Pretty Funny for a Girl

Rebecca Elliott

$17.99

Publication Date: October 6th, 2020

Publisher:

Peachtree

ISBN:

9781682631478

Pages:

368

Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Description

Fourteen-year-old Haylah dreams of being a stand-up star, but when her friends thrust her into the spotlight, she's not confident a plus-sized girl like her belongs onstage.

Haylah Swinton is pretty confident she's mastered making light of every situation―from her mom's ugh boyfriend to classmates making unsolicited remarks on her figure. She logs all her best jokes in the hopes of one day busting out a fabulous set that will keep everybody laughing with her and not at her.

After botching an open mic night, Haylah learns that her longtime crush, the impossibly cool Leo, is also into comedy. And when Leo provides her an opportunity to live vicariously by ghostwriting his sets for an upcoming festival, Haylah jumps at the chance. What a great way to get her material out there without totally bombing herself!

But are Leo's intentions in Haylah's best interests? Despite warnings from her friends, Haylah's not ready to listen―and she might just be digging herself deeper toward heartbreak. If Haylah's ever going to take center stage, first she'll need to find the confidence to put herself out there and strut like the comedy queen she truly is.

This contemporary YA rom-com stars a strong, memorable heroine and features a story full of heart, humor, and relatable themes of body image, dreams, and self-esteem.

About the Author

Rebecca Elliott is an author and illustrator. She earned a degree in philosophy and once did a brief stint in a dull office. Now, she enjoys eating angel delight, loudly venting on a drum kit, and spending time in her sunny garden. She lives in England with her family, some chickens, and a cat named Bernard.

Praise for Pretty Funny for a Girl

"A feel-good story featuring a narrator who's likable and genuinely funny, even at her most self-deprecating. Dreams, being true to oneself, body-image issues, single parenting, family dynamics, self-confidence, and a realistic depiction of friendship make this a refreshing coming-of-age read full of optimism, dreams, and plenty of stereotype-smashing laughs. A natural pick for Dumplin' (2015) fans." —Booklist

"Sharp, funny. . . The working-class British milieu feels freshly wrought, and Elliott's characters are well balanced. . . [Haylah's] comedy routine, though at times self-deprecating, also flips some stereotypes." —Publishers Weekly

"Elliott, who has previously published picture books and early readers, nails the voice and persona of a high school girl. . . . A good purchase for libraries that need coming-of-age books centering body-positivity." —School Library Journal