Bringing the Funny

Okay, I’m going to do a little multitasking here and blog in response to both of our March themes: mirth and distractions. Because one of my favorite writing distractions is funny middle grade books. So here are a batch of recommendations for some humorous (in fact, hilarious) middle grade novels that may not already be on your radar. Enjoy!

SEVENTH GRADE VS. THE GALAXY, by Josh Levy

This one’s just out, and to be completely honest, I haven’t even finished reading it yet, but I love the voice Josh uses, love the premise, and I even love the cover, which is like the kind of book I would have wanted to be seen carrying around school back in the day. Meanwhile, who doesn’t want to read about a rickety spaceship-slash-middle-school that gets flung across the galaxy, leaving its students to face down the first aliens ever encountered by humans and hopefully save the universe in the process?

HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY, by Crystal Allen

I’m going to go ahead and say it: Crystal Allen is the funniest author I know personally. Not to mention on the page. She’s got voice, she’s got jokes, she’s got good story, and she’s got that X factor, the one I can’t quite put my finger on, that makes me want to keep turning pages. I was sorry to come to the end of this one, but I’m looking forward to checking out Crystal’s MYA TIBBS series.   

COSMIC, by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Humor is such a personal thing, but for me, this is one of the most LOL-heavy middle grade books I’ve ever read. Boyce is also the author of the better-known MILLIONS, but word on the street is that COSMIC may be heading to a movie theater near you before too long. I can’t speak for the movie, but as for the book, do yourself a favor and check this one out—or better yet, put it in the hands of a kid who likes to read funny stuff.

BORN TO ROCK, by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

Of course I have to mention one of my own titles. This one came out last month, and it's the latest in the MIDDLE SCHOOL series I’ve been writing with James Patterson for several years now. I love these characters, and it was especially fun to delve into spinoff territory for BORN TO ROCK. Instead of hearing from our usual narrator, Rafe Khatchadorian, this book follows his sister Georgia through a battle of the bands competition, where Georgia’s band (called We Stink!) competes for a gig playing warmup for one of Georgia’s own idols, Lulu and the Handbags. It’s an incredibly deep and serious story, so break out the tissues for this one…. (I kid, I kid…) 

Happy reading everyone, and please share a few recommendations of your own in the comments!