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Ain't It Funny
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 bring her parents back together.
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 heightening. Her grandma always tells her “sloze gorya ne pamozhet”—tears won’t help tragedy—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 bring them together again. 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.
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 heightening. Her grandma always tells her “sloze gorya ne pamozhet”—tears won’t help tragedy—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 bring them together again. 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.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
3267 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 14, 2024
thanks to libro.fm for letting me listen to this for free :) i loved the setting of this book - a russian jewish deli! that was fun! i thought the characters were well-rounded: they each had their own goals, motivations, values, and personality. i thought that maya’s inner dialogue around family, school/social stuff, and trying to understand what is going on in her brain were well-written and i think lots of kids will relate to different parts of this.
i had a hard time mentally buying that these kids were sixth graders - to me, a lot of their actions and attitudes read younger. i also couldn’t buy into how eager/excited/willing everyone was to pay attention in class, listen to the teacher, do their schoolwork, etc - it just didn’t seem realistic to me.
i appreciated how anxiety and ocd were depicted in different ways in (at least) two different characters of different ages, as well as how it can impact friendships and family relationships - there were a few scenes that made me almost emotional. the meatball scene :( my little bone to pick is that most of the time the book seemed to conflate ocd with anxiety - they can be similar but are not (!!) the same. this confusion is a really big barrier to treatment for a lot of people so it was a bummer to see it in the book.
overall, i thought it was a nice story about family, friendship, self-advocacy, and comedy. i enjoyed how the tips maya learns about comedy are not JUST relevant to comedy - but to other places in her life (and the readers) too.
i had a hard time mentally buying that these kids were sixth graders - to me, a lot of their actions and attitudes read younger. i also couldn’t buy into how eager/excited/willing everyone was to pay attention in class, listen to the teacher, do their schoolwork, etc - it just didn’t seem realistic to me.
i appreciated how anxiety and ocd were depicted in different ways in (at least) two different characters of different ages, as well as how it can impact friendships and family relationships - there were a few scenes that made me almost emotional. the meatball scene :( my little bone to pick is that most of the time the book seemed to conflate ocd with anxiety - they can be similar but are not (!!) the same. this confusion is a really big barrier to treatment for a lot of people so it was a bummer to see it in the book.
overall, i thought it was a nice story about family, friendship, self-advocacy, and comedy. i enjoyed how the tips maya learns about comedy are not JUST relevant to comedy - but to other places in her life (and the readers) too.
Read
November 13, 2024The anxiety depiction was pretty fantastic. But it still couldn't stop me from DNFing it at 25%. I might come back to this one when I feel the stars are aligned.
October 31, 2024
4.5 stars. Very sweet and clear story about a girl struggling with her parent's separation and coming to grips with her own anxiety and possible OCD. I also loved the inclusion of Russian culture and food, which is pretty unique for a Middle Grade.
October 7, 2024
3.5, listened to an advanced listeners copy
January 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! I found the characters were well developed, and it did a really good job of portraying the anxiety and OCD the main character experienced in a realistic way. The fact that both Maya and her dad had bad anxiety and turned to standup comedy to cope with it was a really great touch. It's not the sort of thing you'd imagine someone with anxiety would ever want to do, but for many of us it really helps (not comedy for me, but theater and acting). I also appreciated that the adults in her life reacted in different ways to her anxiety.
I did feel the ending was perhaps a little bit rushed or tied up a bit too neatly. Maya seemed to immediately understand everything about her condition which did not feel terribly realistic.
I did feel the ending was perhaps a little bit rushed or tied up a bit too neatly. Maya seemed to immediately understand everything about her condition which did not feel terribly realistic.
June 25, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Maya Greenspan lives close to New York City, in New Jersey, where her mother Sarah and Babushka Clara run the Russian Gourmet Deli. She helps out a lot, as did her father. However, her father is moving into his own apartment, and her parents have told her they are separating, but she can't tell anyone. Maya does confide in her best friend, Val, who is also the only one who knows about Maya's "hot hot feeling" of anxiety. Maya's dad, who decided that being a lawyer didn't work for him, has been trying to gets enough stand up comic gigs to find an agent, and hopes to hit the big time. Maya also tries her hand at telling jokes, because humor helps her deal with her anxiety a bit. When her favorite teacher, Ms. Banta, tells the class that there will be a talent show, Maya doesn't want to get up in front of others, but when she finds out that her father has been approached by the PTA to emcee the show, she feels that this would be an opportunity to get him to come around more. She really wants to get her parents back together, despite Babushka's dislike of her father, and is encouraged that her mother is quite nice when they are all together. When Maya spends weekends with her dad, he sometimes takes her to his shows even though he's not supposed to, and she is a little surprised that he sometimes has jokes about the food in the deli. He's excited that Maya is trying stand up, and gives her a book about comedy and helps her workshop ideas, including her catchphrase "ain't it funny". Maya notices that Ms. Banta seems to exhibit some of the behavior that Maya does; she's always dressed in a precise way, does things in multiples of three, and dislikes germs as much as Maya does. After Ms. Banta has a panic attack in the deli, Maya is very worried about her. She researched OCD and anxiety on the internet, and even tries to talk to her mother and grandmother about the evidence of these that she sees in herself, but they make light of her concerns and say that she comes from a long line of worriers, but that if she is strong, she'll be fine. Maya doesn't feel fine. She has to deal with Barry, who purposefully messes with things on her desk and makes fun of her, Mrs. Nelson, a classmate's mother who is demanding at the store, her father's growing amount of gigs, and preparing for the talent show. She's also worried about Ms. Banta, and even visits with her mother. Mrs. Nelson is trying to get Ms. Banta fired. When her father has to go to Canada for gigs the week before the talent show, and Maya finds out that he has never intended to move back home, it's too much for Maya. She has a panic attacks in class, and is sent to Ms. Graham, the school nurse. Ms. Graham takes her seriously, and talks to her mother. Her mother and father both explain that the father has had problems with anxiety as well, but they've always tried to hide it from her. Ms. Banta isn't well enough to come back this school year, but is looking for a therapist. Maya begins therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and OCD, and has exercises to try to help her manage her conditions, and she and her family begin to find a way forward. There are some recipes at the end of the book.
Strengths: There are a lot of students in middle school who are dealing with parents who are separated or divorced, and there are relatively few books on this topic. I enjoyed the Russian deli setting, and found it interesting that Maya was able to speak a bit of Russian. Babushka's stoic demeanor is something that is very true to people in a certain generation; I have many of the same beliefs that she does! The talent show is a good framework to support the many things that are going on. Ms. Banta's condition is helpful to see, and I was glad that it was explicitly stated that the school couldn't fire her for mental health issues. Val is a good friend, and Maya does eventually get help with her problems. The stand up comedy was woven in to the story effectively as well. There was a lot going on, but it was all deftly presented.
Weaknesses: I'm conflicted about the language that Maya uses to describe how she feels. "Hot hot" feeling is descriptive, and middle school children don't necessarily have any better way to describe their feelings, but it was sometimes confusing. I'm not sure how it could have been done differently.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Mackler's Not If I Can Help It, Piontek's Better with Butter, Baron's The Gray, or Sumner's The Summer of June. I'll probably purchase this, because there are a growing number of students with anxiety, so it's important that they see themselves in books and that others meet in print situations that may occur in real life. The fact that this wasn't JUST about Maya's anxiety really helped.
Maya Greenspan lives close to New York City, in New Jersey, where her mother Sarah and Babushka Clara run the Russian Gourmet Deli. She helps out a lot, as did her father. However, her father is moving into his own apartment, and her parents have told her they are separating, but she can't tell anyone. Maya does confide in her best friend, Val, who is also the only one who knows about Maya's "hot hot feeling" of anxiety. Maya's dad, who decided that being a lawyer didn't work for him, has been trying to gets enough stand up comic gigs to find an agent, and hopes to hit the big time. Maya also tries her hand at telling jokes, because humor helps her deal with her anxiety a bit. When her favorite teacher, Ms. Banta, tells the class that there will be a talent show, Maya doesn't want to get up in front of others, but when she finds out that her father has been approached by the PTA to emcee the show, she feels that this would be an opportunity to get him to come around more. She really wants to get her parents back together, despite Babushka's dislike of her father, and is encouraged that her mother is quite nice when they are all together. When Maya spends weekends with her dad, he sometimes takes her to his shows even though he's not supposed to, and she is a little surprised that he sometimes has jokes about the food in the deli. He's excited that Maya is trying stand up, and gives her a book about comedy and helps her workshop ideas, including her catchphrase "ain't it funny". Maya notices that Ms. Banta seems to exhibit some of the behavior that Maya does; she's always dressed in a precise way, does things in multiples of three, and dislikes germs as much as Maya does. After Ms. Banta has a panic attack in the deli, Maya is very worried about her. She researched OCD and anxiety on the internet, and even tries to talk to her mother and grandmother about the evidence of these that she sees in herself, but they make light of her concerns and say that she comes from a long line of worriers, but that if she is strong, she'll be fine. Maya doesn't feel fine. She has to deal with Barry, who purposefully messes with things on her desk and makes fun of her, Mrs. Nelson, a classmate's mother who is demanding at the store, her father's growing amount of gigs, and preparing for the talent show. She's also worried about Ms. Banta, and even visits with her mother. Mrs. Nelson is trying to get Ms. Banta fired. When her father has to go to Canada for gigs the week before the talent show, and Maya finds out that he has never intended to move back home, it's too much for Maya. She has a panic attacks in class, and is sent to Ms. Graham, the school nurse. Ms. Graham takes her seriously, and talks to her mother. Her mother and father both explain that the father has had problems with anxiety as well, but they've always tried to hide it from her. Ms. Banta isn't well enough to come back this school year, but is looking for a therapist. Maya begins therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and OCD, and has exercises to try to help her manage her conditions, and she and her family begin to find a way forward. There are some recipes at the end of the book.
Strengths: There are a lot of students in middle school who are dealing with parents who are separated or divorced, and there are relatively few books on this topic. I enjoyed the Russian deli setting, and found it interesting that Maya was able to speak a bit of Russian. Babushka's stoic demeanor is something that is very true to people in a certain generation; I have many of the same beliefs that she does! The talent show is a good framework to support the many things that are going on. Ms. Banta's condition is helpful to see, and I was glad that it was explicitly stated that the school couldn't fire her for mental health issues. Val is a good friend, and Maya does eventually get help with her problems. The stand up comedy was woven in to the story effectively as well. There was a lot going on, but it was all deftly presented.
Weaknesses: I'm conflicted about the language that Maya uses to describe how she feels. "Hot hot" feeling is descriptive, and middle school children don't necessarily have any better way to describe their feelings, but it was sometimes confusing. I'm not sure how it could have been done differently.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Mackler's Not If I Can Help It, Piontek's Better with Butter, Baron's The Gray, or Sumner's The Summer of June. I'll probably purchase this, because there are a growing number of students with anxiety, so it's important that they see themselves in books and that others meet in print situations that may occur in real life. The fact that this wasn't JUST about Maya's anxiety really helped.
March 26, 2025
What worked:
Maya is the main character and has a range of issues that should connect with many young readers. Her parents are separating, and she gets to spend weekends with her father in the city. Maya’s parents still get along okay, but her grandmother constantly makes disparaging comments about her father. Maya gets what she calls “hot, hot, hot” when she’s overwhelmed with emotions. She can feel it slowly creeping up inside her, but she must learn how to deal with it. Maya may have a little OCD in her as she becomes anxious when her teacher changes the classroom routine, and she keeps her colored pencils in a specific order. She can’t effectively communicate to her parents how consuming her anxiety gets, so they downplay it as normal worries. Maya’s mental health is the main topic of the book.
The story has humor that should appeal to middle-grade readers. Maya’s father is an aspiring comic, and the author includes some of his jokes. He gets inspiration from the customers who frequent the family’s Russian deli, although he must be careful not to embarrass Maya’s family. Maya decides to join the sixth-grade talent show because she thinks her dad will spend time with her creating a routine. He gives her a book for beginning comics, and young readers may appreciate some of the book’s tips. Being a professional comedian sounds like it would be a lot of fun, but the story describes the difficult challenges of being discovered.
A curious twist to the story happens when Maya notices her teacher does everything in groups of three. She walks back to the Smartboard after helping three students and taps on a doorknob three times. These observations cause Maya to research for more information, where she learns more about her own anxiety, too. In some ways, it’s a relief to find someone else with anxiety issues, but it doesn’t really help when dealing with stressful situations. She struggles to hold it together while working the counter at the deli, especially when she must serve demanding, irrational regular customers. Her teacher begins visiting the deli too, but that has mixed effects.
What didn’t work as well:
For a book called Ain’t It Funny, the depression from Maya’s anxiety overshadows the humor. It shares the fact that people who seem to have it all together may be battling internal demons. After seeing the title, readers expecting a light-hearted story may be disappointed, but the truth is reality isn’t always fun.
The final verdict:
This is an emotional, heartwarming story of a young girl struggling with her mental health. The underlying Russian culture is uncommon, and Maya and her father’s comedy contributes a little levity to a very serious plot. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.
Maya is the main character and has a range of issues that should connect with many young readers. Her parents are separating, and she gets to spend weekends with her father in the city. Maya’s parents still get along okay, but her grandmother constantly makes disparaging comments about her father. Maya gets what she calls “hot, hot, hot” when she’s overwhelmed with emotions. She can feel it slowly creeping up inside her, but she must learn how to deal with it. Maya may have a little OCD in her as she becomes anxious when her teacher changes the classroom routine, and she keeps her colored pencils in a specific order. She can’t effectively communicate to her parents how consuming her anxiety gets, so they downplay it as normal worries. Maya’s mental health is the main topic of the book.
The story has humor that should appeal to middle-grade readers. Maya’s father is an aspiring comic, and the author includes some of his jokes. He gets inspiration from the customers who frequent the family’s Russian deli, although he must be careful not to embarrass Maya’s family. Maya decides to join the sixth-grade talent show because she thinks her dad will spend time with her creating a routine. He gives her a book for beginning comics, and young readers may appreciate some of the book’s tips. Being a professional comedian sounds like it would be a lot of fun, but the story describes the difficult challenges of being discovered.
A curious twist to the story happens when Maya notices her teacher does everything in groups of three. She walks back to the Smartboard after helping three students and taps on a doorknob three times. These observations cause Maya to research for more information, where she learns more about her own anxiety, too. In some ways, it’s a relief to find someone else with anxiety issues, but it doesn’t really help when dealing with stressful situations. She struggles to hold it together while working the counter at the deli, especially when she must serve demanding, irrational regular customers. Her teacher begins visiting the deli too, but that has mixed effects.
What didn’t work as well:
For a book called Ain’t It Funny, the depression from Maya’s anxiety overshadows the humor. It shares the fact that people who seem to have it all together may be battling internal demons. After seeing the title, readers expecting a light-hearted story may be disappointed, but the truth is reality isn’t always fun.
The final verdict:
This is an emotional, heartwarming story of a young girl struggling with her mental health. The underlying Russian culture is uncommon, and Maya and her father’s comedy contributes a little levity to a very serious plot. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.
January 11, 2025
4.5 stars.
This is a book I would have loved to have as a kid with OCD. Well, most any book about kids with OCD thriving is a book I would have liked to have as a child. But I feel like the author took special care with “Ain’t it Funny.”
Maya’s life seems to be falling apart. Her father is separating from her mom and, well, ever since she heard about that, she’s been having some horrible thoughts. Like, she absolutely needs to straighten her pencils or things will go wrong. And she can’t get any germs on her hands. She tries to tell her best friend, Val, but nobody seems to really get it. So between school and working at the restaurant her family owns, Maya tries to keep busy. When a talent show is announced at her school, Maya figures she can do something like her father and be a budding stand-up comedian. She’s scared to do it, but, maybe it’ll impress her dad and maybe, since he is helping out with the event, it’ll help her parents get back together. But what happens when OCD starts to get in the way of everything? What do you do when your oh-so-controlled life goes out of control?
I liked how the author used comedy to help Maya work through her problems. It’s clear that she has a special bond with her father and, while they are working out jokes, it’s fun to see that on display. I also liked how she normalized anxiety. Even though some characters can’t understand why Maya and others act the way they do, it’s helpful for kids to know that anxiety is something people experience—and that’s okay. I also liked how she didn’t shy away from realistically portraying OCD or panic attacks. Though, I was annoyed that more adults weren’t helping Maya through this time when I felt they could have been there (that is my half star off).
This story hums along at a good pace and is full of believable characters with (mostly) good hearts. I liked how the author showed kids that comedy can be such a healer and that, even if people don’t understand, you have to live your life. OCD is no joke, but Maya shows us that things can be okay, even when life throws you a curve.
P.S. Thank you for showing that OCD doesn’t always just “go away!” I feel like so many books imply that it isn’t a journey. Thank you for this book!
Mia’s Year of Books: Day 295
This is a book I would have loved to have as a kid with OCD. Well, most any book about kids with OCD thriving is a book I would have liked to have as a child. But I feel like the author took special care with “Ain’t it Funny.”
Maya’s life seems to be falling apart. Her father is separating from her mom and, well, ever since she heard about that, she’s been having some horrible thoughts. Like, she absolutely needs to straighten her pencils or things will go wrong. And she can’t get any germs on her hands. She tries to tell her best friend, Val, but nobody seems to really get it. So between school and working at the restaurant her family owns, Maya tries to keep busy. When a talent show is announced at her school, Maya figures she can do something like her father and be a budding stand-up comedian. She’s scared to do it, but, maybe it’ll impress her dad and maybe, since he is helping out with the event, it’ll help her parents get back together. But what happens when OCD starts to get in the way of everything? What do you do when your oh-so-controlled life goes out of control?
I liked how the author used comedy to help Maya work through her problems. It’s clear that she has a special bond with her father and, while they are working out jokes, it’s fun to see that on display. I also liked how she normalized anxiety. Even though some characters can’t understand why Maya and others act the way they do, it’s helpful for kids to know that anxiety is something people experience—and that’s okay. I also liked how she didn’t shy away from realistically portraying OCD or panic attacks. Though, I was annoyed that more adults weren’t helping Maya through this time when I felt they could have been there (that is my half star off).
This story hums along at a good pace and is full of believable characters with (mostly) good hearts. I liked how the author showed kids that comedy can be such a healer and that, even if people don’t understand, you have to live your life. OCD is no joke, but Maya shows us that things can be okay, even when life throws you a curve.
P.S. Thank you for showing that OCD doesn’t always just “go away!” I feel like so many books imply that it isn’t a journey. Thank you for this book!
Mia’s Year of Books: Day 295
October 20, 2024
Maya is dealing with a lot. First, her parents separated after her father decided follow his dream of being a stand-up comedian, and his unpredictable hours and commitments got in the way of family life. Her Jewish mother and grandmother run a Russian deli, which is hard work, and Maya often has to help them. Her father is always promising to come and help, but rarely does. Then there's the "hot-hot-hot" feeling that Maya gets more and more often, as her undiagnosed anxiety and OCD ramp up with all the stress. When her 6th grade teacher announces a grade talent show, Maya hopes that if she can do a comedy routine--despite being terrified of being onstage--it will help to get her parents back together and get their family life back on track. But it doesn't seem to be working, and when she tries to tell her mother, her father, and her grandmother about her increasing anxiety, they all dismiss her worries and leave her to cope on her own. Which...goes about as well as you think it will.
I hope that no one picks this up in the hopes that it's humorous, since it's about a girl wanting to do stand-up. It's an all-the-feels book all the way, as Maya struggles with her symptoms and the people who make it worse. Some bully her, some make fun of her teacher, who had a panic attack at the deli that someone posted to social media, some try to get the teacher fired, some are rude at the deli, and some--like her family--brush her off and don't listen to her. Ouch. The book is well-paced, and has a lot of good descriptions, especially of the deli and its offerings (it will make you hungry!), and of how a comedian builds jokes. It of course goes through a lot about anxiety and OCD, and will likely be comforting to kids suffering the same issues. So, a good all-the-feels book, but don't look here for laughs. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
I hope that no one picks this up in the hopes that it's humorous, since it's about a girl wanting to do stand-up. It's an all-the-feels book all the way, as Maya struggles with her symptoms and the people who make it worse. Some bully her, some make fun of her teacher, who had a panic attack at the deli that someone posted to social media, some try to get the teacher fired, some are rude at the deli, and some--like her family--brush her off and don't listen to her. Ouch. The book is well-paced, and has a lot of good descriptions, especially of the deli and its offerings (it will make you hungry!), and of how a comedian builds jokes. It of course goes through a lot about anxiety and OCD, and will likely be comforting to kids suffering the same issues. So, a good all-the-feels book, but don't look here for laughs. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
July 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an Advanced Reader Copy to review.
"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 heightening. 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 bring them together again. 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."
This author does a great job of realistically describing OCD and Maya's experience living with it. Following her along on her journey as her anxiety increases due to her parents separation makes the story feel raw and very real. It's very relatable. This was a fun and engaging read that is perfect for middle graders.
"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 heightening. 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 bring them together again. 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."
This author does a great job of realistically describing OCD and Maya's experience living with it. Following her along on her journey as her anxiety increases due to her parents separation makes the story feel raw and very real. It's very relatable. This was a fun and engaging read that is perfect for middle graders.
October 29, 2024
This book is most notable for its handling of OCD and anxiety. Maya is growing up, and she deals with a lot of challenges. Some of these she can explain, and some she can only refer to with language like “hot hot hot” because she doesn’t know that there’s a name for what she’s dealing with. Throughout the book, she learns how to handle the difficult things in her life.
Some of the elements were a little too convenient. Her teacher just happens to have OCD and a panic attack in Maya’s family deli, and that’s why Maya is able to identify some of the patterns of her own OCD. Sure, it could happen, but the chances of that happening seem very small to me.
I liked how the comedy show and learning to be a comedian reflected different things Maya was learning. Preparing for the show helps her understand herself and her parents in sweet ways.
Overall, this book made me want to visit a Russian deli, and I looked up some information about OCD afterward because Maya’s journey made me curious about some of the symptoms. This book may be helpful for kids who are dealing with OCD, anxiety, or their parents’ separation.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving a copy.
Some of the elements were a little too convenient. Her teacher just happens to have OCD and a panic attack in Maya’s family deli, and that’s why Maya is able to identify some of the patterns of her own OCD. Sure, it could happen, but the chances of that happening seem very small to me.
I liked how the comedy show and learning to be a comedian reflected different things Maya was learning. Preparing for the show helps her understand herself and her parents in sweet ways.
Overall, this book made me want to visit a Russian deli, and I looked up some information about OCD afterward because Maya’s journey made me curious about some of the symptoms. This book may be helpful for kids who are dealing with OCD, anxiety, or their parents’ separation.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving a copy.
November 17, 2024
Geared for pre-teens, this book told from the perspective of a 6th grader, Maya, who is experiencing anxiety, but doesn't quite know what that is or how to deal with it. She Googles her symptoms and tries to explain to her family that this is what she's feeling, but they don't take her seriously and try to brush it off as normal. Events at home and school increase her anxiety until Maya has a full-blown panic attack, at which point she starts to get the help she needs.
Ain't it funny is the catchphrase that Maya will use when she participates in her school's talent show. Her father, an aspiring comic, her mother and grandmother, who run a Russian delicatessen, and various school figures, both classmates and teachers fill out this engaging story that gives us a peek into an anxious pre-teen mind.
The most telling part of the story occurs near the end, when Maya and her parents meet with a therapist and Maya receives the first of the exercises to help her manage her anxiety. Her mother asks the therapist how long does Maya need to do these exercises until her anxiety disappears and finds out it's forever, anxiety and OCD, which Maya also has, don't ever disappear. It's an important message.
Ain't it funny is the catchphrase that Maya will use when she participates in her school's talent show. Her father, an aspiring comic, her mother and grandmother, who run a Russian delicatessen, and various school figures, both classmates and teachers fill out this engaging story that gives us a peek into an anxious pre-teen mind.
The most telling part of the story occurs near the end, when Maya and her parents meet with a therapist and Maya receives the first of the exercises to help her manage her anxiety. Her mother asks the therapist how long does Maya need to do these exercises until her anxiety disappears and finds out it's forever, anxiety and OCD, which Maya also has, don't ever disappear. It's an important message.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2024
Maya's father has moved out, and she misses him very much. He used to help out at the deli that her grandmother owns, and that the whole family works at. Her father is perusing a comedy career, and he has weird hours, but managed to come to help her out when she decides she is going to be a comedian for the school talent show.
Meanwhile, Maya has OCD and anxiety, but doens't know how to tell anyone about it. She does a little research online but when she prints out the information to give her mother and grandmother she is told not to worry about it.
It is a good story to explain OCD and anxiety to the middle grade set, and towards the end we even get tools you can you if you are having a panic attack.
The observations Maya makes for her set in the talent show, are cute, though not hilarious.
If nothing else, this can be a story that a child can see themselves in, and learn what to do when they have the same feelings. Which is a good thing. For me, it went on a bit too long without a resolutions.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 15th of October 2024.
Meanwhile, Maya has OCD and anxiety, but doens't know how to tell anyone about it. She does a little research online but when she prints out the information to give her mother and grandmother she is told not to worry about it.
It is a good story to explain OCD and anxiety to the middle grade set, and towards the end we even get tools you can you if you are having a panic attack.
The observations Maya makes for her set in the talent show, are cute, though not hilarious.
If nothing else, this can be a story that a child can see themselves in, and learn what to do when they have the same feelings. Which is a good thing. For me, it went on a bit too long without a resolutions.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 15th of October 2024.
October 3, 2024
Middle schooler Maya’s world goes awry when her dad moves out to pursue his comic dreams, her favorite teacher goes on leave and her mother and grandmother dismiss her growing anxiety as nothing to be concerned about since she’s from “a long line of worriers.” A solution comes in the form of the school talent show, which Maya believes can bring her family together and show comedy can be a good thing in all their lives. But first she has to overcome her fear of performing.
I found the portrayal of anxiety very realistic and think kids will be able to see themselves in Maya and relate her struggles with their own bouts with the “hot, hot, hot.” Also liked that Maya’s OCD and anxiety were handled with sensitivity and were not the only aspects of her character. The Russian deli scenes were enjoyable, the writing lovely and the bits Maya puts together for her standup act are funny. And while the ending doesn’t tie everything up in a bow (which I prefer), it does offer the thing Kate DiCamillo says all good books need: hope.
I found the portrayal of anxiety very realistic and think kids will be able to see themselves in Maya and relate her struggles with their own bouts with the “hot, hot, hot.” Also liked that Maya’s OCD and anxiety were handled with sensitivity and were not the only aspects of her character. The Russian deli scenes were enjoyable, the writing lovely and the bits Maya puts together for her standup act are funny. And while the ending doesn’t tie everything up in a bow (which I prefer), it does offer the thing Kate DiCamillo says all good books need: hope.
November 14, 2024
AIN’T IT FUNNY follows Maya as she navigates her parents’ separation and her own struggle with OCD and anxiety. Maya’s dad has recently moved out and is pursuing his dream of a career in comedy. Maya lives with her mom and grandmother, who run a Russian deli. When it’s time for the sixth grade talent show, Maya sees an opportunity to use comedy to possibly reunite her parents. As the show approaches, Maya continues to hone her act and work on conquering her stage fright in the face of her own growing anxieties. When one of her favorite teachers experiences a severe panic attack at the deli, Maya begins to question if the “hot hot hots” she feels might be something similar.
The book is a powerful portrayal of OCD and anxiety for middle grade readers. The comedy and talent show component helps to soften the edges of the serious nature of the content and provides a supportive backdrop for Maya’s journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book.
The book is a powerful portrayal of OCD and anxiety for middle grade readers. The comedy and talent show component helps to soften the edges of the serious nature of the content and provides a supportive backdrop for Maya’s journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book.
December 6, 2024
This was a heartfelt, incredibly moving middle grade novel about Maya, a young girl from a Russian Jewish family who struggles with an undiagnosed general anxiety disorder and OCD. She is stressed about her parent's impending divorce and hopes they will reconcile but things don't look good.
Her stand up comedian father is working with Maya on a school talent show project where Maya will perform her own comedy set and Maya also helps out with her mother's Russian bakery. Parts of the story take place over Hanukkah and there are lots of delicious Jewish baked goods and recipes included in the book.
I thought the mental health rep was excellent in this book and liked that Maya's teacher also suffered from own mental health challenges. The book also discusses coping strategies and sees Maya starting therapy to help with her anxiety and OCD. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Stand up, Yumi Chung!
Her stand up comedian father is working with Maya on a school talent show project where Maya will perform her own comedy set and Maya also helps out with her mother's Russian bakery. Parts of the story take place over Hanukkah and there are lots of delicious Jewish baked goods and recipes included in the book.
I thought the mental health rep was excellent in this book and liked that Maya's teacher also suffered from own mental health challenges. The book also discusses coping strategies and sees Maya starting therapy to help with her anxiety and OCD. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Stand up, Yumi Chung!
July 29, 2025
11yo Maya is having a hard year. Her dad has moved out to follow his dream of being a stand up comic, and she, her babushka and mother are running the family's Russian deli without him. But Maya is also noticing some changes in herself. She gets a hot-hot-hot feeling when something is germy - like when a boy in class touches her pencils or puts gum on her desk. She's washing her hands all the time but the adults in her home don't see she has a problem.
I didn't expect the neuro-diversity element and I really enjoyed it. There were plenty of stand up comedy style jokes, I'm really glad Maya and her dad made sure none of them would offend anyone personally. I was sad that Baba was more concerned that people would think her granddaughter was crazy than she was about getting Maya help. I loved the school nurse and the therapist - I hope they are seeing a family therapist as well. Maya and her family are Russian. So are many of her friends.
I didn't expect the neuro-diversity element and I really enjoyed it. There were plenty of stand up comedy style jokes, I'm really glad Maya and her dad made sure none of them would offend anyone personally. I was sad that Baba was more concerned that people would think her granddaughter was crazy than she was about getting Maya help. I loved the school nurse and the therapist - I hope they are seeing a family therapist as well. Maya and her family are Russian. So are many of her friends.
September 7, 2024
This is a charming middle grade novel about a Jewish Russian American tween whose parents are going through a separation. She so wants them to get back together, and thinks that by helping her father find success as a comedian, and getting him to emcee the school talent show where she will perform as a comedian, she can show her mom and dad how they can work together. There's one big problem with all these plans: she can't stop the hot hot hots in her belly, and she suspects she has anxiety. But she can't convince her parents or grandmother that she might. Meanwhile, her spiraling thoughts become more and more frequent.
The Russian deli setting is really neat, and I love the portrayal of anxiety and OCD. It takes a bit to get started and I initially considered putting this aside, but I'm glad I didn't.
The Russian deli setting is really neat, and I love the portrayal of anxiety and OCD. It takes a bit to get started and I initially considered putting this aside, but I'm glad I didn't.
November 28, 2024
Life's hard, especially when you're young, dealing with emotions and compulsions most adults around you don't understand.
Ain't It Funny was a great read about a young girl dealing with the difficulties of navigating some big feelings and compulsions at school and home while also dealing with the separation and impending divorce of her parents. But Maya has a plan to get her parent's back together, when she's not working after school at her family's Russian deli, she's coming up with jokes for her comedy routine for the school's talent show, with the help of her comedian father and supportive mother, she determined for things to end with a happily ever after.
Such a fantastic and realistic middle-grade novel that is full of heart and hope. One if 100% recommend to any middle-grade reader.
Ain't It Funny was a great read about a young girl dealing with the difficulties of navigating some big feelings and compulsions at school and home while also dealing with the separation and impending divorce of her parents. But Maya has a plan to get her parent's back together, when she's not working after school at her family's Russian deli, she's coming up with jokes for her comedy routine for the school's talent show, with the help of her comedian father and supportive mother, she determined for things to end with a happily ever after.
Such a fantastic and realistic middle-grade novel that is full of heart and hope. One if 100% recommend to any middle-grade reader.
January 5, 2025
This is a very insightful book dealing with family dynamics, friendships and mental health issues. Maya, a sixth grader has to learn to adjust to her parents separation along with her growing anxiety over incidents with classmates and her teacher. She lives with her mother and grandmother who own and operate a Russian deli where she helps cook, bake and wait on customers when she is not attending school. It is hard for her to relate to the attitudes of some of the customers while dealing with her own problems. When her school decides to have a talent show she decides to use humor to try to reunite her family. It is interesting to see how her relationship grow and change and how she helps herself deal with her issues.
November 2, 2025
“Ain’t it funny? I begin hands clutching the mic,
How parents are so proud of you until you do something dumb and then it becomes, Guess what your kid did today?
What if kids did that? Like my friend would say, Hey, is that your mom? And I look at my mom’s underwear static clinging to the outside of her jeans and go, Nah, that’s my Grandmother’s daughter.”
Title: Ain’t it Funny
Author: Margaret Gurevich
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a middle grade fiction book.
This book follows Maya. Her life has become a bit unpredictable. Her parents have separated, she’s feeling more and more anxious, and in a plan to help her parents get back together she decides to do a stand-up routine for her school talent show.
This was super cute. The book addresses many topics kids struggle with. I thought it was super enjoyable. The humor was fun overall a really good read.
How parents are so proud of you until you do something dumb and then it becomes, Guess what your kid did today?
What if kids did that? Like my friend would say, Hey, is that your mom? And I look at my mom’s underwear static clinging to the outside of her jeans and go, Nah, that’s my Grandmother’s daughter.”
Title: Ain’t it Funny
Author: Margaret Gurevich
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a middle grade fiction book.
This book follows Maya. Her life has become a bit unpredictable. Her parents have separated, she’s feeling more and more anxious, and in a plan to help her parents get back together she decides to do a stand-up routine for her school talent show.
This was super cute. The book addresses many topics kids struggle with. I thought it was super enjoyable. The humor was fun overall a really good read.
May 23, 2024
Ain't it funny how this book will tear you apart and put you back together in the span of a few hundred pages?
This is a strong depiction of OCD for children. The way Maya describes the "hot-hot-hot" feeling is powerful, and the way that her anxiety escalates because of her parents' separation is all too real. The addition of her teacher, who has a mental breakdown due to her own OCD, is strong too. It takes a while to get to the resolution, but the journey there is very solid. Kids will enjoy the brief bits of humor, and many will find this relatable.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a strong depiction of OCD for children. The way Maya describes the "hot-hot-hot" feeling is powerful, and the way that her anxiety escalates because of her parents' separation is all too real. The addition of her teacher, who has a mental breakdown due to her own OCD, is strong too. It takes a while to get to the resolution, but the journey there is very solid. Kids will enjoy the brief bits of humor, and many will find this relatable.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 17, 2024
This was a totally fine book that just didn’t blow it out of the water. I felt it came into itself towards the end of the book, but it took a while to get there. The two books this book is compared to (Miscalculations of Lightning Girl and Stand Up, Yumi Chung) I liked better overall. Most of the adults in this book were pretty frustrating. I am glad for the resolution but had a hard time falling into the plot and characters to get there.
August 15, 2025
I enjoyed the cute cover and the character Maya interested me. I liked the deli and russian representation, it is rare to see that setting in a book and I loved it. The comedy aspect was cool too. But the only thing I didn’t like was that the problems didn’t really get solved (well the main ones did) but she never spoke up to Barry when he bullied her and also the rumors about Ms. Banta didn’t get cleared up
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)
This book felt only a step above average. The main character deals with the separation of her parents as her dad attempts to get a career in comedy going, much to the disdain of his soon to be former mother in law. She, the main character, also has undiagnosed OCD although I think Gurevich dropped the ball a bit on the attempt at a diagnosis. I probably will not pursue other books by this author.
This book felt only a step above average. The main character deals with the separation of her parents as her dad attempts to get a career in comedy going, much to the disdain of his soon to be former mother in law. She, the main character, also has undiagnosed OCD although I think Gurevich dropped the ball a bit on the attempt at a diagnosis. I probably will not pursue other books by this author.
November 2, 2024
Fantastic middle grade novel! This book is perfect for the young Aza Holmes in your life.
Even as an adult I saw myself as Maya (main charatecter of this book) and her struggle with GAD and OCD. Not only was Maya's perspective shown but that of her family and friends on how they see Maya and her struggles. Parents who have kids with GAD and OCD should be reading this book!!
Even as an adult I saw myself as Maya (main charatecter of this book) and her struggle with GAD and OCD. Not only was Maya's perspective shown but that of her family and friends on how they see Maya and her struggles. Parents who have kids with GAD and OCD should be reading this book!!
February 4, 2025
2.5 stars⭐️. It was cute and I do like how the author wrote OCD and anxiety, but it didn’t really wow me. I was a bit bored but it didn’t break down these two conditions in a way middle grade students can understand.
June 26, 2024
What a great ya novel that tackles serious issues! The author does a great job of integrating a lot of themes in a funny well written novel!
October 28, 2024
Loved the comedy aspect, realistic family struggles, and Russian Jewish deli setting of this middle grade novel. :-)
November 10, 2024
It grew on me near the end but it was a bit slow for me.
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