Week 2- Funny Books

WEEK 2 
What Teens Like- FUNNY BOOKS

Finding humor in books is so a subjective, so I struggled with this week as I love anything that makes me laugh. However, I could see why my picks may not be for everyone.

My graphic novel obsession continues... I especially love graphic novels that use humor to help guide readers through more difficult subjects...

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

“It's easy to become anything you wish . . . so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul.”

Yang uses humor based on stereotypes as a way to hook readers into this fascinating book. This helps readers face tough themes like identity, culture, and acceptance-- on deeper levels. I loved how the three separate plots eventually came together to illustrate the importance in understanding our own stereotypes and biases in order to genuinely overcome them.

I would highly recommend this book to students 13 years and up... I checked with my "go to" source- Common Sense Media which suggests 13+ (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/american-born-chinese). This site also advises:

Parents need to know that Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award, in addition to several other literary awards and honors. It's easy to see why: The art, clever story lines, and thoughtful messages about tolerance and acceptance mark it as a winner. There's some sexual innuendo, potty humor, fighting, and a fairly graphic scene in which a monk is impaled on a spear and put on a spit over a fire, though he's rescued. An intentionally over-the-top stereotypical Chinese character -- and every protagonist's search for acceptance -- make this a better fit for teen readers who have the sophistication to understand the author's intent.  

El Deafo by Cece Bell

According to Amazon- "A 2015 Newbery Honor Book Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful—and very awkward—hearing aid."

I know that I have suggested this before, but I feel strongly that it ties in this week as well... the humor is accessible from ages 8+ through adults. This book is the perfect example of exposing students to important themes and getting them to buy in even more thanks to the humor!

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer & Matt Holm

Sunny Lewin has been packed off to Florida to live with her grandfather for the summer. At first she thought Florida might be fun -- it is the home of Disney World, after all. But the place where Gramps lives is no amusement park. It’s full of . . . old people. Really old people (Goodreads)

My 5th grade students and I read this as a read aloud. It was very funny and surprisingly touching. There was a lot of build up and suspense that led to great conversations and predictions. The characters were easy to relate to and the relationships and family dynamics were realistic and very natural. The humor is very benign... lots of poking fun at the seniors who live in the gated community. 

awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Amazon- "Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don't get noticed by the mean kids.

Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups with similar interests and join them.

On her first day at her new school, Penelope--Peppi--Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!

Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he's a member of her own club's archrivals--the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school!"

Middle school is tough enough, which is why I love finding a great book that helps shine a light on all of the awkwardness. This book is the perfect way for middle school students to know that they are not alone-- and that they will survive!

In my quest for humorous titles, I found this great website that breaks down different genres of funny with a very helpful infographic... http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/04/find-the-ya-novel-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud/