Ain't It Funny by Margaret Gurevich

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.