Chronicles the comedienne's experiences as a tall, awkward youth, to which she attributes her development of a thick skin and sense of humor.

Some tall girls grow up to have perfect posture and are later seen gracing the pages of magazines. Some are natural athletes with toned legs that mask their overlarge feet. Then there are other tall girls: the ones who are always tripping over themselves; who never look normal in any size of clothing; who literally don’t fit in. Comedian Margot Leitman was one of these awkward giants, and Gawky is the painfully funny chronicle of her experiences growing up tall. Reaching five feet six inches in fourth grade—and approaching six feet in high school—Leitman realized early on that she'd always stand out from the crowd. To cope, she developed a thick skin and a sharp sense of humor, and instead of forever trying to blend in, she decided to embrace her center-of-attention status. Leitman wears funky, Ziggy Stardust-era jumpsuits (in the 90s); takes up any cause she can find (whether saving the public beaches or protesting prom); and generally makes as much use of her big presence as humanly possible. Leitman’s memoir is a hilarious celebration of growing up gangly. Endearing and encouraging, Gawky is a cathartic release of everything awkward girls endure—and a tribute to a youth larger than life.

What will it take for one man to overcome his traumatic past and put his life back together? When Rick Pallattumadom's family emigrates to America during his childhood, he has high hopes for a life there. But it turns out to be quite different than what he expects. He's suddenly thrust into a new culture, with new customs and a language he doesn't understand. While he faces the traditional struggles immigrants face in their teenage years, he also encounters much more than he bargained for. Rick finds himself at the wrong end of a group of middle school bullies. He suffers through in silence, not realizing that these fateful months will affect him for the rest of his life. Afterward, he tries to pick up the pieces of his life, but faces mental health issues like PTSD and anxiety. Determined to be more than a victim, Rick goes on a journey to recover his original self and overcome his mental health issues. Through more bullying, struggles with his family, and difficulties accepting and living with his mental health, Rick overcomes obstacle after obstacle, eventually coming to terms with his own psychology and life.