For fans of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes an honest and heartfelt novel about a girl who's determined not to let her growing anxiety and OCD hold her back from using stand-up comedy to get her parents back together. Now in paperback!
Eleven-year-old Maya’ s life is bit of a mess. Her dad just moved out to pursue his stand-up comedy dreams, her mom seems more preoccupied with running the family’ s Russian deli than getting Dad back, and Maya’ s anxiety and germ worries have only been growing stronger. Her grandma always tells her “ slozi goryu ne pomozhet” — tears won’ t help sorrow— but right now it’ s hard to be strong.
So when her teacher Ms. Banta announces the sixth-grade talent show, Maya sees an opportunity. If she can perform stand-up comedy in the show, she can prove to her mom and dad that comedy has a place in all their lives and try to get them back together. But conquering her fears amidst her family falling apart and a growing hot-hot-hot feeling inside is easier said than done…
In this authentic novel full of both humor and heartbreak, Margaret Gurevich crafts a story about comedy, fractured family, and learning how strength comes in many forms.
