Light and/or Funny Reads for Teens/YA

 If you are looking for the podcast, here is the link: Alchemy of Genres

With the onset of Fall and the new school year, it seemed the perfect time to look at Light and/or Funny Reads (I say and/or because humor is so subjective and some books are fun but not necessarily funny).

This is a very funny story told primarily through the instant messages, texts and emails of three 10th grade girls trying to navigate high school and their varying interests while maintaining their friendship and their individuality.

There are moments of "realness" so this series isn't just a series of pratfalls, however, it is a reality based humor, mixed with sarcasm and friends making fun of each other (in a good way).

A really fun read but probably not meant for younger teens as it does frankly and humorously deal with high school situations and worries.  I know many adults (like myself!) who have also enjoyed this series, so give it a try!

This is not a "comedic funny" story but rather a reality based story with funny situations.  Amal is the main character and she has decided to wear the hijab full time, and the book looks at all of the reactions of those around her t her decision.  I enjoy "this is my life" style books with moments of humor, moments of stress, etc  I love seeing real issues worked through and handled with humor and grace, and Abdel-Fattah has done an amazing job of that with this story.

Jeremy finds a squip, a pill sized supercomputer that you swallow.  It is guaranteed to bring you what you most desire and by instructing Jeremy on everything (from what to wear, how to talk, how to walk) he is transformed from supergeek to superchic---but is his life better?  This is a perfect example of situational humor, especially since the computer defaulted to sound like Keanu Reeves, so that voice is in his head talking to him all the time.  

They made this one into a Broadway show, which I haven't seen, but have heard good things about.  This is a really thoughtful book with lots of funny moments.

I have spoken about this series and this author many times (because I adore her!) so I will keep it brief.  This series features an assassination school for girls or "ladies of quality"....Carriger uses a very subtle humor that feels very British and pokes fun at misogyny and women's roles while telling a stirring adventure story.

Highly recommended, and in the same universe as her adult "Parasol Protectorate" series for those who wish to read more.

This is another series I have talked about before, and it is VERY funny.   I always have moments of literally laughing out loud at the antics of Georgia Nicholson.  This goofy, diary style set of stories focuses on Georgia's life, trials and tribulations of being a teen in Great Britain.  

I highly recommend these to everyone, teens and adults.  They are awesome.

The Extraordinaries is full of funny moments, shot through with moments of hard decisions and painful discoveries and real life worries....Klune is an expert at the 1-2 punch of funny followed by "oh god no!".

The basic story is of a boy with a crush on a superhero and who really wants to be one (but not necessarily for the reasons you think).  It is also the story of how heroes are never what you think they are, about how perception changes your view of events and about how news & social media can change the narrative.  

Yup, a funny book that will make you laugh out loud while also making you think and even cry.....Klune is a master craftsman.

You've seen the movies and read the books....but I really wanted to mention this series as Kinney does a great job of writing truly funny stories without losing the foundation of the character's "real-ness" and incorporating these into realistic scenarios using simple language.

Don't look down your nose at these, they encourage reading and work as fun, funny and purely escapist literature.

This is a great LOL book, all very slapstick and fun.  It's about a young man who goes on a wilderness retreat with the man marrying his mom "so they can bond".  Dan is determined to change the man's mind and chase him away, but ends up in some pretty hilarious situations (usually that he created for himself) in an effort to chase away this guy; and ending up actually bonding with him in spite of himself.

This is a funny but realistic look at life as a multi-ethnic teen (she is white & East Asian), as well as a humorous look at the struggle to grow and be seen as mature, thus gaining the respect of your family....while still trying to figure out who you actually are.  

Lamba writes a fun book with a realistic foundation that I highly recommend.

The subtitle tells you this is going to be a fun read "15 guys, 11 shrink appointments, 4 ceramic frogs and me, Ruby Oliver"  

Ruby is looking over her whole life and wondering where she went wrong. She likes to make lists to figure things out, and to make sure she doesn't repeat mistakes.  The 15 guys actually start in preschool (so don't feel like this is about lots of dating and silliness (though there is some of that).  This is another in the area of situational humor, a person facing trouble and dealing while finding funny moments in life.

A really good read.

Chi is a kitten, it is also the Japaneses word for "pee".  He gets the name because the family who finds this lost and abandoned kitten keep trying to show him where to pee, and he starts thinking it's his name....and it sticks.  

This is a fun, silly manga series that looks at a family and the kitten they adopt, but all from the kitten's point of view.

Adorable and awesome!

Frogkisser is a funny, magical adventure featuring a princess determined to save her kingdom.  Nix has written a strong story with lots of funny moments poking fun at fairy tale tropes.

I love this book so much!

This is a book with funny and dark moments all mixed up.  Steven has many funny moments dealing with life/school/music but also sad & stressful moments because his baby brother has leukemia.  

This is a great story that will have you laughing AND crying.

So good.

Paulsen has written a quick & funny story about the antics of a boy starting a lawn service business to get rich and buy all the things his heart desires.

Is this really a story mixing aliens and teen pregnancy?  Yup!

All the action begins when Elvie (and the other pregnant teen moms) are shipped off to the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers.....and it turns out that the teachers are aliens planning to kidnap the babies.  But wait! The fathers are ALSO aliens and must rescue the ladies....unless they rescue themselves first.

This is a very silly but fun story.

Magic + dark humor = an awesome book

Sam accidentally gains the attention of a necromancer....and he is trying to force Same to join him or die at his hands.  So Sam is learning a lot of magic on the fly. (Who knew he had a gift for necromancy? Cool!) He is struggling to find his own way, figure out magic and defeat his newly found nemesis/wanna-be master----yup, it's a goth humor party in spades!

Not everyone appreciates dark humor, but if you do, this is an amazing book.

I love this series and recommend it all the time.  It is written very much like a Bollywood style movie with silly situations and slapstick but it never completely devolves into pure idiocy.  The first book focuses on the three sisters who are trying to find a husband for their interfering aunt so they can get back to their spoiled lifestyle with their dad.

This is a quick and very fun read.

Again, you have probably seen this movie (and if not, then you should).  It is a funny book about finding you are the princess and the struggle to figure it all out.  "Geek to princess" tropes started here, so if you love that, definitely see where it all started.

Scott decides to write a "how to survive high school" guide for his new sibling (who is currently in utero).  He is also trying very hard not to be embarrassed about being a freshman with a pregnant mom and a baby sibling on the way.  

Lubar has written a sweet and fun book with funny moments about life and how ridiculous it all is sometimes.

Christian is in love with Princess Marigold but he is a commoner so there is no chance it will ever be his reality.  However, when he finds out that Queen Olympia's scheming to take over and get rid of her daughter (because...competition) he knows he has to save her....but how?

This is a fun and funny book that takes on all fairy tale tropes and gleefully turns them on their head.

Why do all "classics" and "amazing recommended reads" kill off the dog as part of the story?  Wallace Wallace has had enough of this and when he writes honestly about how much he hates the assigned book, he fails his English assignment.  The only hope to save his grade is to help in the stage production of the book, Old Shep, My Pal, the same story that got him into trouble in the first place.  But Wallace quickly realizes that in theater anything can happen....and his first stage direction/alteration is....don't kill the dog.  This is an amazingly funny story poking fun at English teachers and classic literature.

Shakespeare Shapiro has always hated his name.  Now it's his senior year of high school and he faces the dreaded Senior English assignment....write a memoir of your life.  However, Shakespeare may hate his name but he isn't afraid to spill truth about his life and the ridiculous reality of his school and classmates.  This book has a lot of low-brow slapstick humor and is a hysterical and fun read; but it is not everyone's cup of tea and definitely isn't for little kids (due to some of the jokes and language).

Jack isn't looking forward to summer.  because it's when he is responsible for watching his autistic sister so his mom can work a second job.  Maddie doesn't talk, ever.  Until one day at the flea market when she tells him to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds.  What starts as a normal garden grows into a wild magical jungle....and so the adventures begin.

This graphic novel is fun and full of adventure.  

This is not a LOL funny book, but is IS light and fun, and a bit ridiculous.  Three teens find themselves randomly and suddenly in space without a clue how they got there.  What is happening?  How do they fix this ship?  How far away from home are they?

This truly is a complicated love story set in space (but I don't want to ruin it by saying too much).  There is some sly commentary about modern society thrown in, and reminded me strongly of some Twilight Zone and Doctor Who episodes.

Wee Free Men is set in the Discworld Universe but was written for children/teens.  My favorite thing about Pratchett is his subtle and sly humor mixed with low-brow and obvious humor which is them spiced liberally with commentary about societal norms.

The basic story (if you've never read it) is about a young witch finding her power and this is her first adventure.  The Wee Free Men are literally that....small blue scottish sounding tricksters who take the "wee hag" under their protection.

Pratchett is one of my favorite authors, you should definitely check out some of his books.