Unscripted

Seventeen-year-old Zelda Bailey-Cho has her future all planned out: improv camp, then Second City, and finally Saturday Night Live. She’s thrilled when she lands a spot on the coveted varsity team at a prestigious improv camp, which means she’ll get to perform for professional scouts—including her hero, Nina Knightley. But even though she’s hardworking and talented, Zelda’s also the only girl on Varsity, so she’s the target for humiliation from her teammates. And her 20-year-old coach, Ben, is cruel to her at practice and way too nice to her when they’re alone. Zelda wants to fight back, but is sacrificing her best shot at her dream too heavy a price to pay? Equal parts funny and righteous, Unscripted is a moving debut novel that Printz Award winner Nina LaCour calls “a truly special book, written at exactly the right time.” 

 

Praise for Unscripted

Strong character development and exploration of timely topics make this novel shine...
— Kirkus

Kronzer deftly combines what it means to be a female in comedy with a story of contemporary resonance that evokes the #MeToo movement.
— Booklist

Kronzer excels at balancing humor with difficult subjects, portraying sexism and toxic masculinity in comedy with appropriate gravity while celebrating positive, healthy relationships and growth through active choices.
— Publishers Weekly

Smart, funny, and completely riveting. Nicole Kronzer fearlessly dives into the misogyny of the comedy world to tell a profound story of a sharp, talented girl thwarted at every turn by a patriarchal institution that makes no space for her. A powerful and necessary read for all genders.
— Lance Rubin, author of Crying Laughing and Denton Little's Deathdate

This is a well written story that provides insight into the development of an abusive, narcissistic relationship and the power of standing up for yourself.
— School Library Connection

A truly special book, written at exactly the right time.
— Printz Award winner Nina LaCour

Pair with the comedy specials of Hannah Gadsby, Amy Schumer, Tiffany Haddish, or Ali Wong; give to devotees of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; and add to the growing YA subgenre of high school girls taking down the patriarchy (The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid, The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly, Six Angry Girls, Girls Save the World in This One).
— YALSA

Kronzer skillfully brings to life the improv setting. The characters are authentic and friendships seem real…The humor of improvisation does not detract from the powerful messages of consent and gender equality, but rather adds some lighthearted moments to a serious plot.
— School Library Journal
 
 

Press for Unscripted

 

Blog Posts

“Breaking into the Boys’ Club of Comedy” by Nicole Kronzer for The Nerd Daily

“The Power of Laughter in a Time of Crisis” by Nicole Kronzer for the School Library Journal blog, Teen Librarian Toolkit

“Unscripted Fun Facts, all in one place by Nicole Kronzer, nicolekronzer.com

“What it Took for me to Believe I Could Write a Book” by Nicole Kronzer, guest blog post for Novel Novice

“Whose Rules are they Anyway? Six Ways Improv and Writing Overlap” by Nicole Kronzer, guest blog post for Women Writers, Women’s Books

Instagram Live/Youtube interviews

“Belletrist Virtual Book Tour: Nicole Kronzer (Unscripted)” Interview with Karah, Belletrist

Instagram Live Q&A with Juliana Brandt

Instagram Live Q&A with Nina LaCour

Minnesota Book Award YA Finalists in Conversation

 
 

Behind the Scenes…