THis Will Be Funny Someday

 

Shirley J.             Teen Fiction                  Stand Up Comedy, Not Fitting In, Abusive Relationships

This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry   416 pages

 16 year old Isobel is so quiet and introverted her career minded parents see her as their non-problem child who never does anything wrong and who never makes any waves.   After the twins go away to college and she is all alone it feels like she doesn't even exist.  Her parents are so invested in their careers she barely sees them and if they are home they certainly aren't having any conversations with her.  She can't talk to her best friend (since they were 7 years old) because her boyfriend doesn't like her and won't let Isobel hang around her, he only allows her to hang with his friends and their girlfriends and because it is easier to go along than risk his getting angry and loud and vindictive, she went along.  Her best friend can't believe she won't hang with her anymore.   Sometimes the thought of only being around her boyfriend who constantly professes love for her and actually pays attention to things she says she likes, then gifts her those very things (his family is financially well off), and his crowd it finally becomes too much to deal with and Isobel lies to him saying she is going shopping with her Mom.  She ends up taking the bus downtown and walking around.  As she is doing so she sees her boyfriend and his bunch coming toward her.   Freaking out not wanting him or them to see her she rushes into a door not knowing which business she just walked into, but thinking it is a restaurant she walks over to the maitre de.   The man looks up and asks her name, she gives it thinking this is for seating purposes till she finds herself being introduced to go on stage to do stand-up comedy!    Her mind is sizzling at the shock, but, since she can't go back outside she launches into 5 minutes on her life, her family, her day and finds the adrenalin rush she feels after leaving the stage addicting.  The story gets better, she meets a group of comedians that do the local circuit and take her under their wing, she knows they are all college students, little do they know she is only 16.   A good story develops with lots of ups and downs to keep you interested.   Izzy is way out of her element and the faux pas begin to mount like Mount Vesuvius getting ready to blow!  I recommend this one to middle schoolers on up.  A cautionary, interesting, funny story.