I Funny: A Middle School Story by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
2016 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee
Another CCBA nomination, and a hugely popular book. This quick read is sprinkled liberally throughout with comic book-style illustrations.
Middle schooler Jamie is a funnyman. A student of the great comedians, he spends his time polishing his jokes and making people laugh. His biggest comedic successes are the jokes he tells about himself -- he is in a wheelchair. Joking about his disability is a way to break the ice and get people to focus on him rather than on his disability. It's also a way for him to deal with the pretty serious trauma he has faced in his young life, as well as the usual humiliations of middle school. With the encouragement of his Uncle Frank, he enters a "Funniest Kid" competition, hoping to joke his way to the top. An equal measure of yuks and heart, and another good pick for reluctant readers. Recently a student reluctantly agreed to give this book a try, and came back the next day to check out the second and third books in the series. He says the fourth book, if there is one, should be called "I Totally Hilarious."
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