BREAKOUT

A humorous coming-of-age novel with zits, separated parents, complicated friendships, and therapy dogs.

What does a volcano have in common with a pepperoni pizza? They both describe ways that 13-year-old Ellis Starr views her acne-prone skin, which she grades as being on the 99th percentile of the Acne Scale of Doom. Life gets more complicated when her zits swell together in fiery red blotches and the eighth grade capstone project looms over her head. Ellis likes to collect random scientific facts but can’t land on a subject that’s exciting enough. She feels like no one is really listening to her, including her parents (who can’t afford to divorce) and her best friend, Aggy (who has beautiful blemish-free skin). The stressors keep piling up, and the fiery red blemishes proliferate despite home remedies like toothpaste and special soap. When Ellis realizes that hanging out with Rocco, her Aunt Lydia’s golden retriever, helps her de-stress, she lands on her capstone subject—therapy dogs—and connects with her empathetic aunt, who serves as an insightful guide. Wyman authentically portrays multidimensional teens and adults, expertly pacing the intergenerational interactions among characters who care for each other but sometimes need to learn to listen to different perspectives. Ellis is white, and Aggy is of Indian and German descent.

A witty story about feeling good in your own skin that rings true emotionally.