Okemos author Christina Wyman is set to launch her latest middle-grade novel, Breakout, at Schuler Books this Saturday. The event features an interview with local author Ruth McNally Barshaw and audience interaction. Wyman's book explores themes of puberty and family dynamics through the story of an eighth-grader battling acne.
Christina Wyman, an author from Okemos, Michigan, will launch her third middle-grade novel, Breakout, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux for $9.99, on Saturday at Schuler Books in Okemos. The event includes a conversational interview conducted by Michigan author Ruth McNally Barshaw, known for the Ellie McDoodle Diaries series, followed by audience questions and a book signing. Bake N’ Cakes will provide themed desserts.
Wyman expressed gratitude for Schuler Books' support, stating, “This is the third time Schuler has hosted me. They’ve been very, very supportive of my books. There are no words to express my gratitude.” She described the launch as “a breakout celebration,” highlighting Barshaw's role as a beloved community figure.
Breakout follows eighth-grader Ellis Starr, who struggles with acne while her best friend has clear skin. Ellis also navigates tensions with her mother, who is dating again after the parents' separation, finding comfort in her aunt's puppy, Rocco. Wyman noted personal connections, saying, “She is — in her way — a piece of me and a piece of my childhood experiences.” She addressed the acne theme: “Acne is a universal struggle everyone must deal with. Ellis is dealing with acne in ways her best friends are not. She feels like has it the worst, and it’s very unfair.”
Wyman drew from her Brooklyn upbringing as the eldest of two daughters, where her novels are set. Her previous books include Jawbreaker, about braces and orthodontic headgear, and Slouch, focusing on height self-consciousness. She explained, “I think I have a knack for these universal struggles because I remember my own struggles really, really well.”
Wyman's writing career stems from early encouragement in New York City Public Schools. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Pace University and a doctoral degree in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education from Michigan State University. Formerly a middle school teacher, she now teaches adjunct at MSU while prioritizing writing.
Her next novel, Mean, is slated for 2027 release and centers on complicated friendships in middle school, particularly among popular girls, drawing comparisons to the 1989 film Heathers and the 2004 film Mean Girls. Wyman said, “Even though they’re mean, everyone wants to be friends with them.”
Wyman's work has received praise from The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews. Jawbreaker was selected for New Jersey’s Garden State Teen Book Award. Comparisons to Judy Blume, a staple of Wyman's childhood reading, left her thrilled: “To even be compared to her is magical, just absolutely magical!”
