I was impressed by the way Lance Rubin introduced and explained improv in the book, a challenge when the scenes themselves are carefully written and edited more like sketch comedy. I look forward to playing some of Winnie's improv games with my own friends! ... How nice it was to experience a boy essentially hitting on a girl's mind. Much more of that in young adult literature, please! ... As afraid I was that this book would contain more Crying than Laughing, I was overjoyed to find that the opposite was true. Rubin tackles Winnie's father's debilitating disease and other sensitive subjects with marvelous amounts of humor and heart. You will need tissues by the end of this book, but I promise it will be okay. Because, just as the title promises, you will also be Laughing.
Comedy nerds and curious newbies alike will LOL at the improv-infused Crying Laughing ... Thanks to his own comedy chops, Lance Rubin expertly explains the aforementioned games as Winnie masters them. Readers will cheer her on even as they cringe-laugh sympathetically. Crying Laughing offers insight into why it can be good to be unfunny, and gently but firmly advocates for facing up to feelings, even scary ones. Winnie’s rapid-fire internal voice and awkward dating experiences are a hoot, and her relationships are infused with compassion and nuance ... This sweet and appealing story celebrates kindness, wit, perseverance.
Rubin’s latest is a review of comedy culture sprinkled throughout a hilarious and heart-wrenching tale. With a refreshingly diverse cast of characters, Rubin weaves together high-school drama, improv failures, bad dates, and friendship fights with a family struggling to stay together when its foundation is suddenly shaken. This book is for anyone who’s ever attended high school, had a crush, gotten news they weren’t prepared to deal with, or learned that someone close to them isn’t quite who they thought they were—in short, for everyone.
Rubin’s writing realistically brings to life teens struggling to find their paths and be happy, lending the story a feeling of authenticity. Small, telling details of the girls’ interactions in their interfaith friendship and pop-culture references add to this reality. This is a touching look into one girl’s high school experience as she seeks the funny moments even in the midst of tragedy and challenging relationships. Winnie is white and Jewish, Leili and Asmaa are Iranian American, and there is diversity in secondary characters ... Charming and affecting.
Rubin again handles mortality with a light touch and humor, realistically capturing a father-daughter relationship in the face of a serious illness. Charming, heartbreaking, and ultimately life-affirming, Rubin captures Winnie’s verve and heart with honesty and wit.
