• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

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 she keep it together and still make her cheerleading dreams come true?

Christina Soontornvat is the author of two Newbery Honor books A Wish in the Dark and All Thirteen, which also won the Kirkus Prize and a Sibert Honor distinction. She is also the author of Scholastic’s beloved fantasy series Diary of an Ice Princess, and the picture books The Ramble Shamble Children, The Blunders, and Simon at the Art Museum, as well as the forthcoming To Change a Planet. Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science and STEM. Christina lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, two young children, and one old cat. You can learn more about her work at soontornvat.com.

Christina Soontornvat's profile page

Joanna Cacao is a Canadian-Filipino artist and 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.

Joanna Cacao's profile page

Praise for The Squad:

“[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

“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