Published: 2022
Series: N/A
Author: Alex Graudins
Illustrator: Alex Graudins
Genres: Graphic Novel, Memoir, Mental Health, Humor, Nonfiction, Comics, Biography, Adult, Biography Memoir, Graphic Novels Comics
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 9-12 / High School
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: Improve: How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety
Triggers: Crippling social anxiety, paralyzing fear, negative thought spirals, panic, and severe social distress
Review By: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary:
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 she signs up for an improv comedy class. 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.
Review:
I really enjoyed Alex Graudins’ graphic novel, “Improve: How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety,”. The story follows Alex, a teenager constantly plagued by self-doubt and fear of judgment. Her anxiety manifests in everyday interactions, making it difficult for her to connect with others and participate in activities. Desperate to break free from her internal prison, Alex stumbles upon improv comedy and decides to give it a try. The supportive environment of the improv community provides her with a sense of belonging and acceptance she never thought possible. It is a peek into the life of those who suffer from social anxiety and I think it was a great way for students to have an understanding of what it would feel like to have these struggles with anxiety.
Graudins showcases an exceptional writing style and structural organization that balances raw, emotional authenticity with lighthearted humor. By using a graphic novel format to map out her internal monologues, she externalizes the abstract concept of mental distress in a way that feels incredibly clear and grounded for young people. Her illustration style acts as a brilliant vehicle for the narrative pacing; the panels visually transition from tight, cramped, and color-suppressed frames when Alex is feeling trapped by her thoughts, to expansive, dynamic, and bright configurations as she slowly builds confidence through improv comedy games. These expressive panels allow her emotional vulnerability to jump directly off the page, offering readers an immersive, first-hand look at the physiological and mental realities of a panic response. Furthermore, the bright, engaging, and modern cover art is remarkably eye-catching, perfectly designed to attract contemporary high school students browsing graphic novel and self-help sections.
I give this masterpiece a full 5 stars, scoring it at the highest tier for its unique creativity, compelling prose, masterfully communicative artwork, and profound dedication to authentic representation. This graphic memoir is a high-value recommendation for school librarians, secondary educators, guidance counselors, and high school students who are looking to cultivate deeper interpersonal awareness. It brings tremendous empathy and value to any secondary or public library collection striving to expand its real-world mental health resources.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Health / Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Connects flawlessly to mental health units, specifically lessons surrounding coping mechanisms for anxiety, building self-esteem, the therapeutic properties of creative arts, and mindfulness practices.
- ELA / Memoir & Arts: An excellent mentor text for teaching autobiographical non-fiction, exploring how graphic formatting conveys character voice, and evaluating how humor can be paired with heavy topics to enhance tone and message.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: This title serves as an exceptional selection for secondary library book clubs, independent reading shelves, or high school literature circles. For an extension library application, educators can host a basic, low-stakes introductory improv workshop where students engage in simple, collaborative group theater games (like “Yes, And…”) to experience first-hand how the framework of improv fosters real-world community equity, active listening, and social trust.
- Diversity & Representation: This title supports equity, diversity, and inclusion by offering an incredibly authentic “window” into neurodivergence and mental health struggles. It provides meaningful representation for adolescents dealing with invisible disabilities, illustrating how an individual can navigate severe social boundaries with dignity and patience.
Readalikes:
- Guts by Raina Telgemeier
- Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green
- Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
