The Tryout: A Graphic Novel
- Downloads：3961
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2023-01-09 06:53:02
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Christina Soontornvat
- ISBN：1338741268
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
STAND TALL。
BE LOUD。
GAME FACE ON。
When cheerleading tryouts are announced， Christina and her best friend， Megan， literally jump at the chance to join the squad。 As two of the only kids of color in the school， they have always yearned to fit in-and the middle school cheerleaders are popular and accepted by everyone。 But will the girls survive the terrifying tryouts， with their whole grade watching？ And will their friendship withstand the pressures of competition？
BE LOUD。
GAME FACE ON。
When cheerleading tryouts are announced， Christina and her best friend， Megan， literally jump at the chance to join the squad。 As two of the only kids of color in the school， they have always yearned to fit in-and the middle school cheerleaders are popular and accepted by everyone。 But will the girls survive the terrifying tryouts， with their whole grade watching？ And will their friendship withstand the pressures of competition？
Reviews
Laura Stephens
，
I borrowed this one from a student because it was the top seller at the last book fair。 I think this has a great message for those headed into middle school， and I appreciate that it shines a light on how racist comments and stereotypes tear people down。 I’ll continue to recommend this one to 4th/5th grade。
Ashley
，
I went into this expecting a light， fluffy read about cheerleaders。 And yes， I kind of got that， but I also got a great story about being different， about facing hardships because of those differences， about rising up and embracing who you are and going after what you want。 I loved this！ The story was amazing （and I didn't know it was autobiographical！）， the art was great; this was all-around a fantastic read！ I went into this expecting a light， fluffy read about cheerleaders。 And yes， I kind of got that， but I also got a great story about being different， about facing hardships because of those differences， about rising up and embracing who you are and going after what you want。 I loved this！ The story was amazing （and I didn't know it was autobiographical！）， the art was great; this was all-around a fantastic read！ 。。。more
Jessie
，
About navigating middle school as someone who always stands out in a Texas town for being Thai-American。 Also， a terrible terrible format for cheer tryouts。I loved seeing Christina and others find the places that did fit them and also know that they did do well in the cheer tryout， even if the popularity feedback loop aspect of it didn't reward that。 The friendship between Christina and Megan is also so lovely even when it's hard。Other favorite: Christina's dad。 About navigating middle school as someone who always stands out in a Texas town for being Thai-American。 Also， a terrible terrible format for cheer tryouts。I loved seeing Christina and others find the places that did fit them and also know that they did do well in the cheer tryout， even if the popularity feedback loop aspect of it didn't reward that。 The friendship between Christina and Megan is also so lovely even when it's hard。Other favorite: Christina's dad。 。。。more
Sarah Elizabeth
，
What an enjoyable book to start the year with！ This graphic novel captures the emotional highs and lows in friendship and identity that middle school creates。 The family of Christina is so lovely and encouraging and full of so much love for each other - I really enjoyed the positive familial relationships that the story shared。 Christina and her best friend Megan are trying our for the 7th grade cheer team， but they’re both “outsiders” in their town despite growing up there alongside their class What an enjoyable book to start the year with！ This graphic novel captures the emotional highs and lows in friendship and identity that middle school creates。 The family of Christina is so lovely and encouraging and full of so much love for each other - I really enjoyed the positive familial relationships that the story shared。 Christina and her best friend Megan are trying our for the 7th grade cheer team， but they’re both “outsiders” in their town despite growing up there alongside their classmates。 Christina is half-Thai， half-Texan as she describes herself， and Megan’s dad is Iranian。 Through their “outsider” status， you see them searching for how they fit in their small Texas town。This is a read I can see myself recommending to many late-elementary and middle school students。 。。。more
Kelly Risinger
，
Accurate middle school angst
Marcia
，
Another stand out from Christina Sontornvat！ Her memoir of being a Thai girl growing up in Texas， the racism she faces， the universal desire to fit in， navigating middle school friendships， and her journey trying out for the cheerleading squad。 Excellent illustrations， a fully engaging story。
Jules Larca
，
If you want to do cheerleading it would be a good book for you。 Also if you tryed out for cheerleading and did not make it you mite like it to。
Ruth Covington
，
I was impressed with how invested I was in this story and the characters。 Love the author's honesty and vulnerability in sharing her struggles with so many relatable issues as a 7th grader。 I was impressed with how invested I was in this story and the characters。 Love the author's honesty and vulnerability in sharing her struggles with so many relatable issues as a 7th grader。 。。。more
Sara
，
middle school book group is back！！ looking forward to discussing this with the kids
Jess
，
I loved this graphic novel even though I was mad at the bullying she faced。 Another great addition to any middle school library to add more perspectives to the world。
Lily Desjardins
，
I did pause reading this book for a couple weeks but this book was amazing！ I shows that if you don’t get what you want， It’s ok but keep going。 I chose 4 stars because it did go a little fast at the end but otherwise this book is an amazing book for young readers！
Colleen
，
It took me about halfway through the story to maybe more than halfway to say "Wait a minute！ Is this an autobiography？！" Yes， it took me that much time to realize that both the main protagonist and the author has the same last name， which is when I checked to see if there was an author note and there was。 It seems this is more based on a true story than a straight up autobiography， but it was still hard to tell what genre this was。 It also did not help that my library cataloged this as 741。5973， It took me about halfway through the story to maybe more than halfway to say "Wait a minute！ Is this an autobiography？！" Yes， it took me that much time to realize that both the main protagonist and the author has the same last name， which is when I checked to see if there was an author note and there was。 It seems this is more based on a true story than a straight up autobiography， but it was still hard to tell what genre this was。 It also did not help that my library cataloged this as 741。5973， meaning it is a graphic novel and therefore fictional。 Verdict: This was pretty good。 I am still confuse on whether this was supposed to be an autobiography or not。 。。。more
Lorraine
，
Loved it！
Harper Bowen
，
I love that it’s an autobiography！ I didn’t realize until I read it twice。
Celia
，
As a girl who once tried out for her school's cheerleading squad， I instantly connected with Christina and her struggle to fit in with the popular crowd。 This book is filled with realistic characters facing the pressure of middle-school life。 I loved the tidbits about Thailand and its customs; I learned quite a bit from this book。My favorite part was when Christina confessed how hurt she was to her best friend Megan。 I think we can all relate to that moment where the pain and anger we've been ho As a girl who once tried out for her school's cheerleading squad， I instantly connected with Christina and her struggle to fit in with the popular crowd。 This book is filled with realistic characters facing the pressure of middle-school life。 I loved the tidbits about Thailand and its customs; I learned quite a bit from this book。My favorite part was when Christina confessed how hurt she was to her best friend Megan。 I think we can all relate to that moment where the pain and anger we've been holding in all come to a head。 It definitely teaches tweens and adults alike that communication is key espcially when it comes to someone you love。I could instantly tell the illustrator's Ghibli influence because the drawings definitely made me think of some of my favorite Miyazaki filmsThis will go on the shelf as one of the best middle-grade graphic novels。 i cannot wait to see what else the author and illustrator have in store next。 。。。more
Kim Bahr
，
A strong 4。5！
Skip
，
Based on Christina Soontornvat's experience as one of only two POCs in a small Texan town， she and her close Iranian friend Megan decide they want to be cheerleaders， who are de facto popular kids。 She and Megan became friends because they are "different" and therefore targets for racism。 Christina is upset when Megan （a gymnast） chooses another partner for the tryout。 Good illustrations， but the best part of the story was the author's explanation of her personal trials and tribulations: the sto Based on Christina Soontornvat's experience as one of only two POCs in a small Texan town， she and her close Iranian friend Megan decide they want to be cheerleaders， who are de facto popular kids。 She and Megan became friends because they are "different" and therefore targets for racism。 Christina is upset when Megan （a gymnast） chooses another partner for the tryout。 Good illustrations， but the best part of the story was the author's explanation of her personal trials and tribulations: the story was kind of ho-hum， at least for me。 。。。more
Heidi Burkhart
，
A well-written story with genuine experiences and emotions。 Sadly， I thought that the illustrations were not of a quality that matched the writing。 I hate to criticize work that someone has spent so much time on， but the graphics weren’t good。 Gaping mouths repeatedly drawn， and the half Thai girl looked Mayan， and all of the girls had the same tree stump legs。 The illustrations will turn a reader off before they even reach for a GN。 I do hold the publisher at fault。 The book could have been a s A well-written story with genuine experiences and emotions。 Sadly， I thought that the illustrations were not of a quality that matched the writing。 I hate to criticize work that someone has spent so much time on， but the graphics weren’t good。 Gaping mouths repeatedly drawn， and the half Thai girl looked Mayan， and all of the girls had the same tree stump legs。 The illustrations will turn a reader off before they even reach for a GN。 I do hold the publisher at fault。 The book could have been a super success had they chosen a more skilled illustrator。 。。。more
Mary Havens
，
This graphic novel rang all my bells。 Memoir， small town Texas， friendship， middle school struggles。 So much to love。 I'm glad that Soontornvat shared her story because everyone needs to read it。 We can all relate even if we did not grow up in dual cultures。 We've all felt like fish out of water。 I appreciate sharing her specific story and representing so many Asian Texans。 This graphic novel rang all my bells。 Memoir， small town Texas， friendship， middle school struggles。 So much to love。 I'm glad that Soontornvat shared her story because everyone needs to read it。 We can all relate even if we did not grow up in dual cultures。 We've all felt like fish out of water。 I appreciate sharing her specific story and representing so many Asian Texans。 。。。more
stillme
，
Love this graphic novel based on Soontornvat's personal experiences in middle school！ Our elementary school was fortunate enough to have Ms。 Soontornvat visit， and I could definitely hear her voice as I was reading :） Love this graphic novel based on Soontornvat's personal experiences in middle school！ Our elementary school was fortunate enough to have Ms。 Soontornvat visit， and I could definitely hear her voice as I was reading :） 。。。more
Erin
，
Excellent middle grade graphic novel about fitting in， trying something outside of one’s comfort zone， and the message （without being preachy or lesson-like） that everyone has challenges and obstacles in their lives。 This memoir was powerful and I also really appreciated that not everything was tied up neatly in a bow。
Jenny Murphy
，
4。5⭐️
Joy
，
So much heart in this story！
Mary T
，
I loved All Thirteen by this author， and I love this type of graphic novel （based on the author's experience）。 This was great！ I loved All Thirteen by this author， and I love this type of graphic novel （based on the author's experience）。 This was great！ 。。。more
Nonie
，
Christina， an Asian living in Texas， struggles to belong in her white middle school。 Christina decides to tryout for the cheerleading squad， so that she'll fit in， and kids will no longer bully her。 Most of the novel surrounds the tryouts， and Christina’s challenges with her best friend， Megan， who is slowly drifting away。I loved the ending。 （view spoiler）[After days of practicing and anticipation， the big day comes。 Christina and Megan both don’t get into the cheerleading squad。However， after g Christina， an Asian living in Texas， struggles to belong in her white middle school。 Christina decides to tryout for the cheerleading squad， so that she'll fit in， and kids will no longer bully her。 Most of the novel surrounds the tryouts， and Christina’s challenges with her best friend， Megan， who is slowly drifting away。I loved the ending。 （view spoiler）[After days of practicing and anticipation， the big day comes。 Christina and Megan both don’t get into the cheerleading squad。However， after getting over her disappointment， Christina uses her failure as an opportunity for growth。 She goes on to accomplish and grow， and she uses the skills that she developed while practicing for the tryouts to do it。 This gave the book a really nice finish。 （hide spoiler）]The pictures at the end， showing the real life Christina and her dad， were also an interesting touch to the story。The cheerleaders glowed because they were popular。 Popular kids wore the right clothes and told the right jokes。 And no one ever made fun of their names or their lunches。 I was determined to dress the part。 Unpopular kids got bullied。 No way would that be me。 Christina has a wild imagination， which makes for many interesting scenes as she imagines herself and her best friend as elves， conquering the world。 And， she has two loving parents standing behind her， which give her lots of confidence and support， and a great life attitude。This is cute relatable middle-school story that middle graders will enjoy。 If you enjoyed this， check out Invisible。Content:Religion:Christina and her family go to both a Thai temple， and a church。 There are a few pages of worshipers bowing and speaking to buddha statues， as well as scenes of them in church with crosses。 Christina also compares Jesus and Buddha， and there are pictures of both。 Romance:There are many pictures of cheerleaders in short skirts， and shorts。 However， none of the drawings are super realistic or detailed。 There is a mention of how it’s not fair the cheerleaders get to wear them because they are out of the dress code。 Girls change in front of each other in PE and a comment that Christina is lucky she doesn’t need a sports bra。Other: A few scenes show characters watching TV。 Two frames show a fake fart news show。 。。。more
Llyr Heller-Humphreys
，
Excellent
Sage
，
awesome！
Janssen
，
But HOW is she so good at every kind of book？！
Siani Hilario
，
This book is about never giving up and trying new things。 Even though she didn't get on the team she tried something new。 This book is about never giving up and trying new things。 Even though she didn't get on the team she tried something new。 。。。more
Lindsey
，