"What? You Think You Got It Rough?"

by Christopher Paul Curtis, Michael Boatman

It's here: Volume One of the official Guys Read Library. Jon Scieszka's Guys Read initiative was founded on a simple premise: that young guys enjoy reading most when they have reading they can enjoy. And out of this comes a series that aims to give them just that. Ten books, arranged by theme, featuring the best of the best where writing for kids is concerned. Each book is a collection of original short stories, but these aren't your typical anthologies—each book is edgy, inventive, visual, and one-of-a-kind, featuring a different theme for guys to get excited about.


Funny Business is based around the theme of—what else—humor, and if you're familiar with Jon and Guys Read, you already know what you're in store for: ten hilarious stories from some of the funniest writers around. Before you're through, you'll meet a teenage mummy; a kid desperate to take a dip in the world's largest pool of chocolate milk; a homicidal turkey; parents who hand over their son's room to a biker; the only kid in his middle school who hasn't turned into a vampire, wizard, or superhero; and more. And the contributor list includes bestselling author, award winners, and fresh new talent alike: Mac Barnett, Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo (writing with Jon Scieszka), Paul Feig, Jack Gantos, Jeff Kinney, David Lubar, Adam Rex, and David Yoo.


Guys Read is all about turning young readers into lifelong ones—and with this book, and each subsequent installment in the series, we aim to leave no guy unturned.

Genres: Short Stories

Audio

First published September 22, 2010

About the author

Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan on May 10, 1953 to Dr. Herman Elmer Curtis, a chiropodist, and Leslie Jane Curtis, an educator. The city of Flint plays an important role in many of Curtis's books. One such example is Bucking the Sarge, which is about a fifteen year old boy named Luther T. Ferrel, who is in a running battle with his slum-lord mother. Curtis is an alumnus of the University of Michigan-Flint.

Curtis is the father of two children, Steven, an ensign in the United States Navy, and Cydney, a college student and accomplished pianist. His third child is expected to make an appearance in 2011. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.

Curtis moved to Detroit, Michigan in January, 2009

Reviews

[Nickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not my cup of tea. The story is a story inside a story. It is really disturbing and overall didn't enjoy it.

[Tanner M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really good book because it takes you back to the old days, and tells you how grateful you should be for your life. It tells how a grandpa who describes his childhood got beat and had a hard life.

[Mrs. Schuld · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my jam.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, well, well. Had no trouble concentrating on this story. Well done. But things were rough for me. I don’t think it, I know it. Most people had it rough or do have it rough! Well done. CathyR

[Tresha Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahaha nah I guess I don't got it that rough.

[Eugene · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 10 year old son was complaining about my book selections lately being rather on the girly side, and this short book was exactly what we needed for a few nights of fun reading and male bonding.