Humor

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton.

Andy and Terry live in a treehouse that has EVERYTHING! Bowling alley, pool, marshmallow machine... flying cats, mermaids, gorillas, giant bananas...

This is the start of a series, and each title doubles the number of stories (26th Story Treehouse, 52nd Story Treehouse, and so on), and they just keep adding amazing things to the treehouse. It's got illustrations, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, too.

Lions & Liars by Kate Beasley

From the publisher: "Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick's a flea.

Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent to a disciplinary camp for troublesome boys. His fellow troop mates—Nosebleed, Specs, The Professor, and little-yet-lethal Ant Bite—are terrifying. But in between trust-building exercises and midnight escape attempts, a tenuous friendship grows between them. Which is lucky, because a Category 5 hurricane is coming and everyone will have to work together—lions and fleas alike—to survive! "

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones

This book got a lot of rave reviews when it came out! From the publisher: "Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water when she and her parents move from Los Angeles to the farm they’ve inherited from a great-uncle. But farm life gets more interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her little chicken brain: jam jars, the latch to her henhouse, the entire henhouse….

And then more of her great-uncle’s unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.

Told in letters to Sophie’s abuela, quizzes, a chicken-care correspondence course, to-do lists, and more, Unusual Chickens is a quirky, clucky classic in the making."

Sequel: Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater

This is the book that Sophie reads to her unusual chickens (see above). From the publisher: "When the butcher at Murphy's Meat Market loses the order for the Bobowicz family's Thanksgiving turkey, young Arthur brings home a chicken weighing two hundred sixty-six pounds which causes a bizarre crisis in Hoboken, New Jersey."

Be sure to check out the companion book (on the mystery page), Looking for Bobowicz, as well as Pinkwater's many other books with a weird sense of humor: The Neddiad; Adventures of a Cat-Whiskered Girl; The Yggyssey, etc.

Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans

From the publisher: "You're called Fidge and you're nearly eleven. You've been hurled into a strange world. You have three companions; two are unbelievably weird, and the third is your awful cousin Graham.

You have to solve a series of nearly impossible clues. You need to deal with a cruel dictator and three thousand Wimbley Woos (yes, you read that sentence correctly). And the whole situation — the whole, entire thing — is your fault."

I, Funny by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Jamie Grimm wants to be the world's greatest stand-up comedian... sitting in a wheelchair. He lives with his aunt and uncle,  and his cousin, Stevie, who is a big bully.  Tough to get away from a bully when you live in the same house.  Then Uncle Frankie tells Jamie about the Planet's Funniest Kid contest, and that's Jamie's new goal! He practices on kids, teachers, and the patrons at Uncle Frankie's diner. This is the start of a series.

Home Sweet Motel by Chris Grabenstein

From the publisher: "Eleven-year-old P. T. Wilkie may be the greatest storyteller alive. But he knows one thing for a fact: the Wonderland Motel is the best place a kid could ever live! All-you-can-eat poolside ice cream! A snack machine in the living room! A frog slide! A giant rampaging alligator! (Okay, that last one may or may not be made up.) There's only one thing the Wonderland doesn't have, though—customers. And if the Wonderland doesn't get them soon, P.T. and his friend Gloria may have to say goodbye to their beloved motel forever. They need to think BIG. They need to think BOLD. They need an OUTRAGEOUS plan. Luckily for them, Gloria is a business GENIUS, and OUTRAGEOUS is practically P.T.'s middle name. With Gloria's smarts and P.T.'s world-famous stories and schemes, there's got to be a way to save the Wonderland! BONUS: Includes fun extras like P. T. Wilkie's outrageous (and sometimes useful) things you learn living in a motel. Installment 1: How to say "Help! The toilet is clogged!" in over twenty languages! "

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald

From the publisher: "Charlie Joe Jackson is proud to say that he's never read an entire book from cover to cover. Sure, he's glanced at the first chapter and last chapter and maybe even read the flap copy, but when it comes to actually reading what's in the middle, Charlie counts on his friend Timmy McGibney to do the reading for him in exchange for an ice cream sandwich. But when Timmy decides that his price has gone up to three ice cream sandwiches, Charlie Joe Jackson is faced with two very unappealing options: let himself be blackmailed or read an entire book. What's an enterprising non-reader to do?"

there's an entire series!

Just Joking: Sidesplitters by National Geographic Kids

Uh... do we even have to explain this one?  There are a TON of jokebooks in this series.  And the public library has them all! Use them to improve your stand-up routine!  Teach Dad some new better-than-dad-jokes! Then write your own jokes...

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell.

From the author's website: "Miles Murphy is known for one thing and one thing only: pranking.

He's the best prankster his school has ever seen. So when he's forced to move to boring Yawnee Valley (also known for one thing and one thing only: cows), he assumes he'll be the best prankster at his new school too. There's one problem. The school already has a prankster—and he's good. Really good."

Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley

From the publisher: "Everyone in Remarkable is remarkable. Everyone except Jane, that is. While the rest of the town is busy being talented, gifted, or just plain extraordinary, she’s never been anything but ordinary. Then Jane finds herself in school with the mischievous Grimlet twins, and her life suddenly gets a whole lot more interesting. And when a strange pirate captain appears in town, setting of a series of adventures that put the whole town in danger, it’s up to Jane to save the day. Along the way, she might just find that she can be pretty remarkable after all."

The Left Behinds: the iPhone that Saved George Washington by David Potter

From the author's website: "On Christmas Day, Mel finds General George Washington lying dead as a doornail in a stable. But Mel knows that George Washington must cross the Delaware River, or the course of American history will be changed forever.

Could Mel’s iPhone have sent him back in time to 1776? And can Mel and his schoolmates, know-it-all Bev and laid-back Brandon, come to the rescue? Perhaps, with a little help from two colonial kids and Benjamin Franklin himself."

Hilarious time-travel adventure.

My Rotten Life by David Lubar

First of the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series by this author and former game designer (and HUGE fan of Pokemon Go).  From the publisher: Ten-year-old Nathan Abercrombie used to be an ordinary kid …until he got doused with an experimental serum that turn him into a half-dead zombie. But it turns out being half dead isn’t all bad. He doesn’t need any sleep, and he doesn’t feel pain. Still, Nathan would rather be human. Will he find a cure? Or will Nathan be half-dead forever? "

Also check out his Weenies Stories series.

Demon Dentist by David Walliams

From the author's website: "Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night.

Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find… a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.

Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it…?"

Try some of this best-selling author's other funny books, too: Bad Dad, Midnight Gang, The Boy in the Dress, Gangsta Granny, Grandpa's Great Escape, Ratburger, Mr. Stink, Awful Auntie, and many more!

The Rhino in Right Field by Stacy DeKeyser

From the publisher: "Nick wants to change his life. For twelve years, he’s done what his hard-working, immigrant parents want him to do. Now he’s looking for his own American dream and he thinks he’s found it. The local baseball team is having a batboy contest, and Nick wants to win.

But the contest is on a Saturday—the day Nick has to work in his father’s shop. There’s one other tiny—well, not so tiny—problem. A 2,000-pound rhinoceros named Tank. Nick and his friends play ball in the city zoo—and Tank lives just beyond the right field fence. Nick’s experience getting the ball out of Tank’s pen has left him frozen with fear whenever a fly ball comes his way. How’s a lousy fielder going to win the contest?

Nick practices every day with his best friend, Ace, and a new girl who has an impressive throwing arm! But that’s not enough—to get to the contest, Nick has to lie to his parents and blackmail his uncle. All while dodging the school bully, who’s determined to win even by playing dirty. Nick will need to keep his eye on the ball in this fast, funny story about a game that can throw you some curveballs—just like life! "

Dodger for Sale by Jordan Sonnenblick

Latest of a trilogy. From the publisher: "What would you do if your best friend was:

1. Still imaginary (and getting into trouble with other "imaginary" creatures, such as leprechauns. That's right, leprechauns!!)?

2. In danger of losing his home, and the only forest in your town, the magical Field of Dreams?

3. Driving you crazy?!?! (But in a best-friend type of way . . . )

Now you have an idea of what Willie Ryan's life is like in the third and final installment of the hilarious Dodger and Me series. Only this time, Dodger's gone and peeved a band of leprechauns; Willie's sister, Amy, is missing; and class bully James Beeks's dad wants to build a housing development in the Field of Dreams. It just might take an oversize blue chimp—who may or may not be imaginary—and his two fifth-grade friends, Willie and Lizzie, to step up as environmental activists and save the woods (and still get their homework done)."  Start with Dodger and Me...

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

A short but madcap adventure about what happened when a dad went out for milk "and then something odd happened"...

The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

This is the start of a 13-book series, each one takes place in one month of a year (plus). Jake, Josh, Wally and Peter are the Hatfords.  Their new neighbors are the Malloys, sisters Eddie, Beth, and Caroline.  The boys were hoping it'd be more boys moving in, and they decide to make them miserable, in the hopes the girls will move away again. It's a boys vs. girls prank war.  Each book shifts perspective -- one from the Hatfords, next from the Malloys. Now, don't let these books give you any ideas!

Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary Paulsen

Very quick read by a prolific and award-winning author. From the publisher: "It seemed like a normal school day, until a horrible storm forced the very cautious school administration to make everyone hole up in a safe place. Six students find themselves stuck in a tiny, questionably smelly space—a school bathroom—with a stuffed cat for entertainment. Hijinks ensue and the unexpected happens. They enter as strangers…and leave as friends.

Get to know the story even better with a special script that accompanies the novel, so any six kids can get together with their friends and perform the story anywhere they’d like."

The Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

From the publisher: "Rory Rooney likes to be prepared for anything. That sort of planning pays off when you’re the smallest kid in your class. Rory is even prepared (mostly) for Tommy-Lee, his nemesis, who starts most days by throwing Rory out of the back of the school bus. Don’t be scared, his favorite book says, be prepared. And Rory aims to be. What’s more heroic than that?

But Rory isn’t prepared when he suddenly and inexplicably turns green and finds himself stuck in an experimental hospital ward. The doctors are just as baffled as Rory is, and that’s when he begins to wonder: What if this isn’t caused by his genes, or a virus, or something he ate? What if it’s something even more extraordinary? After all, more than a few superheroes’ careers began when they turned green. Could this be a sign that he’s meant for something greater? Rory is going to find out—and that’s going to start with escaping from the hospital."

The Best Man by Richard Peck

Heartwarming story with gentle humor by award-winning author. From the publisher: "Archer Magill has spent a lively five years of grade school with one eye out in search of grown-up role models. Three of the best are his grandpa, the great architect; his dad, the great vintage car customizer,; and his uncle Paul, who is just plain great. These are the three he wants to be. Along the way he finds a fourth—Mr. McLeod, a teacher. In fact, the first male teacher in the history of the school.

But now here comes middle school and puberty. Change. Archer wonders how much change has to happen before his voice does. He doesn’t see too far ahead, so every day or so a startling revelation breaks over him. Then a really big one when he’s the best man at the wedding of two of his role models. But that gets ahead of the story.

In pages that ripple with laughter, there’s a teardrop here and there. And more than a few insights about the bewildering world of adults, made by a boy on his way to being the best man he can be."

The Tapper Twins Run For President by Geoff Rodkey

Third in the series about twin brother & sister who prank each other.  Watch the trailer!

Enginerds by Jarrett Lerner

From the publisher: "Ken is an EngiNerd: one of a super-smart group of friends—all nerds—who have been close since kindergarten.

They may be brainiacs, but they’re just like everyone else: they fight with one another, watch too much TV, eat Chinese food, and hate walking their dogs. Well, maybe not just like everyone because Ken’s best friend Dan has been building robots. He then secretly sent one to each of the EngiNerds, never letting them know he’s the mastermind.

At first Ken is awed and delighted: what kid hasn’t dreamed of having a robot all their own? Someone who can be their friend, clean their room, walk the dog, answer homework questions…how amazing is that?

But be careful what you wish for: Dan’s robot, Greeeg, may look innocent, but his ravenous consumption of food—comestibles—turns him into a butt-blasting bot. And once the other robots ‘come alive’ it’s up to the motley crew of EngiNerds to not only save the day, but save the planet!"

Sequel: Revenge of the Enginerds

Frazzled by Booki Vivat

From the publisher: "Meet Abbie Wu. Abbie is in crisis—and not just because she’s starting middle school or because she’s stuck in a family that doesn’t quite get her or because everyone seems to have a Thing except her. Abbie Wu is always in crisis."

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson

A funny and heartwarming buddy-road-trip-crime-solvers-friendship-and-family story... all rolled into one!  From the publisher: "Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face – that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret.

Because Freddie's journey wasn't meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn't expect to end up, with his two best friends, on national television in a supergirl costume.

But journeys never take you where you think they will. And for Freddie, that fact might just have to be enough..."

Fudge-a-mania by Judy Blume

An oldie but a goodie!  From the publisher: "Peter Hatcher's summer is not looking good.

First of all, Peter's brother Fudge — the five-year-old human hurricane — has a plan: to marry Peter's sworn enemy, Sheila Tubman. Disgusting! Could anything be worse?

Yes. Peter's parents have decided to rent a summer house next, door to the Tubman's. Which means Peter will be stuck with Fudge and Sheila the Cootie Queen for three whole weeks!

Will Peter be able to survive the summer? It may not be the vacation of Peter's dreams, but, as millions of Judy Blume fans know, it won't be dull. When Fudge is around, anything can happen... and does!"

Don't miss Superfudge; and Double Fudge!

Double Dog Dare by Lisa Graff

From the publisher: "What would you do to win a dare war?

[Alternates points of view between] fourth-graders Kansas Bloom and Francine Halata, who start out as archenemies, until–in a battle of wits and willpower–they discover that they have a lot more in common than either would have guessed.

...will appeal to girls and boys alike–and to anyone who has ever wanted anything so badly that they’d lick a lizard to get it."

The Perilous Princess Plot by Sarah Courtauld

Buckle and Squash series book #1!  From the publisher: "Once upon a time, on the Old Tumbledown Farm, in the Middle of Nowhere, in the Forgotten Corner of the Kingdom, deep in the realm of Squerb, two young girls dream of their destinies. Lavender knows that her destiny is to become a fairy-tale princess and is almost certainly going to feature a handsome prince. Eliza is having none of that-her destiny involves battling dragons and giants, vanquishing monsters, and solving mysteries.

Turns out that they are both right . . . though not quite in the way they imagined. When Lavender, tired of waiting around and arguing with Eliza, sets out to find her own prince, she instead runs into the evil count Mordmont (who is most definitely NOT a handsome prince in disguise) and it's up to Eliza to ride to the rescue on their faithful goat, Gertrude!"  Check out the sequel: The Gigantic Giant Goof-Up!

The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat

A hilarious story of an elite team of crime-fighting misfits at a strange boarding school known as R.A.S.C.H. who must catch a jewel thief, and save their school.

the start of a new series!

Slacker by Gordon Korman

Funny story about a slacker kid who works hardest at not working at all.  Cameron would rather be playing video games, and he's getting ready for a tournament, which he plans to win. But his parents want him to do something besides play video games. So he makes up a club, and pretends to be president. It's supposed to be a do-gooder-type club that does charity work. But then the guidance counselor gets wind of it... and other students... and suddenly, everybody thinks it's a real club! And Cameron has to actually BE the president!

Many of Korman's other books are humorous, as well, including: The Superteacher Project, No More Dead Dogs, Ungifted, Schooled, The Unteachables, and his latest, Notorious (see mystery page).

How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen

This book is only hilarious because you know the boys survived the dangerous stunts 13-year-old boys try to pull... like peeing on an electric fence (OUCH!).  If you're a fan of Ridiculousness, you will like this book!  For example, they tie Angel Peterson to the back of a station wagon, on skis, because they don't have any hills and he wants to fly... well, he did! This book should come with a warning sticker: PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

Other funny books by this author: Family Ties; Liar, Liar; Masters of Disaster; Flat Broke; Crush; Broke; Lawn Boy; and middle grade memoir Harris and Me, and more!

The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman

Yes, Shusterman can do it all, including humor. From the hilarious opening scene, where Brooklyn boy "Antsy" (Anthony) Bonanno and his friends take the crash-test dummy his father gives them to test-drive -- aka see if they can destroy it, you know this book will be fun, but it also has heart. Calvin Schwa is functionally invisible (nobody notices him), so he and Antsy use it to their advantage to get away with all kinds of stuff, and maybe make some big bucks. Crawley is the neighborhood cranky old man (think "get off my lawn", except in Brooklyn they don't have lawns) with 14 Afghan hounds (named after the 7 vices and 7 virtues) and a blind granddaughter, Lexie. Crawley catches them sneaking into his apartment on a dare, and sentences them to walk the dogs. Together, Antsy, the Schwa, and Lexie, will go on a quest to help find Calvin's missing mother.

Sequel: Ship Out of Luck.

Funny Girl edited by Betsy Bird

From the publisher: "Funny Girl is a collection of uproarious stories, rollicking comics, rib-tickling wit, and more, from 25 of today’s funniest female writers for kids.

What could be funnier than family? Read stories about Ursula Brown’s grandmother driving her on a road trip to disaster, Lisa Brown’s little brother getting a Tic-Tac stuck up his nose, and Carmen Agra Deedy’s mom setting the bathtub on fire.

What could be funnier than friends? Pretty much nothing, as Rita Williams-Garcia shows two besties hatching a bird-brained scheme to get on to a TV talk show, and Deborah Underwood introduces a dynamic dog-and-cat duo teaming up on a pet advice column.

What could be funnier than YOU? Tell your future with Mad Libs, discover your Chinese Zodiac sign with Lenore Look, and learn the best tricks of the comedy trade from professional humorists like Adrianne Chalepah and Delaney Yeager.

With clever contributions from award-winning and bestselling authors including Cece Bell, Sophie Blackall, Libba Bray, Shannon Hale, Lisa Graff, and Raina Telgemeier, this anthology of funny girls will make you laugh until you cry. Or cry until you laugh. Or maybe you won’t cry at all. Either way, you’ll definitely laugh."

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Winner of both the Newbery Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award! From the publisher: "Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder."

Guys Read: Funny Business edited by Jon Sciesczka

From the authors who brought you The Stinky Cheese Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Joey Pigza, Artemis Fowl and other great books comes this collection of hilarious short stories.There’s one about a kid whose father is trying to toughen him up, so he tells him he has to kill the turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner – but the homicidal turkey has other ideas! Jack Gantos wrote one about a botched wart removal. There's one about a boy who wants to swim in a pool of chocolate milk, and another wants to have superpowers. Eoin Colfer tells how his brother was the inspiration for Artemis Fowl. Then there's “My Parents Gave My Bedroom to a Biker”. If you’re in the mood to laugh your head off – go right now and find this book! The series includes other genres: Thriller, Sports, Terrifying Tales, True Stories, Other Worlds, Unaccompanied Minors, and Heroes & Villains.  All the contributing authors also contributed to the video joke below:

The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers

From the author's website: "Tink Aaron-Martin has been grounded AGAIN after an adventure with her best friend Freddie Blue Anderson. To make the time pass, she decides to write an encyclopedia of her life from "Aa" (a kind of lava--okay, she cribbed that from the real encyclopedia) to "Zoo" (she's never been to one, but her brothers belong there).

As the alphabet unfolds, so does the story of Tink's summer: more adventures with Freddie Blue (and more experiences in being grounded); how her family was featured in a magazine about "Living with Autism," thanks to her older brother Seb--and what happened after Seb fell apart; her growing friendship, and maybe more, with Kai, a skateboarder who made her swoon (sort of). And her own sense that maybe she belongs not under "H" for "Hideous," or "I" for "Invisible," but "O" for "Okay."

Written entirely in Tink's hilarious encyclopedia entries, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME is both a witty trick and a reading treat for anyone..."

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, by Firoozah Dumas

Inspired by the author's own experiences, this funny story is about "Cindy" Yousefzadeh, whose family has moved to California in the 1970s to escape the turmoil in Iran, and for her Dad's job.  They've moved around a lot, but when they settle in Newport Beach, the first thing she does is change her name to Cindy, after Cindy Brady from the Brady Bunch. Cindy embraces American culture: having pool parties, going to the movies, and having make-your-own taco night. It's not easy when you have to translate everything for your mother, your Dad embarrasses you by always talking about his country's oil industry, and there's a jerk at school who makes fun of you for being different. But her best friend Carolyn sticks up for her, and a nice neighbor family helps them out. Until the Iran hostage crisis.... and suddenly everyone knows about Iran, and HATES it, and blames her family. This book is funny, but also seriously real. 

I Represent Sean Rosen by Jeff Baron

Are you dreaming of getting into show business? Have an idea for a movie? Sean Rosen does! He has a BIG idea -- which he can't tell anyone, because they might steal it -- and he is absolutely positive that his favorite movie studio will be interested. But how many movie studios will take a meeting with a 13-year-old guy? Sean's determined to make his dream come true, and will do ANYTHING to make it happen! If you're in the mood for something funny, try this one out, for sure. If you like it, there's a sequel!

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

From the publisher: "Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer. Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this gawky teenager really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?"

Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry

Hilarious story of two best friends in 8th grade who get into trouble on their class trip to Washington, D.C. when they suspect two weird guys sitting behind them on the plane of being terrorists.  Wyatt Palmer & Matt Diaz, along with Wyatt's crush, Suzanna Delgado, new kid Victor Lopez, and the fart-king, a kid named Cameron, have to thwart the potential assassin-kidnappers, all while avoiding their teacher chaperones and not getting sent home! 

Sequel: The Worst Night Ever.

I'm OK by Patti Kim

From the publisher: "Ok Lee knows it’s his responsibility to help pay the bills. With his father gone and his mother working three jobs and still barely making ends meet, there’s really no other choice. If only he could win the cash prize at the school talent contest! But he can’t sing or dance, and has no magic up his sleeves, so he tries the next best thing: a hair braiding business.

It’s too bad the girls at school can’t pay him much, and he’s being befriended against his will by Mickey McDonald, an unusual girl with a larger-than-life personality. Then there’s Asa Banks, the most popular boy in their grade, who’s got it out for Ok.

But when the pushy deacon at their Korean church starts wooing Ok’s mom, it’s the last straw. Ok has to come up with an exit strategy—fast. "

Reformed by Justin Weinberger

From the publisher: "Ian Hart has mastered the art of lying low. He might sometimes space out at the exact moment Mr. Dunford calls on him. And sure, he's a little clueless around the girls in his class. But Ian is nobody's fool. So how'd a kid like him get framed for pranking the new boy?

Too bad Ian won't have the chance to find out. He and his friends Ash and Alva will be sleeping with one eye open at a special reform school for bullies! This is no place for the faint of heart. The hijinks are rougher, the mean girls are meaner, and even the teachers refuse to play by the rules.

It'll take all the schemes and wits these friends can muster if they want to make it out of this nightmare and back to middle school. But they're ready for action, even if it means forging a secret alliance with a world-class hacker. And even if it means wearing a tutu..."

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

It is 1967-68, and Holling Hoodhood is a 7th grader at Camillo Junior High, on Long Island.  He spends his spare time playing pick-up baseball, figuring out whether he likes Meryl Lee Kowalski and avoiding Doug Swietek’s bully brother, who has a list of 410 ways to get a teacher to hate you.  This is America at home during the Vietnam War – with protests, air raid drills, and folks waiting for news of their soldiers over there. Holling’s sister is a hippie, a fact that their architect father doesn’t appreciate --- he wants his kids on constant best behavior, so they don’t turn off any of his potential clients.  Holling is the only Presbyterian in town. All the other kids are either Catholic or Jewish, and go for religious school on Wednesday afternoons, leaving him the only one in class with Mrs. Baker. Holling is convinced Mrs. Baker hates him “with a heat whiter than the sun”. At first, she makes him clean erasers, and clean out the cage for the class pet rats. But after the rats escape, she starts making him read Shakespeare. Here’s what he says:

“It turned out that Mrs. Baker’s strategy didn’t work after all! ... Her nefarious plot to bore me to death failed again, because ‘The Tempest’ was even better than ‘The Merchant of Venice.’” …It is surprising how much good stuff there was. A storm, attempted murders, witches, wizards, invisible spirits, revolutions, characters drinking until they’re dead drunk, an angry monster. ... I figured that she hadn’t read it herself, otherwise she would never have let me at it.”

Even if Romeo is a wuss, at least Holling learns some creative new curses.  Plus, knowing Shakespeare comes in handy when the local theater group needs a kid actor.  Holling gets the part, but has to wear yellow tights with feathers on the butt… with the guys and Meryl Lee in the audience, on the same night he’s supposed to meet his idol, Mickey Mantle!!  This is a hilarious, heartwarming coming-of-age story.  

Ask your parents or grandparents if this was what it was like when they were growing up!  Be sure to look for the companion novel, Okay for Now, which is Doug's story.

Nothing But Trouble by Jacqueline Davies

From the publisher: "Odawahaka has always been too small for Maggie’s big scientific ideas. Between her stuck-in-a-rut mom, her grumpy grandpop, and the lifetime supply of sludgy soda in the fridge, it’s hard for Maggie to imagine a change. 

But when Lena moves in with her creative spirit and outrageous perspective, middle school takes off with a bang. Someone starts pulling the kind of pranks that send their rule-loving new principal into an uproar—complete with purple puffs of smoke, parachuting mice, and a scavenger hunt that leads to secret passageways. Suddenly the same-old football games, election for class president, and embarrassing stories feel almost exciting. And for the first time in her life, Maggie begins to wonder if there might be more to Odawahaka than she ever saw coming!"

The Defense of Thaddeus Ledbetter by John Gosselink

Thaddeus Ledbetter has been sentenced to in-school suspension. But why? Thaddeus will explain, and provide proof, as to what really happened, and why he deserves to be freed. You may think he deserves to be there, at first... but eventually you will root for him!  Originally published as "Free Thaddeus!"

Short & Skinny by Mark Tatulli

Okay, this one could have gone under graphic novels, or historical, or even biographies (memoirs)... but it's so funny, it just had to go here!  From the publisher: "As a middle schooler, Mark finds himself on the smaller side of the physical spectrum–being short AND skinny has really wreaked havoc on his confidence. So to end his bullying woes and get the girl–or at least the confidence to talk to the girl–he starts to explore bulking up by way of the miracle cures in the backs of his comics. But his obsession with beefing up is soon derailed by a new obsession: Star Wars, the hottest thing to hit the summer of 1977. As he explores his creative outlets as well as his cures to body image woes, Mark sets out to make his own stamp on the film that he loves.

Mark Tatulli’s graphic novel debut is a humorous and heartfelt take on body-image, finding a creative outlet, and spending a summer in the 70’s."

The Right Hook of Devin Velma by Jake Burt

From the publisher: "Devin wants to hit it big on the internet by pulling a stunt at an NBA game—one the entire nation will be watching. Addison can’t turn Devin down, but he can barely manage talking to his teachers without freezing up. How’s he supposed to handle the possibility of being a viral sensation?

Addi’s not sure why Devin is bent on pulling off this almost-impossible feat. Maybe it has something to do with Devin’s dad’s hospital bills. Maybe it all goes back to the Double-Barreled Monkey Bar Backflip of Doom. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. No matter what, though, it’s risky for both of them, and when the big day finally comes, Devin’s plan threatens more than just their friendship."

The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck

“If your teacher has to die, August isn’t a bad time of year for it... You want to live every day twice over because you’ll be back in the jailhouse of school before the end of the month. Then our teacher, Miss Myrt Arbuckle, hauled off and died.  It was like a miracle, though she must have been forty.  You should have seen my kid brother’s face.  It looked like Lloyd was hearing the music of the spheres.  Being ten that summer, he was even more willing to believe in miracles than I was.”

It’s 1904 – rural Indiana.  It’s such a small town, there’s just a one-room schoolhouse, and only 6 kids in the Hominy Ridge School.  15-year-old Russell doesn’t much like school.  

He’d rather join a threshing crew, get out of that small town, travel around the country a bit.  When old Myrt Arbuckle kicks the bucket, he thinks he’s got it made!

Then his worst nightmare comes true – his older sister, Tansy, takes the job.  AAAACCK!  Can you imagine if your bossy sister were your TEACHER??  Could give you homework, and grades, and make you do “elocution” (speeches or reciting) lessons on Fridays??  Just when he thinks it can’t get worse, his best friend starts crushing on Tansy!!!

Full of pranks (privy fires, snakes in school, that sort of thing), colloquial accents, and quirky characters, this is a hilarious look at school and life about 100 years ago.

Other funny books by this author: Here Lies the Librarian;  Long Way from Chicago; Fair Weather; and the Newbery Medal-winning A Year Down Yonder.

Barry, Boyhound by Andy Spearman

From the publisher: "This is the story of a boy named Barry. Some stuff happens, and overnight like magic he turns into a boyhound. Not a hound, but a boyhound—which means while he may still look like a boy, he is, in fact, a dog. And even in his boyhound brain, Barry knows there are lots of advantages to being a dog. You don't have to clean your room or use dental floss, for example.

But things get crazy. He eats something too disgusting to mention. He's attacked by telepathic squirrels. An innocent squashed frog gets involved. Plus, his mother's pretty mad. And that's all before the really bad thing happens. . . ."

Dan vs. Nature by Don Calame

From the publisher: "Shy and scrawny Dan Weekes spends his time creating graphic novels inspired by his dream girl and looking out for his mom as she dates every man in the state of California. Then his mom drops a bomb: she and her latest beau, Hank, are engaged, and she’s sending her “two favorite men” on a survivalist camping trip to “bond.” Determined to trick Hank into showing his true — flawed — colors on the trip, Dan and his nerdy germaphobe best friend, Charlie, prepare a series of increasingly gross and embarrassing pranks. But the boys hadn’t counted on a hot girl joining their trip or on getting separated from their wilderness guide—not to mention the humiliating injuries Dan suffers in the course of terrorizing his stepdad-to-be. With a man-hungry bear on their trail, no supplies, and a lot of unpleasant itching going on, can Dan see his plan through now that his very survival depends on Hank?"

The Kidney Hypothetical by Lisa Yee

From the publisher: "Higgs Boson Bing has seven days left before his perfect high school career is completed. Then it's on to Harvard to fulfill the fantasy portrait of success that he and his parents have cultivated for the past four years. Four years of academic achievement. Four years of debate championships. Two years of dating the most popular girl in school. It was, literally, everything his parents could have wanted. Everything they wanted for Higgs's older brother Jeffrey, in fact.

But something's not right. And when Higgs's girlfriend presents him with a seemingly innocent hypothetical question about whether or not he'd give her a kidney . . . the exposed fault lines reach straight down to the foundations of his life. . . "

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

A fantastically funny and feminist take on Lord of the Flies. But you don't have to know that classic to enjoy this snarky survival adventure that is like a cross between tv reality shows Survivor and the Bachelorette, but also makes fun of those, and their images of women...

50 contestants are on their way to the Miss Teen Dream beauty pageant, when their plane crashes on a deserted island. Alpha girl Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins (Miss Texas) is their leader, who forces everyone to keep practicing their talent routines and keeps their spirits up with rah-rah meme sayings. Shanti Singh is a little more practical -- after all, they need potable water, and food.  But the island isn't really deserted. It has sexy pirate boys.  And Momo B. Chacha, a dictator and arms dealer. And then there's the corporate sponsors!  These aren't stereotypical, stock characters -- each has a backstory and a voice.  But will they learn to use it?

Check out the audio -- author Libba reads the book herself!

Dunk by David Lubar

16-year-old Chad lives at the Jersey shore, and knows the Boardwalk like the back of his hand.  All he wants is a job, but his mom wants him to enjoy being a kid, and not have to work like she did when she was young.  So he hangs out, watches, and does favors for everybody – and they all know who he is.

From the moment he hears the “bozo” in the dunk tank, hurling insults at passersby so they’ll try to dunk him, Chad knows THAT’s the job he wants most.  Then no one could ignore him, or tell him he’s a loser, like his father. Maybe the cops would stop hassling him. Maybe it would help him get the girl, show up a troublemaker, and help his best friend, too.

The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian

From the author's website: "Josh Swensen isn’t your average teenager – when he observes America, he sees a powerhouse of consumerism and waste. He’s even tried to do something about it, with his start-up controversial website. But when Josh rises to messiah status of the internet world, he discovers that greed and superficiality are not easily escaped. Trapped inside his own creation, Josh feels his only way out is to stage his death and be free of his internet alter-ego, “Larry.” But this plan comes with danger, and soon Josh finds himself cut off from the world, with no one to turn to for help. "

There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart

From the publisher: "Tyson is determined to hunt an elk — even if it means sneaking his grandpa out of a nursing home — in a debut novel sparked with dry wit and wilderness adventure. 

Thirteen-year-old Tyson loves hanging out with his roughneck Grandpa Gene, who’s a lot more fun than Tyson’s ex–best friend, Brighton. These days, Bright just wants to be seen with the cool jocks who make fun of Tyson’s Taylor Swift obsession and dorky ways. So when Grandpa Gene has to move to a nursing home that can manage his kidney disease, Tyson feels like he’s losing his only friend. Not only that, but Tyson was counting on Grandpa Gene to take him on his first big hunt. So in defiance of Mom and Dad’s strict orders, and despite reports of a scary, stalking, man-eating grizzly named Sandy, the two sneak off to the Grand Tetons. Yes, there will be action, like shooting and dressing a six-hundred-pound elk. Is Tyson tough enough? There will be heart-pounding suspense: is Grandpa Gene too sick to handle the hunt, miles away from help? And, oh yes, there will be bears. . ."

Crying Laughing by Lance Rubin

This one could have gone in all the feels, because you will laugh AND cry... From the publisher: "Winnie Friedman has been waiting for the world to catch on to what she already knows: she’s hilarious.

It might be a long wait, though. After bombing a stand-up set at her own bat mitzvah, Winnie has kept her jokes to herself. Well, to herself and her dad, a former comedian and her inspiration.

Then, on the second day of tenth grade, the funniest guy in school actually laughs at a comment she makes in the lunch line and asks her to join the improv troupe. Maybe he’s even . . . flirting?

Just when Winnie’s ready to say yes to comedy again, her father reveals that he’s been diagnosed with ALS. That is . . . not funny. Her dad’s still making jokes, though, which feels like a good thing. And Winnie’s prepared to be his straight man if that’s what he wants. But is it what he needs?

Caught up in a spiral of epically bad dates, bad news, and bad performances, Winnie’s struggling to see the humor in it all. But finding a way to laugh is exactly what will see her through. 

Also by this author: Denton Little's Deathdate

Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in 10 Voices, edited by Mitali Perkins

Using humor as the common denominator, a multicultural cast of YA authors steps up to the mic to share stories touching on race.

Listen in as ten YA authors — some familiar, some new — use their own brand of humor to share their stories about growing up between cultures. Henry Choi Lee discovers that pretending to be a tai chi master or a sought-after wiz at math wins him friends for a while — until it comically backfires. A biracial girl is amused when her dad clears seats for his family on a crowded subway in under a minute flat, simply by sitting quietly in between two uptight white women. Edited by acclaimed author and speaker Mitali Perkins, this collection of fiction and nonfiction uses a mix of styles as diverse as their authors, from laugh-out-loud funny to wry, ironic, or poignant, in prose, poetry, and comic form. 

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The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

In the Chalk Country of England, Granny Aching knew more about sheep than anyone – respected and revered, she was the one that everyone went to for help with sick sheep, or to mediate arguments.  She was also a little bit feared, because she was a witch (well, she never denied it). Now that Granny’s gone, her granddaughter, Tiffany, has inherited her “First Sight and Second Thoughts”.

Tiffany is a practical and clever girl who knows a thing or two about sheep, making cheese, and how to keep secrets.  In short, she has a lot of potential as a witch. Her witch mentors explain that using magic is showing off – Miss Tick tells her

"Witches don’t use magic unless they really have to...We do other things. A witch pays attention to everything that’s going on...A witch uses her head...A witch always has a piece of string!"

When a monster is lurking in the local pond, Tiffany uses her annoying, sweets-loving baby brother Wentworth as bait to lure it out, whereupon she promptly whacks it on the head with a frying pan.  You see, the wicked Elf Queen is plotting to take over the human world by trapping us in our worst nightmares, and horrible creatures like grimhounds and a headless horseman are coming out of the Fairy world into ours. When the Elf Queen kidnaps Wentworth, and the local baron’s son, Roland, Tiffany takes it upon herself to stop the Queen’s invasion.

With the help of a talking toad and the Wee Free Men -– a clan of six-inch high, red-haired, blue-skinned, tattooed, sword-wielding, kilt-wearing, hard-drinking, sheep-stealing, fist-fighting, bad-mannered, indestructible pictsies who speak in a Scottish brogue and are always shouting “Crivens!” and call her the “wee hag”  and have names like "Slightly Bigger Than Wee Jock But Not So Big as Middle-Sized Jock Jock" -– Tiffany must defeat the evil queen and save the world, so she can go back to her quiet life of making cheese and tending sheep.

With clever, irreverent dialogue, wicked puns, and wacky characters, this is a hysterical story that takes the fantasy genre and turns it on its head.  Hilarious start to a series by one of the authors of Good Omens.

Gabe Johnson Takes Over by Geoff Herbach

From the author's website: "It's geeks versus jocks in an epic battle of the beverages!

Here's a brand-new cast of quirky characters, pitting fat boy Gabe against the high school cheerleading team in a battle over control of the school's soda machine.

The war is ON! Never have the stakes been so high. Never have the trenches been so deep. Never has one soda vending machine been so vital. When the high school cheerleading team takes over the machine’s funds previously collected by the pep band, Gabe will not stand for it. Something must be done." 

Originally published as Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders.

The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever by Jeff Strand

From the author's website: "After producing three horror movies that went mostly ignored on YouTube, Justin and his filmmaking buddies decide it’s time they create something noteworthy, something epic. They’re going to film the Greatest Zombie Movie Ever. They may not have money or a script, but they have passion. And, after a rash text message, they also have the beautiful Alicia Howtz-Justin’s crush-as the lead.

With only one month to complete their movie, a script that can’t possibly get worse, and the hopes and dreams of Alicia on the line, Justin is feeling the pressure. Add to that a cast of uncooperative extras and incompetent production assistants, and Justin must face the sad, sad truth. He may actually be producing The Worst Zombie Movie Ever..."

Check out the book's silly theme song, by Trevor Strong, below:

Kale, My Ex, and Other Things to Toss in a Blender by Lisa Greenwald

From the publisher: "When Mia’s summer starts with an epic breakup, she’s sure the rest of the vacation will be miserable. But her best friend, Justine, would never let that happen. Their plan has two parts. One: use their summer job driving a snow cone truck to keep tabs on Mia’s ex in person. Two: create a fake persona to connect with Mia’s ex online.

Soon both plans have morphed into something so much bigger. Add some kale to a snow cone and they’ve got the hottest smoothie in town . . . and more money than they could have imagined. And when Mia’s ex starts falling for the online girl, there’s a revenge plot just waiting to be born. A guy who dumps a girl because he thinks her thighs are too “thick” deserves to have his heart broken by a fake girlfriend, right? All’s fair in love and smoothies. . . . "

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw

Memoir by a young man with spinal muscular atrophy, describing the challenges he faces and how he copes, with humor. He has a non-profit that helps kids overcome adversity and raises money for their adaptive and medical equipment. Check out his website. There are sequels, too:  Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability; and Strangers Assume My Girlfriend is My Nurse.

Since You Asked by Maureen Goo

From the publisher: "No, no one asked, but Holly Kim will tell you what she thinks anyway.

Fifteen-year-old Holly Kim is the copy editor for her high school's newspaper. When she accidentally submits an article that rips everyone to shreds, she gets her own column and rants her way through the school year. Can she survive homecoming, mean-girl cliques, jocks, secret admirers, Valentine's Day, and other high school embarrassments, all while struggling to balance her family's traditional Korean values?

In this hilarious debut, Maurene Goo takes a fresh look at trying to fit in without conforming to what's considered "normal" in high school and how to manage parental expectations without losing one's individuality...or being driven insane"

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Nothing by Annie Barrows

Barrows is the co-author of the best-selling The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (which also got made into a movie and probably your moms, aunties, and grandmas watched), and the Ivy & Bean books, which you might have read when you were little. This is her first YA book.

From the publisher: "Nothing ever happens to Charlotte and Frankie. Their lives are nothing like the lives of the girls they read about in their YA novels. They don’t have flowing red hair, and hot romantic encounters never happen—let alone meeting a true soul mate. They just go to high school and live at home with their parents, who are pretty normal, all things considered.

But when Charlotte decides to write down everything that happens during their sophomore year—to prove that nothing happens and there is no plot or character development in real life—she’s surprised to find that being fifteen isn’t as boring as she thought. It’s weird, heartbreaking, silly, and complicated. And maybe, just perfect."

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Boys Don't Knit (in Public) by T. S. Easton

From the publisher: "After an incident regarding a crossing guard and a bottle of Martini & Rossi (and his friends), 17-year-old worrier Ben Fletcher must develop his sense of social alignment, take up a hobby, and do some community service to avoid any further probation.

He takes a knitting class (it was that or his father's mechanic class) with the impression that it's taught by the hot teacher all the boys like. Turns out, it's not. Perfect.

Regardless, he sticks with it and comes to discover he's a natural knitter, maybe even great. It also helps ease his anxiety and worrying. The only challenge now is to keep it hidden from his friends, his crush, and his soccer-obsessed father. What a tangled web Ben has weaved . . . or knitted."

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There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

From the publisher: "What if God were a teenaged boy? In the beginning, Bob created the heavens and the earth and the beasts of the field and the creatures of the sea, and twenty-five million other species (including lots of cute girls). But mostly he prefers eating junk food and leaving his dirty clothes in a heap at the side of his bed. 

Every time he falls in love, Earth erupts in natural disasters, and it’s usually Bob’s beleaguered assistant, Mr. B., who is left cleaning up the mess. So humankind is going to be very sorry indeed that Bob ever ran into a beautiful, completely irresistible girl called Lucy..."

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Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

From the publisher: "Punks, Poseurs, and Pervs—Just Another Day at High School

Jessie is so excited to start her sophomore year of high school, with her carefully planned outfits and her ample stash of school supplies. But things take an unexpected turn when everyone in her life changes. Her two best friends have gone poseur-punk and are both flirting with her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother is about to go off to college—and he shaved his Mohawk and started dating the homecoming queen. Jessie is suddenly clique-less. When she starts chatting up a girl in homeroom, she's surprised by an invite to join the Dungeons and Dragons crowd! Will hanging out with them make her a nerd? And when she sees how cute one of their members is, does it really matter?"

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

This book is like a grown-up version of Wimpy Kid.  Junior wants to be a cartoonist, but there aren't too many opportunities on the Spokane Indian Reservation.  He gets the chance to go to an all-white school, where he's the only Native American (except for the school mascot, that is), where he's definitely an outsider. His old friends from the "rez" think he's a traitor for going to the white school.  Junior's cartoons illustrate his life with a lot of humor.

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The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark

From the publisher: "He is in love with a cheerleader named Cameo "Appearance" Parnell

• He is forever losing "Love-15" to tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson

• He rocks a touché array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns

• His family-life cookie is about to crumble.

Live vicariously through Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents' relationship implode, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself(ish)..."

Does My Head Look Big in This? By Randa Abdel-Fattah

From the publisher: "Sixteen-year-old Amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab full-time and everyone has a reaction. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else. Can she handle the taunts of "towel head" and the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school?"