Ellis is a typical Middle School girl who is dealing with the beginning of breakouts and friendship issues, parents splitting up, her mom beginning to date, and school in general. Her mom is trying to give her advice on how to take care of her skin and they are butting heads over the advice. In addition to that advice, her mom is spending time with a new friend and the two of them are having fun at Ellis’ expense. Ellis is struggling to deal with the changes her mom is making in her life and is struggling to accept the fact that she’s dating. She feels as though she is being left behind as her best friend is spending more time with one of their other friends also. Wyman does a great job with character development and helps you feel what Ellis is feeling. You are right back in middle school and struggling along with Ellis as she tries to explain to her parents how she is feeling and trying to manage her friendships. This is a great coming of age story that many middle schoolers will be able to relate to.

Puberty hits Ellis hard in the 8th with traumatic teenage acne. All she wants to do is stay home and hide but her mom insists that she not miss a day especially as the 8th graders of her school are starting their capstone projects. Ellis tries a few cures for her breakouts but most make her skin worse instead of better. Added to the pain, Ellis's mom begins to make her complexion the focal point of their relationship. Points of light are the times that Alice gets to spend with her aunt and her pet dog. I appreciated this young adult novel though the message and plot didn't hold any surprises.

Breakout is a heartwarming coming of age story featuring Ellison (Ellie) - 13 year old New Yorker who is dealing with the frustration of acne for the first time. Ellie's hyper-focus on her complexion leads to struggles within her relationships with her family and friends. Through her work on a capstone project for 8th grade, Ellie finds relief for herself and her fellow teenage classmates as she explores the benefits of therapy dogs on stress and anxiety. Interwoven throughout this humorous story, the author, Christina Wyman, touches on thought-provoking issues such as divorced parents, biracial families, and financial struggle, which encourage empathy from young readers.

Ellis is an 8th grader who feels like her acne is the worst of anyone she has ever known. She is the daughter of young, separated parents who do not get along and who struggle to make ends meet, especially since they live in New York City. In addition to her acne, Ellis clearly struggles with anxiety, though it isn't named. The main plot surrounds a major upcoming school project that Ellis has to do. At first, she doesn't know what to do, but eventually she decides to research therapy dogs and their positive effects on teens' stress, as her aunt is a dog trainer.

Never have I ever related to a middle grade character so much, wow. Growing up, like Ellis, I struggled mightily with acne. Like Ellis, my parents disagreed on how to manage it, with my mother hounding me, blaming me, and MASSIVELY embarrassing me about it seemingly constantly. Like Ellis, my mother got me products that were much too harsh (Proactiv) and made it so much worse. Unlike Ellis, my family didn't get me professional help, and unlike Ellis, I didn't have a lovely aunt nearby to help. I absolutely adore that Ellis' mom works hard to get Ellis to a dermatologist, and I adore Aunt Lydia who is always there for Ellis no matter what she needs. Ellis' mom is not perfect, but she shows growth throughout the story.

I loved how realistic everything felt. It makes sense that Ellis' parents might struggle financially, as they had Ellis at 19 and weren't able to go to college. It makes sense that Ellis' mom might resent Ellis' friend Aggy's family, as they are rich and academic and don't have to worry about money. It makes sense that Ellis' mom might date, and that Ellis might be upset about that for awhile. Even the school project felt realistic, and as a teacher, I often find school-related plot devices to be unbelievable. Instead, there was never a time when I felt like something didn't make sense for Ellis' maturity or age level or for the overall plot.

If you have young teens in your life, especially those who struggle with acne, I cannot recommend Breakout enough. I truly felt so seen and wish I had been able to read it when I was 15 or 16.

This was a good middle grade book - Ellis is in 8th grade and is having difficulties navigating challenges that come with that age - acne, friends, parents, school, to name a few.

As a mom, I related to Ellis’s mom and it was hard to read their arguments sometimes. However, it helped to have Ellis’s perspective and reminded me that I went through similar struggles at her age. I especially liked Aunt Lydia and how she emphasized how important it is to be resilient and keep moving on and trying even when things are rough, because there will always be a challenge in our lives; that’s just being human!

This novel did drag out a bit at times; there was a bit of repetition and long dialogue sections that could have been reduced. That said, I truly enjoyed it and loved the therapy dog aspect and how helpful they can be in reducing stress, especially in schools.

This was my first Christina Wyman novel, and I would like to check out her others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Very satisfying story about being a stressed 8th grade kid, puberty, family and friends drama, and dogs. As a mom, as well as a middle school librarian, I appreciated Wyman’s ability to show multiple perspectives of conversations and experiences. She competently showed how kids and adults all have different issues going on in life and we all are struggling with something. Very convincing dialogue and problems.

Ellis has a lot going on as an 8th grader. She has chronic acne, a mom who is unpredictable, and a friend, Aggy, who is hanging out with another girl which makes Ellis feel like an outsider. On top of all of this, she has a school project and isn’t sure what to do until her aunt brings over her dog. Ellis then decides her project will be about therapy dogs. Will Aggy and Ellis repair their friendship? What happens at Ellis’ therapy dog presentation?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Ellis Starr is navigating eighth grade one eruption at a time—whether it’s her chronic acne, her mom’s unpredictable moods, or the growing distance from her seemingly perfect best friend. With pressure building at school and at home, Ellis finds comfort in her journal, volcano facts, and the one calm in her chaotic world: her Aunt Lydia’s puppy, Rocco. 🐶

This book is honest, funny, and deeply relatable—especially for tweens figuring out how to feel confident in their own skin. Christina Wyman captures the awkwardness and ache of middle school so well while never losing sight of the heart. Ellis’s voice is sharp and sweet, and her journey feels like one many girls will see themselves in.

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kelly Yang, Breakout is full of real talk, warm moments, and the kind of growth that makes you want to hug your younger self.

✨ Emotional but hopeful
🐾 Puppy therapy for the win
📓 Journal girls, this one’s for you
💬 Age 10+ feels just right

Not quite five stars for me, but a strong, lovable read that would be a great conversation starter for moms and daughters, too.