Book review - Breakout

 

Title: Breakout

Author: Christina Wyman

Genre: realistic fiction

Age range: middle grade

Similar book: Love is in the Hair by Gemma Cary

Summary (provided by publisher): Ellis Starr likes learning about active volcanoes. She does not like having acne that resembles them. But it’s not just cosplaying as a pepperoni pizza that has Ellis on the verge of erupting. Her mom’s hot-and-cold moods have the two of them butting heads nonstop—especially now that her mom is dating for the first time since her parents’ separation. Then there’s Ellis’s best friend, Aggy, whose own life—and skin—seems perfect. And who could forget that Ellis still needs to decide on a research topic for a big school project.

With eighth grade proving to be every bit as pesky as a new pimple, Ellis’s only bright spot is the time she spends with her aunt Lydia, whose adorable puppy, Rocco, is a natural stress reliever. (And perhaps the perfect subject for her project.) Maybe this season of breakouts can lead to a breakthrough about what Ellis needs to truly feel good in her own skin.

What I liked: If this were just a book about a kid dealing with problem skin, that would be enough. It's a topic that gets mentioned in middle grade fiction but seldom takes center stage. But Wyman doesn't let the topic stand on it's own. Instead, Ellis's acne is her own central focus but many other issues feed into that plot. This isn't just a book about acne - it's about the complexities of being a middle schooler.

What I didn't like: As you might expect, there's a little bit of grossness to the descriptions. It's not an especially comfortable read but there's enough here for most low to middle income kids to find some common ground.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley