Unscripted

Nicole Kronzers YA novel, Unscripted, (Amulet Books, 2020) skips sure-footedly down a path dotted with teen-age concerns until it forces the reader to watch its protagonist step into the quicksand of abuse.

Set in a summer camp for budding improvisational comedy performers, Unscripted is told in first-person by Zelda Bailey-Cho, a 17-year-old high schooler whos left her Minnesota home for two weeks at Rocky Mountain Theater Arts summer camp in Colorado. For Zelda, making her mark at camp is the first step in a trajectory she is certain will take her to a gig as a performer on Saturday Night Live. But the irrepressible Zelda is taken aback by misogyny at the famous camp.

Initially, Zelda questions the sexist attitudes at the camp, but she doesnt notice that, like the frog in the story, she has plopped into a cauldron of cold water and that one of the camp counselors is holding a match.
The book contains snappy dialogue and pop culture references, along with deftly conveyed lessons about how improvisational comedy is supposed to work. Scene after scene of Zelda bonding with girls in her cabin and a trio of Boy Scouts from a nearby camp reveal her basic goodness, and Zeldas constant self-questioning is endearingly familiar to readers who remember having been (or who are) teen-agers. The family-away-from-home that Zelda assembles helps her keep her feet when events at camp threaten to sweep her off her moorings.

Uncomfortably real are scenes between Zelda and her counselor, a predator about whom another character asks, Has hehit you? Anyone who has been in or has witnessed someone else in an abusive relationship will feel his or her blood chill and want to jump into the book and punch out Zeldas abuser and save her.

But (with a little help from her friends) Zelda has to save herself. That she comes out of her ordeal scarred but not broken is a great encouragement for anybody who has dared to seek help out of relational manipulation and been dismissed with the phrase, Boys will be boys or who has found herself (or himself) thinking, as Zelda does at one point, Ill just go [along], figuring the calmer I could keep him, the better off Ill be.

Unscripted shows the difference between somebody who loves a girl for herself and somebody who loves controlling her. It shows how abuse startsand how to escape itthrough the thoughts and actions of a main character who is funny, endearing, and a perfect heroine for our time.

Highly recommend! Everyone is saying they wish they could of read this book as teenager, and I was lucky enough to read it as a younger audience. Kronzer addressed issues we face daily in an entertaining and appropriate manner. Its a book for an audience of all ages and teaches important lessons that everyone can benefit from. One of my favorite books so far! You wont regret reading this, and if youre like most, you will pick it up and not be able to put it down.

I loved this book! It was funny, heart-warming, and dealt with real issues. The juxtaposition of comedy and Zelda’s encounters with rampant sexism in the improv community heightened my emotions while reading Unscripted.

Moreover, I enjoyed the development of all the characters in the story. Emily, Sirena, Will, Jonas, Jesse, Paloma, and Hanna were an amazing and diverse cast of characters that illustrated true friendships with Zelda. The inside jokes that were brought up throughout the novel (like the whale sounds for example) showed how quickly all these friendships developed, which is truly reminiscent of my camp days.

Furthermore, this novel emphasizes how sexism continues to pervade throughout society, and how ignorant people can be to this fact. Although Zelda is surrounded by misogyny, she has a strong spirit that continues throughout the story. I love that Zelda is a strong woman that knows her worth, but also realizes that she can lean on her friends for support. I believe everyone can learn from the lessons in this book.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book – it’s a quick read, but leaves a lasting impression!

This book was so good, as you get through it you will not be able to put it down and want to know what happens. There is humor, happiness and the development of an abusive relationship which shows the power to stand up for yourself. This allows readers to see the power of standing up for yourself and being able to trust in others for what you know isnt right. This book was a great read and I definitely recommend it! I also really enjoyed the audiobook version in which the author Nicole Kronzer narrates herself.

I will admit there are times I struggled reading this book because I was so angry at some of the characters!! But as an Improvisational performer for almost 20 years and an educator for 37 years, the author hits the story out of the park. She knows her improv, and understands the difficulties female performers often have to overcome, Although this is a YA book, I highly recommend it to everyone…especially improv and theatre performers.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member