Praise for The Tryout (The Tryout #1): An Instant #1 Bestseller! "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 Book Review "This superlative graphic memoir is a funny, relatable, and genuine story of friendship and belonging. The jokes, daydreams, and quips are delightful without overshadowing or diminishing the impact of [Christina''s] experiences with racism and exclusion. The attractive, expressive illustrations feature clean lines and bright colors. A funny, painfully honest look at a middle schooler finding her way." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Soontornvat''s lived and emotional experiences come through loud and clear.
Cacao''s manga-inspired artwork captures every nuanced emotion. Readers of this empowering graphic memoir will want to invite Christina to sit at their table to share food, stories, and the secrets to self-confidence." -- School Library Journal , starred review "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 "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 "The art is delightfully expressive, and the characters'' personalities shine in each panel.
A standout addition to any graphic autobiography collection." -- Booklist "The trials and tribulations that Christina and her friends go through as they try to find their niche in school, including teasing and bullying, are illustrated and told in a way that every middle school student can relate to. The story is told with a sense of humor and captures the poignancy of the emotional rollercoaster that students in middle school experience every day. The illustrations truly enhance the text, giving just enough detail to fill in the events without being distracting or detracting from the story being told." -- School Library Connection , recommended " The Tryout beautifully captures the struggles and pressures of wanting to fit in. As a fellow Thai-American, Christina brought a tear to my eye." -- Dan Santat, New York Times bestselling creator of The Aquanaut Praise for The Squad (The Tryout #2): A New York Times bestseller! A #1 Indie bestseller! "[A] funny, relatable, stand-alone graphic memoir companion to The Tryout , the story also explores divorce, friend drama, a first crush, racism, and microaggressions. Cacao''s bright, sharply rendered illustrations highlight the characters'' expressions and add context.
Another hilarious and sincere look at a middle schooler''s search for her squad." -- Kirkus Reviews "Picking up soon after The Tryout (2022) ends, Soontornvat''s words and Cacao''s art work together seamlessly to bring to light the different ways adults and tweens communicate and view the world. A solid addition to the middle-grade graphic memoir genre." -- Booklist Reviews "In this second installment, Soontornvat lays bare the difficulties of girlhood, showing both vulnerability and growth, in an approachable text accompanied by lively illustrations. Ultimately, the lesson is finding strength in community: ''I didn''t need life to be perfect.I just needed my squad.''"-- Horn Book "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.