The Breakaways

"The Breakaways" is a heartfelt graphic novel following Faith, a sensitive girl navigating the anxieties of starting middle school and finding her place. When she's convinced to join the school's C-team soccer squad, she finds herself among a diverse group of misfits who are terrible at the sport but exceptional at forming genuine connections. The story beautifully explores themes of self-acceptance, friendship, and teamwork, challenging conventional notions of success. It's a raw and honest look at middle school social dynamics, perfect for readers aged 8-12, though the publisher lists 4-11. The graphic novel format makes complex emotions accessible.

Quiet, sensitive Faith starts middle school already worrying about how she will fit in. To her surprise, Amanda, a popular eighth grader, convinces her to join the school soccer team, the Bloodhounds. Having never played soccer in her life, Faith ends up on the C team, a ragtag group that’s way better at drama than at teamwork. Although they are awful at soccer, Faith and her teammates soon form a bond both on and off the soccer field that challenges their notions of loyalty, identity, friendship, and unity. The Breakaways from Cathy G. Johnson is a raw, and beautifully honest graphic novel that looks into the lives of a diverse and defiantly independent group of kids learning to make room for themselves in the world.