Finding books that are humorous can be challenging because these books can cross a wide variety of genres – realistic fiction, romance, graphic novels, fiction, non fiction. Fiction books that are humorous may make you laugh out loud or give a little chuckle or might make you think about something a little differently. Some books may be outright humorous and others may use humor to help tell a story. Sometimes they might be described as funny, offbeat, sarcastic, whimsical, amusing, or ironic. These are all types of humor and set different tones for different books.
When looking for humorous books or books with humor in them, here are few keywords you can use to do searches on the web or in a library catalog.
When looking for humorous books or books with humor in them, here are few keywords you can use to do searches on the web or in a library catalog.
- Keywords to use in a search: humor, funny, offbeat, sarcastic, whimsical, amusing, ironic. To further refine your results you can also include the following terms in your search: middle school, high school, young adult.
To get you started here is a sampling of books which use humor to tell a story, humorous books, or books with a humorous premise...
The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong
By L. Tam Holland
Vee Crawford-Wong is desperate to learn about his family history from his two very reluctant parents; when he has to resort to making up a fictional family tree and history for a high school project, he realizes that it is time to come up with a plan to understand his bicultural roots.
Found at: the public library.
Why chosen: Interesting multicultural main character trying to survive high school and searching to understand himself and his family better.
Schooled
By Gordon Korman
Capricorn Anderson, a home-schooled teenager who has been living meditatively and peacefully with his grandmother on a hippie commune, is unexpectedly thrown into the world of modern day middle school.
Found at: the public library.
Why chosen: The pure innocence of Capricorn is both hilarious and heartwarming.
Where’d You Go Bernadette
By Maria Semple
Told from the perspective of Bernadette’s teenage daughter and using narrative, emails, letters, blog posts, this book tells the wacky story of an untraditional mother trying so hard to fit into a traditional world.
Found at: home library.
Why chosen: Recommended as an adult book that teens would like. Won an Alex Award as an adult book that appeals to young adults.
Zombies vs. Unicorns
by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black
A collection of short stories about zombies and unicorns in an attempt to settle a longstanding debate on which is better - Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
Found at: the public library.
Why chosen: Although each story may not be humorous, the premise of the book is tongue in cheek with great commentary from the editors; and battling zombies and unicorns on front cover.
A collection of short stories about zombies and unicorns in an attempt to settle a longstanding debate on which is better - Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
Found at: the public library.
Why chosen: Although each story may not be humorous, the premise of the book is tongue in cheek with great commentary from the editors; and battling zombies and unicorns on front cover.
