Book Award List
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Best-of-the-Year list
Children’s Book Council Favorites Award List
SCBWI Golden Kite Award Finalist
Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
Utah’s Beehive Book Award Finalist
Virginia Library Association Graphic Novel Diversity Honor

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338741314
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338741315

EXTRAS

PRAISE

Raw, candid, moving, and full of heart.

Betty C. Tang, creator of the award-winning bestseller Parachute Kids

Gorgeous, heartfelt, and hilarious.

Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After series

Soontornvat’s denouement is genuinely nail-biting, and the girls’ earnest love for cheerleading is infectious, despite their experiences with outward prejudice. Via emotive close-ups, Cacao confidently conveys the girls’ persistence, fluidly injecting their athletic pursuits with lively energy using bright color palettes and varied character design.”

Publishers Weekly (STARRED Review for THE TRYOUT)

Soontornvat’s memoir is cringe-worthy in the best possible way. . . . brought to life with gorgeous illustration from self-taught comic artist Joanna Cacao. . . . The Tryout is an inspiring and insightful graphic memoir for anyone who simply wants to fit in.

Shelf Awareness (STARRED Review for THE TRYOUT)

The plot alone is enough to keep young readers flipping the pages. (I held my breath when the final roster of cheerleaders was announced.) But like all good books about growing pains, this captivating middle-grade gem contains many moments that will resonate with young and old alike.

The New York Times review of THE TRYOUT