LOL-----What's funny to a YA reader?

Well here are some books that were funny (among other things) to me…..

My Almost Epic Summer

By Adel Griffin

Selected from the Marlborough Public Library

Irene thinks she is going to have the most boring summer of all time when she is forced to take a babysitting job after being fired from her own mother’s hair salon.  She manages to use her creativity and wit to make the most of her babysitting responsibilities and at the same time befriends the diva lifeguard in town.  One thing I really liked about this book is that the character Irene loves literature and there are literary references throughout the story.  Irene’s future goals including opening a hair salon where she will create hairstyles of famous literary characters!  It’s a light entertaining read with humor throughout, while also delivering a message of staying true to one’s self.   

Dairy Queen

By Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Selected from Marlborough Public Library

C’mon look at the cover…how could this book not be funny? Although I may be the only one who thought this way as the cover was eventually changed to the cover on the left which reflects aspects of the story beyond the humor.   This story centers around D.J. Shwenk and her family, whose life growing up in Red Bend, Wisconsin can be summed up in two words: football and cows.  Enter a football star from the next town over who comes to help out on the farm and DJ’s summer changes dramatically.  Through her evolving relationship with this “lazy, stuck-up, spoiled quarterback”, DJ. learns to speak up for herself and pursue her own dream of playing football.  Those who know me may think I chose this book solely because I’m a huge fan of the DQ blizzard (kit kat flavored please).  Not entirely true.   I chose to share this book in part because of the character’s wry sense of humor and how she uses it to sort things out.   Secondly, the story is hopeful and inspirational.   Despite a number of family issues and self doubt, D.J. shows determination and teaches us that there is more than one definition of “being cool”.

Confessions of a Closet Catholic

By Sarah Darer Littman

Selected from Marlborough Public Library

I know what you’re thinking…a book about religion…how boring.  This book is so much more!  It’s a short, but memorable chapter in the life of Justine Silver who has just moved from New Rochelle, NY to Greenwich, CT.   Although this move is not a big leap geographically, it represents many changes in Jussy’s life; new house (bigger than before), new friends, new social structure.  Given all these changes Jussy decides she just might like to try on a new religion as well; to be Catholic instead of Jewish.  While dealing with the day-to-day drama of siblings, boys and school in a hilarious manner, the story also tackles the theme of loss.  I chose this book not only because it made me laugh (particularly the image of Jussy holding confession in her closet to Father Ted, her enormous teddy bear), but it really makes you understand what it’s like to be a young teen.  I think everyone goes through a stage where you may want to change some part of your life whether it’s your religion, your appearance your family, etc.  In a lot of Jussy’s inner dialogues, you can find things you may have said to yourself at one time.