Funny YA Fiction ---------------- compiled by Betsy Fraser (Betsy.Fraser@public-library.calgary.ab.ca), November 1999 from contributions to YALSA-BK I found Beverly Keller's "**The Amazon Papers" to be hysterically funny. The lead character, Iris, is witty and wise beyond her years, and is queen of the one-liners. Excellent choice. I think humor is very much a matter of individual taste. That being said, here are a few titles I found hilarious. The Schernoff Discoveries -- Gary Paulsen Behaving Bradley -- Perry Nodelman A Long Way from Chicago -- Richard Peck The Boy of My Dreams -- Dyan Sheldon *How I Spent My Last Night on Earth -- Todd Strasser (see the other two Time Zone High Books too) A Fate Totally Worse than Death -- Paul Fleischman Oddballs -- William Sleator Sunshine Rider: The First Vegetarian Western" by Ric Lynden Hardman is hysterical. Even the recipes are pretty funny. While I am personally partial to Norma Howe's **Adventures of Blue Avenger, you just can't beat Daniel Pinkwater's Young Adult Novel as a match of YA and funny. Some of the funniest books I have read are by Ron Koertge: Arizona Kid and Confesso-rama I thought "Love Among the Walnuts" was hysterical. A Hive for the Honeybee by Soinbhe Lally Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy by Wendelin Van Draanan Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde Lord of the Fries and Other Stories by Tim Wynne-Jones I really loved Thirsty by M.T. Anderson. It's a humorous vampire novel complete with a celestial being named Chet. Also, try Sunshine Rider: The First Vegetarian Western by Ric Lynden Hardman, There's a Hair in My Dirt by Gary Larson, and The Schernoff Discoveries by Gary Paulsen. Daniel Hays Flyers. Eye of the Beholder,Trouble with Lemons. Now all you dudes and dudettes must not neglect Here at the Scenic Vu Motel by Thelma Hatch Wyss. I found Squashed by Joan Bauer to be funny, as well as A Fly Named Alfred by Don Trembath. Thwonk! by Joan Bauer. Rules of the Road (Joan Bauer) The Beetle and Me: A Love Story by Karen Romano Young (Greenwillow) is filled with dry humor. Voice of a real teen. Very nice. and going with the matter of individual taste-- I think Brock Cole's Celine has some of the funniest lines and moments I've ever read. I still laugh hard out loud after at least 7 reads . . .. I also found Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas to be laugh out loud funny in places. I just finished "A is for AARRGH!!!" by William J. Brooke, and found myself chuckling afterwards, remembering certain parts of it....hilarious! Pinkwater: The Education of Robert Nifkin What about Harris and Me by Paulsen and I also laughed out loud when I read The Watson's go to Birmingham 1963! I think Terry Pratchett books are funny. "Eric" is about a boy who tries to call up a demon to fulfill his wishes (to be all powerful, rich, and have the most beautiful woman in the world fall madly in love with him-of course) unfortunately, he calls up Rincewind, who is not the world's most competent wizard. My favorite line from that book is: "Multiple exlaimation marks are a sure sign of a diseased mind." Has anybody ever read the Al Capsella books by Australian Judith Clarke? These books, ( there are three of them, ) are funny!!! Humor is indeed personal and highly varied. Some may prefer the wry wit of _The Amazon Papers_, others the slapstick of Abbott & Costello. Here is my list of some favorites: Paula Danziger--Remember Me to Harold Square Anne Fine--My War with Goggle-eyes Kate Gilmore--Enter Three Witches E.M. Goldman--Getting Lincoln's Goat (my personal all-time favorite!) Gordon Korman--Son of Interflux Stephen Manes--Obnoxious Jerks (unfortunately o/p, and another favorite!) Richard Peck--Bel Air Bambi & the Mall Rats--probably the closest thing to slapstick I've read. Barbara Wersba--Best Place to Live Is the Ceiling (High school boy becomes Bond. James Bond. Suspense AND humor).