The Squad: A Graphic Novel (the Tryout #2) - by Christina Soontornvat (Paperback)

About the Book

As an 8th grader from a racially mixed family, Christina faces a new set of challenges, heartbreaks, and triumphs.

Book Synopsis

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.

"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

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!

Review Quotes

Praise for The Squad:

"Christina and Joanna do it again! The Squad is raw, candid, moving, and full of heart. This beautifully illustrated sequel to The Tryout truly captures the growing pains of middle school, dealing with heartbreaking family matters, and the perseverance of the human spirit." --Betty C. Tang, author of the award-winning bestseller Parachute Kids

"Three cheers for The Squad! I loved every gorgeous, heartfelt, and hilarious page." --Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After series

"This story is so full of heart. I was cheering for Christina!" --Kayla Miller, creator of the Click graphic novel series

"Like cheerleading itself, Christina's life is full of tumbles, twists, and turns. When her indomitable spirit is challenged and threatens to break, you'll find yourself rooting for her in this uproarious and inspiring page turner." --Lisa Yee, author of the Newbery Honor book and National Book Award Finalist Maizy Chen's Last Chance

About the Author

Christina Soontornvat is a three-time Newbery Honoree, a Sibert Honoree, and a Kirkus Prize winner. Her highly acclaimed backlist includes the middle grade books The Tryout, The Last Mapmaker, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen; the picture book To Change a Planet; and the chapter book series Diary of an Ice Princess and Legends of Lotus Island. Christina lives in Austin, Texas, with her family. You can learn more about her work at soontornvat.com.
Joanna Cacao is a Canadian-Filipino author-illustrator who lives in Winnipeg with her Pomeranian, Danny. She loves working on magical and fantastical stories. Growing up in front of a TV, Joanna immediately became obsessed with any show or film that had a great story and set of characters. Her favorite shows consist of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Downton Abbey, and Gravity Falls. Her biggest influences come from various manga, as well as Ghibli and Disney films. She has a background in 3D Animation, and has self-published a queer webcomic: Toxic for You.