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Improve by Alex Graudins

Improve

How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety

Alex Graudins

First Second · Print & ebook · September 6, 2022

A graphic memoir for teens about the author's efforts to overcome her social anxiety by learning improv comedy.

Graphic BiographyYA Mental HealthHumor for Teensmental
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Who it’s for
A graphic memoir pairs the awkwardness of improv with an honest account of facing social anxiety.
Themes
Social anxiety, Improv comedy, Friendship and self-discovery
Genres
Graphic Biography, YA Mental Health, Humor for Teens

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About this book

A graphic memoir for teens about the author's efforts to overcome her social anxiety by learning improv comedy. Alex has crippling social anxiety. All day long, she is trapped in a web of negative thoughts and paralyzing fear. To pull herself free of this endless cycle, Alex does something truly terrifying: she signs up for an improv comedy class.

Continue reading

By forcing herself to play silly games and act out ridiculous scenes, Alex confronts the unbearable weight of embarrassment, makes new friends, rediscovers parts of herself that she'd hidden away, and ultimately faces her greatest fear by performing onstage for all to see.

Bravery, With a Punchline

A graphic memoir pairs the awkwardness of improv with an honest account of facing social anxiety.

Come here for

  • The funny, unnerving leap from anxious thoughts to improv games
  • A teen’s candid account of learning to be seen

Expect

  • Playful scenes alongside the weight of social anxiety
  • A personal story that builds toward an onstage performance

Where it sits

Graphic Biography89%
YA Mental Health59%
Humor for Teens32%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Graphic Social Topics
  • Crafts & Hobbies
Authors
Alex Graudins
Publisher
First Second
Published
September 6, 2022
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Social anxiety · Improv comedy · Friendship and self-discovery
Reading lane
Graphic Social Topics