Maryam Master (text) and Astred Hicks (illustrator), Laughter is the Best Ending, Pan Macmillan, August 2024, 262 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761560132
I find most humans dreadfully tedious.
This first chapter sentence sums up main character Zina (preferred name Zee) perfectly. With her aloof nature, extensive vocabulary and general quirkiness, Zee has no mates and no need for them So, her well-meaning parents send her to camp to make at least one friend. This is Maryam Master’s third novel for older readers and one with my favourite main character so far.
You’re not supposed to laugh at funerals
This opening line draws readers into Zee’s peculiar view on life. Here she is in a fit of giggles at Old Viv’s funeral. This situation raised many questions in my mind which kept me reading on through Zee’s story. Oscar Wilde quotes fly rapidly from Zee as she’s sent off to camp to make friends and sharpen her social skills. At camp Zee quickly latches onto influencer Tiffanee (two Es please) and geeky twin brothers, Moses and Jonah as they are set to play a game of ‘murder in the dark’. Their friendship cements when a camp member truly has vanished, and they need to solve the mystery. Enter ‘Old Viv’ in a spooky mansion where Zee finally finds a soulmate.
By the end of the story, I didn’t find Zee peculiar at all but more of a deep, worldly thinker who doesn’t want to be pigeonholed. The illustrations by Astred Hicks add sprinkles of fun throughout the book. The line drawings will also engage even reluctant teen readers.
Laughter is the Best Ending is a terribly cool yet deep middle-grade fiction read for sassy tweens and teens aged 10+ years.
Reviewed by Stef Gemmill
