Breakaway by Kat Spears

Image courtesy of Goodreads.com

Breakaway

by Kat Spears

Kat Spears has done it again, written another story about love, friendship and family in the authentic voice of the American teenager.  

In this story, soccer is the center of these friends' life.  Chick, Mario, Jordan, and our narrator Jason all play on the school soccer team.  Jason, Mario and Jordan have earned their positions, their friend Chick got his spot because his friends won't play without him.

The story opens at the funeral of Jason's sister, Sylvia.  Jason is having a hard time coming to grips with his sister's death.  His sister's death has left him feeling like it should have been him, he doesn't have any real family now and yearning for a real family like Mario's.

Mario is dealing with his own issues, making some bad decisions.  As Mario drifts further away from his family and friends, his parents come to rely more heavily on Jason.

Jordan is different from his friends in that he comes from money.  He drives a nice car and belongs to a country club.  When he gets a new girlfriend, he starts to drift away from his friends.

Chick got his nickname from when he had chicken pox as a child.  He is not rich, does not have a girlfriend, and if it wasn't for Jason, he wouldn't have any friends at all.  He struggles with wanting to belong, to be included.  When his friends become so wrapped up in their own issues, it leaves Chick utterly helpless.

Spears has done an excellent job in creating characters that stay with you long after you've read the last words.  What teenager hasn't wrangled with finding their place in the world?  To connect to someone in a way that makes you feel loved?  People of all ages will be taken with Breakaway, and left with new friends in these boys.  Go ahead and pre-order today, you won't be sorry!