Saturday, February 21, 2015

I Funny: A Middle School Story by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein




A kid who wants to be a stand up comic, reminds me of my own childhood dreams a bit. As a teen I listened to some of the classics: George Carlin, Robin Williams, Steve Martin. I like to make people laugh to this day. But the main character in the book, Jamie Grimm, has one big difference from my own youth: he’s in a wheelchair.

He lives in New Jersey with an aunt, uncle, and dangerously spiteful cousin. He works after school in another uncle’s diner, where he tells jokes to the customers. Uncle Frankie tells him about The Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic contest. Keeping it a secret, Jamie decides to go for it.

There’s more to this book than just laughs. Jamie, even though in a wheelchair, is still bullied and picked on. And there is a painful secret that eats at him. He uses the comedy and the jokes to hide the real person he is inside. Middle school kids can identify with him because he has doubts and identity issues that all middle schoolers deal with.

Ultimately this book is one I really like because it has heart. It’s a going to show up in the classroom library very soon. I am looking forward to reading the sequel—as soon as my daughter is finished with it.

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