OMG that book is, like, so funny

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The newest issue of VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates, Vol. 35, Iss. 3, Aug 2012) has a great article about the status of humor in YA fiction (“A Funny Thing Happened,” p. 16-18). Why doesn’t humor get more respect in the YA literary world? After all, a lot of teens might want to read something that will make them laugh rather than sob hysterically. And yet, if your main character doesn’t have cancer, or isn’t trying to survive a deadly reality competition, or doesn’t have a life-threatening addiction, then the book doesn’t get as much press or clout. Don’t get me wrong, I love these deep, intense books. But I also like when an author perfectly mixes humor with real-life problems. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie does this spectacularly.

I’ve noticed teens in my library who want to read something entertaining that will make them giggle, laugh, or ROFL. So I decided it would be a great time for a YA book display on the theme of humor. Here’s some of the books in our collection that I recommend to any teen that needs to laugh it up:

• The Hunger Pains by Stefan Petrucha
• I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
• Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
• The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
• Flush by Carl Hiaasen
• Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
• There is no Dog by Meg Rosoff
• Attack of the Theater People by Marc Acito

Share your favorite funny YA books with me!