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Staff Pick
I loved this book. Granted, I'm 50 years older than the target audience, but it still made me feel so much better. Insightful, funny, playful, and very helpful! Recommended By Doug C., Powells.com
Oh my, I love this book. Filled with fabulous, darkly funny short stories and deliciously quirky imaginative pieces (like the hilarious "Personality Test" and the equally hilarious "Choose Your Own Catastrophe"), Pity Party is a droll, insightful take on the twisted-up, stomach-churning, anxiety-ridden ball that is kidhood. Recommended By Gigi L., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Discover an "absurd, funny, and thought-provoking" book perfect for "anyone who has ever felt socially awkward or inadequate" (Louis Sachar, author of Holes and the Wayside School series).
Dear weird toes, crooked nose, stressed out, left out, freaked out
Dear missing parts, broken hearts, picked-on, passed up, misunderstood,
Dear everyone, you are cordially invited, come as you are, this party's for you
Welcome to Pity Party, where the social anxieties that plague us all are twisted into funny, deeply resonant, and ultimately reassuring psychological thrills.
There's a story about a mood ring that tells the absolute truth. One about social media followers who literally follow you around. And one about a kid whose wish for a new, improved self is answered when a mysterious box arrives in the mail. There's also a personality test, a fortune teller, a letter from the Department of Insecurity, and an interactive Choose Your Own Catastrophe.
Come to the party for a grab bag of delightfully dark stories that ultimately offers a life-affirming reminder that there is hope and humor to be found amid our misery.
Review
"A heartfelt and relatable book filled with moments of darkness and humor, plus a little magic....Perfect for anyone who has ever felt out of place in a social situation." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"[U]nique and intriguing....Through Pity Party, Lane (The Best Worst Thing, 2016) encourages readers to engage in conversation, self-reflection, and ultimately empathy toward anyone experiencing issues around mental health." Booklist
Review
"[A] welcoming, often ironic collection....eclectic....Lane (The Best Worst Thing) offers a captivating distraction from self-pity, and creative variations and varied genre inclusions will keep readers' attention." Publishers Weekly
Review
"An artful, amusingly quirky tour of middle school angst." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"In this collection of absurd, funny, and thought- provoking stories, Kathleen Lane shows genuine compassion and empathy for her characters, and even more importantly, for the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt socially awkward or inadequate - well, to everyone." Louis Sachar, Author of Holes, and the Wayside School series.
Review
"A series of vignettes, poems, illustrations, and a tale interconnect to present a humorous, painfully honest portrayal of adolescent anxieties....darn funny, and readers will appreciate the invitation to commiserate." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"Few authors have ever put their fingers on the surreal pulse of the experience of middle school as effectively as Kathleen Lane. Listen to me, readers, this peculiar and downright delightful little book is a veritable lifeline. Grasp it tight." Betsy Bird, The Great Santa Stakeout
About the Author
Kathleen Lane lives in Portland, Oregon, where she writes, teaches, cohosts the art and literary event series SHARE, and runs the Create More, Fear Less program (https: //createmorefearless.org) that helps young people channel anxiety into art.
Powell's Staff on PowellsBooks.Blog
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