Graphic Novel Review: The Squad
The Squad by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Joanna Cacao, is a uplifting graphic novel about navigating middle school, friendships, and big changes. This is the second book in the series and follows Christina, an eighth-grader, as she continues her cheerleading journey. Read on for a review of The Squad, published by Scholastic Inc.
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Christina feels more confident than she did in the first book. She’s finding her style, enjoying her supportive friends, and even experiencing her first crush. But life gets complicated! The pressure of cheerleading tryouts becomes intense when Christina realizes not all her friends might make the squad. At the same time, her world is turned upside down when she learns her parents are getting divorced. This news hits hard, and it starts to affect her friendships, cheerleading, and her confidence at cheer camp.
Things come to a head one night at camp when the girls share their feelings, and Christina opens up about her parents’ divorce. To her surprise, her teammates rally around her, offering her the support and understanding she needs. With their help, Christina begins to feel stronger. She even gets to go on a sweet first date with Andy after camp!
The Squad wraps up with a cheerleading performance and leaves readers with an important message about friendship, belonging, and learning to be comfortable in your own skin. Christina’s journey shows that even when life gets tough, leaning on friends and staying true to yourself can help you find your way.
The Squad graphic novel is perfect for middle schoolers who are figuring out where they belong, and it’s especially relatable for kids dealing with big changes at home or in their lives. Scholastic has given kids a story that’s a great mix of fun, heart, and life lessons!
