A tragicomic story of bad dates, bad news, bad performances, and one girl's determination to find the funny in high school from the author of Denton Little's Deathdate. Winnie Friedman has been waiting for the world to catch on to what she already knows: she's hilarious. It might be a long wait, though. After bombing a stand-up set at her own bat mitzvah, Winnie has kept her jokes to herself. Well, to herself and her dad, a former comedian and her inspiration. Then, on the second day of tenth grade, the funniest guy in school actually laughs at a comment she makes in the lunch line and asks her to join the improv troupe. Maybe he's even . . . flirting? Just when Winnie's ready to say yes to comedy again, her father reveals that he's been diagnosed with ALS. That is . . . not funny. Her dad's still making jokes, though, which feels like a good thing. And Winnie's prepared to be his straight man if that's what he wants. But is it what he needs? Caught up in a spiral of epically bad dates, bad news, and bad performances, Winnie's struggling to see the humor in it all. But finding a way to laugh is exactly what will see her through. **A Junior Library Guild Selection**

Thirteen years old and a budding comedian, Cody has little to laugh about after he and his mother move from California to Texas to help his sick grandmother and he is framed by his cousin for calling in bomb threats to their school.

For anyone who has ever felt like the odds were totally stacked against you, I hope some of these stories will help you believe that odds are temporary and everything changes. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of a well wishing you could climb up to the light, that too will change. You will reach the light you seek. Pay attention to all the miracles happening around you, even the smallest, whether they make you laugh, cry, or just ponder life. Soon, you will see that those miracles give meaning to your life, no matter who you are. Don’t worry if you can’t think of any miracles in your life; that just means that you need practice seeing them. Until you can see your own miracles, borrow some of mine. Pretend they’re yours. It will help you begin to notice yours. Soon, you will see that those miracles give meaning to your life, no matter who you are. Remember that even tragedy can produce miracles, so be looking for miracles everywhere. They don't have to be huge miracles. Even the tiniest miracles can bring lots of joy into your life. I love seeing dragonflies in my yard. They make me feel happy. Love your life, even if that seems like it will be against the odds. Life is the biggest miracle of all.

This book mixes humor with solid practical advice for coping with grief in a down-to-earth, meet-you-where-you-live approach.

Do you believe that joy is a choice? Dawn Barton does. She's an upbeat Southerner with good hair and a successful business background, but she's had more heartache than most of us can imagine. Laughing Through the Ugly Cry is a collection of honest and sometimes raw stories. Dawn throws an arm around readers as she brings them along on her journey through the loss of a child, divorce, cancer, rape, the death of her only sibling, her husband's substance abuse, and finding her way back to Jesus in the middle of it all. Dawn shares her personal story to show readers how to find happiness and purpose even in the darkest of days. By laughing through the ugly cry, you will discover how to: Shut down negative feelings causing you to feel inadequate Identify the pros despite how challenging the cons may seem Embrace joy wherever you can find it Learn how to be honest with yourself and process grief in a healthy way Dawn writes, "If more women were open about just how difficult our lives feel and how hard we are on ourselves, I think we'd learn to relax a little and give ourselves the grace God gives us every day." Laughing Through the Ugly Cry is great for: Women of any age seeking comfort, encouragement, and inspiration Book clubs and girls' nights--Dawn poses thoughtful group questions to support meaningful conversations about growth and joy

Today's special: A slice of insight and a scoop of wisdom, with some laughter on the side Deanna Davis is no stranger to tough times. Like the rest of us, she's faced her share of heartache, self-doubt, and professional obstacles among other challenges. In this inspiring new guide, she mixes together all the best ingredients-good humor, a dollop of wisdom, and powerful insights from the worlds of Positive Psychology and neuroscience-to serve up practical strategies for transforming your life, no matter how warmed-over everything around you (and inside you) might seem. With humor, honesty, and a down-to-earth, relatable style, Davis shares stories and insights that address the issues real women face every day-from balancing family needs with personal and professional ones, and stealing a few moments of quiet every now and then, to getting through the rough patches that every relationship sometimes throws us. Celebrating the importance of mindful living, the power of friendships, and the undeniable benefits of a good laugh (and, every now and then, a good cry), this is just the satisfying read we need for these tough times.

A civilian-soldier during WW II who found herself on that stony uphill path where the Women's Army Corps was the unwitting avant-garde for women's liberation.