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A review by libreroaming
The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson
1.0
A very disappointing graphic novel that promised diverse friendship but really just laid out a field and tossed in a bunch of characters thinly to not at all fleshed out. The tagline "Bad at soccer. Okay at friendship" gave you lowered expectations and even then it was disappointing, because their relationships consisted of being stuck together on the C-String team and the interpersonal dynamics were either characters expositing about their bonds or unearned declarations of meaningful connection. It also read out of the age range for the book, with an emphasis on teenager dating (there is a love confession between two characters and first kiss while they are in bed together) that doesn't mesh with a POV main character who is in fifth grade and spends time daydreaming about an unrelated fantasy interlude that takes up precious page time.
Bad at soccer was accurate, because they are not simply bad at it competitively, all the characters seem resentful at being on the team. It has no appeal for readers who love sports books, and actually seems to be offputting for them. Common sports themes of underdog effort or bonding through shared trials are nonexistent, and the one character who is narratively designated as "the good player who is supposed to help them" is given nothing to do.
I wish this took time to actually make characters. Designating them as diverse through art cues, names with coded ethnic heritages, and self-identifying markers, does not make up for the fact that none of them have fleshed out personalities. It is window dressing. Overall this is a breakaway that would end up with a referee tweeting it offsides for most readers.
Bad at soccer was accurate, because they are not simply bad at it competitively, all the characters seem resentful at being on the team.
Spoiler
The supposed moment of true bonding happens when they all decide to quit mid-game because they are losing and Faith says, "None of us likes soccer. Who cares if the team wins? I don't care. I just want you guys to be my friends." Even though she only spoke to 3 of the team beyond "hey" and there was a plot point that a girl she might have been friends with, V, got bullied by the others. And that Faith felt guilty about doing nothing to intervene or support her, except now she randomly wants to be friends with them! Story has to close out so let's abandon a commitment on a whim and call it a victory when you tack a "power of friendship" sign on it. Ugh.I wish this took time to actually make characters. Designating them as diverse through art cues, names with coded ethnic heritages, and self-identifying markers, does not make up for the fact that none of them have fleshed out personalities. It is window dressing. Overall this is a breakaway that would end up with a referee tweeting it offsides for most readers.