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  • Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman book cover
  • Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman book cover
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Jawbreaker

by Christina Wyman

A middle-school contest brings added pressure for Max

Award Winner Critically Recognized
$12.56 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Nerdy Book Awards Middle Grade Fiction winner

    Winner in Middle Grade Fiction.

  • Bestseller

    USA Today bestseller

    The metadata identifies Jawbreaker as a USA Today bestseller.

  • Editorial selection

    Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

    Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A middle-school contest brings added pressure for Max

Max Plink is juggling tension at home and bullying at school, including from her sister, while navigating braces and conspicuous orthodontic headgear for a severe overbite. When a journalism competition she wants to enter requires a video, her dental treatment becomes bound up with a wider question of how visible she is willing to be. The premise connects everyday middle-school pressures with a concrete physical challenge, while Max’s ambition gives the story a goal beyond simply getting through the school day. Christina Wyman draws on her own experience with a Class II malocclusion; the book’s subjects include family strain, bullying, and the complications of pursuing a personal ambition.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Middle-grade readers interested in stories about bullying and family challenges.
  • Readers who enjoy school stories involving journalism, competitions, and personal goals.
  • Readers looking for a fictional perspective on braces and orthodontic treatment.

Themes

BullyingFamily tensionDental difference and orthodontic treatmentVisibility and self-consciousnessAmbition

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"The next great middle grade author." --Colby Sharp, literacy advocate

A "Best Book of the Year" from: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon.com, and the American Booksellers Association

A New York Times "Books for Kids Starting Middle School" Selection

This USA Today bestseller is a funny and fresh middle-grade debut novel about jawbreaking dental drama.

Max Plink's life just got a lot more complicated. Trouble at home? Check--with money tight, her parents haven't been getting along lately. School bullies? Double check--especially if you count her sister, who is the worst bully of them all. Dental drama? Oh, you have no idea. With a mismatched puzzle of a jaw, Max has a Class II malocclusion, otherwise known as a severe overbite. She already has braces, which means she lives on Advil and soft foods after each orthodontist appointment. But now Max has to wear totally awkward orthodontic headgear nicknamed "the jawbreaker." Could things get any worse?

Yes, they could. The journalism competition Max wants to enter has a video component. But being on camera means showing her face not just to her junior high classmates, but possibly the whole city. Going viral is the last thing Max needs, but winning this competition is what she wants most. Turns out, following her dreams is complicated, too.

Inspired by Christina Wyman's own experience with a Class II malocclusion, Jawbreaker is a humorous and refreshingly honest story perfect for readers ages 8-12 who love Raina Telgemeier, Terri Libenson, Kelly Yang, Gordon Korman, and other endlessly funny and deeply heartfelt books that tackle big topics and universal coming-of-age experiences alike.

If you enjoyed Jawbreaker, then you'll also love Christina Wyman's USA Today bestseller, Slouch, and her forthcoming book Breakout. Order your own copy today!

More awards and praise for Jawbreaker:
An Indies Introduce and Kids' Indie Next List Pick
Nerdy Book Awards Middle Grade Fiction Winner
Judy Lopez Memorial Award Winner
New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award Winner
Mark Twain Readers Award Nominee
William Allen White Children's Book Award Nominee
South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominee
Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee
Kids All Iowa Reads Selection

"A courageous story about developing 'brace' under pressure." --The New York Times

★ "Smile meets Wonder." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A hugely relatable must-read." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Jawbreaker is the novel you wish you had read as a kid and are grateful that kids get to read today." --Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production, A School Library Journal Blog

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Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

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AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

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Ella

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.