Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!
Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.
Congratulations to Christina Wyman on the release of Breakout
How did you come up with the idea for your book? Is this part of a series?
My books tend to be very personal projects, so they each deal with an issue that impacted my life as a child – in whatever way that happens to be. In the case of Breakout, the main character deals with debilitating acne, and is something that most adolescents can relate to on some level! But it also deals with complicated relationship dynamics. The main character, Ellis Starr, struggles with her best friend (who doesn’t suffer from acne), and is also having to come to terms with the fact that her single mom started dating again. All of this has been pretty rough on Ellis – she just wants to feel normal.
But I have to give a lot of credit to my dad for this one – during a conversation one day, he told me about a friend of his whose daughter was dealing with a terrible case of acne – to the extent where she didn’t want to go to school. I remember those days well, and boy, did my wheels start turning. Breakout was born from that conversation. Sometimes it takes a simple conversation with our parents to remind us of the adolescent trials and tribulations of long ago!
Breakout is my third standalone novel, so, not a series. But all of my books deal with adolescent life in some way!
What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?
I’ve always struggled with this question because, as every artist knows, once your art is out in the world, it no longer belongs to you – and people are going to take away whatever they’re called to take away. For these reasons and more, I don’t really write with specific messages or goals for readers in mind. What I always hope for is that readers feel seen in the books that I write, in whatever way makes sense for them. (And I absolutely love when they write to me to tell me about it!)
What was the most difficult part of writing this book?
I find that writing standalone novels in the same genre presents a host of possibilities – but also challenges. For me, the challenges involve creating characters and plotlines (whether major or minor) that do not feel too much like characters that have already appeared in my other books. I don’t want readers to feel like they’re reading the same stories over and over, so I work the hardest at really differentiating each book so that they feel like they stand on their own two feet. (Also, I wrote Breakout twice, which was its own unique challenge!)
What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?
I am very fortunate that my publisher handles a lot of this piece, but locally, I like to visit schools and bookstores during launch season. Breakout can be found wherever books are sold! I have received so many wonderful opportunities to talk with kids, families, teachers, and librarians. Word of mouth is really how middle grade books get momentum.
What's next for you?
I am very lucky to be crossing the finish line with my fourth book, Mean, about an eighth-grade girl struggling with her friendships and other middle school trickiness. Stay tuned!
More about the book . . .
Taken from Amazon:
From the USA Today–bestselling author of Jawbreaker and Slouch, Breakout is a fresh and funny middle-grade novel about a girl with chronic acne figuring out how to feel good in her own skin.
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 her best friend, Aggy, whose own life―and skin―seem 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.
Rising star author Christina Wyman takes on a quintessential middle-school experience―acne―with her trademark humor, honesty, and heart. Breakout is a must-read for kids ages 8-12 who love Raina Telgemeier, Terri Libenson, Kelly Yang, Gordon Korman, and other endlessly funny and deeply heartfelt books that tackle big topics and universal coming-of-age experiences alike. If you enjoyed Breakout, you’ll also love the USA Today bestsellers Jawbreaker and Slouch from Christina Wyman. Order your own copy today!
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
An imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
More about the author . . .
Christina Wyman is a teacher and writer living in Michigan with her husband and silly rescue cats named Alfred and Greta Cannoli―not to mention the raccoons, owls, and hummingbirds that occupy a tree outside their bedroom window. She grew up in a tiny apartment with her family in Brooklyn, New York, where she dreamed of becoming a writer. Her work has been published in New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Elle, Ms. Magazine, The Independent, and other outlets. When she’s not writing, you can find her stocking up on chocolate or trying to convince her husband to adopt more cats. Most recently, she’s developed a passion for eating strawberry jam straight out of the jar. Christina is the USA Today-bestselling author of the middle-grade novels Jawbreaker, Slouch, and Breakout.
Instagram: @christina.wyman.books
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