by Ryan Higa
First published 2017
Ryan Higa opens his memoir as one of YouTube's biggest creators, but he wasn't always the confident entertainer millions know today. He takes readers back to his transformation from a content kid into someone consumed by depression and dark thoughts. Higa believed he had only one escape from his pain until he discovered a different path forward. The book combines his personal story with unconventional writing advice from someone who failed basic English classes yet became a published author. Higa includes photos and illustrations alongside his candid account of surviving difficult times. He addresses readers directly, acknowledging the surprise many feel about a YouTuber writing a book. The memoir reveals how Higa learned not just to survive his struggles but to thrive because of them. His story aims to inspire others facing similar challenges while delivering writing tips from an unlikely source.
Genres: autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, self-discovery
208 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness