Why Is Nobody Laughing?

Hiding his passion for comedy from his family, dealing with the pressure of being the oldest child in an immigrant family, and now he's started having episodes he soon realises are panic attacks.

When Ibrahim has a panic attack on stage at a local stand-up competition, he runs off to a deserted room.

'A warm, sensitive and hopeful portrayal of a young person struggling with their mental health and family dynamics ... it has depth and great heart as well as charming characters that you will grow to love.' - Ciara Smyth, author of NOT MY PROBLEM, winner of the Waterstones Book Prize

Will the real Ibrahim Malik please stand up?

Ibrahim and Dexter have been best friends forever. While Dexter is always cool and confident, Ibrahim...well, Ibrahim's dealing with a lot. Hiding his passion for comedy from his family, dealing with the pressure of being the oldest child in an immigrant family, and now he's started having episodes he soon realises are panic attacks.

When Ibrahim has a panic attack on stage at a local stand-up competition, he runs off to a deserted room. There he finds Sura.

Sura is kind and helps him come to terms with his anxiety. He can open up to her in a way he's never been able to with Dexter. But there's also something strange about her - how much she knows about Ibrahim, and how she seems to disappear in an instant.

Will Ibrahim crumble under the pressure, or will Sura's words be enough to help him? And what will happen when he no longer has her help?

A powerful contemporary novel tackling teenage mental health in boys.

Perfect for fans of John Green, Alice Oseman and Holly Bourne.