Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion
Monthly Challenges
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January 2011
Kellee wrote: "January 2011: Someday We'll Laugh About This Week- Read a book that makes you laugh and share with us your favorite funny part. Hope you enjoy this cha-ha-ha-llenge :)"
I'm already laughing! ;)
I have finished my first book of 2011 and it is a giggle-worthy little story called A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban.
Funniest part of the story for me? When Zoe, the protagonist, brings her dad's cookies to school and endures the wrath of the cookie selling scout girls. Classic giggles.
Funniest part of the story for me? When Zoe, the protagonist, brings her dad's cookies to school and endures the wrath of the cookie selling scout girls. Classic giggles.
Junior is such a witty character. Love him! The cartoons were great.
Points earned: 3
Total points: 16
Sarcastic stoners always crack me up! This book was centered around one, so you can imagine...
Points earned: 1
Total points: 17
Just finished reading American Born Chinese This made me chuckle at several points.Not sure where I am with points. Will need to go back and check in on them and update later.
The author often breaks into the story with his own commentary that is so sarcastic that I couldn't help but laugh out loud. He had perfect comedic timing. I wish I was so gifted!
Points earned: 1
Total points: 18
Elle wrote: "I have finished my first book of 2011 and it is a giggle-worthy little story called A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban.Funniest part of the story for me? When Zoe, the protag..."
Such a sweet, fun book :)
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) wrote: "Just finished reading American Born Chinese This made me chuckle at several points.Not sure where I am with points. Will need to go back and check in on them and update later."
You are at eleven according to my count :)
Karis wrote: "
The author often breaks into the story with his own commentary that is so sarcastic that I couldn't help but laugh out loud. He had perfect comedic timin..."
Karis- I have you at 20 points: 7 for Oct, 4 for Nov, 5 for Dec and 4 so far for Jan....
I just read The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade. It is so cute and a fun read. The interactions between Alona and Will made me laught.Kellee - Is is 1 point per book? Dang...still need to figure out my points.
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) wrote: "I just read The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade. It is so cute and a fun read. The interactions between Alona and Will made me laught.Kellee - Is is 1 point per book? Dang...s..."
2 points for the 1st book of the month and 1 point for any extras. This is your 3rd point for January, so 12 points total :)
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) wrote: "Thanks Kellee. I will try and keep it straight."No worries :)
And if not, I keep track too. I just like for you to also so you can double check me.
Completed Tasks: JanuaryDragonbreath Attack of the Ninja Frogs by Ursula Vernon 1/6/11
Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-wiener by Ursula Vernon 1/7/11
Danny the dragon is hilarious! His selfishness, sarcasm, and poor choices cause LOL moments throughout the books.
Points Earned this month: 3
Total Points: 66
I read 13 to Life which had a few giggle worthy moments. The funniest for me was when the main characters were in gym class, talking about Pietr's tattoo.
Completed Tasks: JanuaryHorton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset by Tom Angleberger 1/8/11
The cast of characters in this middle grade novel are a trip!
My favorite is Blight who is an orphaned stable boy who speak so sophisticatedly it made me giggle every time. For example:
“I’m afraid that all the extra guests in the manor are making his job truly Sisyphean,” said Blight.
And “Ahem,” said Blight… “My colleague’s grammar notwithstanding, I do heartily concur that we must secure the Lump and, in turn, a share of the reward.”
Points Earned this month: 4
Total Points: 67
A Long Way From Chicago by Richard PeckI'd read the sequel to this book some time back, not realizing when I'd picked it up that it was book two. I was glad to go back to Grandma Dowdel's farm in IL. She's an unconventional grandma for the 30's, to say the least!
My favorite part was when she and the grandkids go fishing on private property using a trap (also illegal). When the kids call her on it, she just says it's not her rowboat- like that puts the blame on the owner of the boat, which of course, was "borrowed" from the sheriff... Funny story. :-)
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsI loved this book! It definitely had its moments, especially in the beginning with the funny lines exchanged between Anna and St. Clair. I found myself grinning a lot in those moments.
This is my first time doing a monthly challenge, so please let me know if I'm doing something wrong... I believe it's 2 points for the first book of a month and then 1 for each one after, so this would give me 2 points, right? And that puts me at a grand total of 2.
Izzy wrote: "Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsI loved this book! It definitely had its moments, especially in the beginning with the funny lines exchanged between Anna and St. Clair. I found mysel..."
I am going to read this book soon- I am glad to hear it is good. I believe it was John Green that mentioned on Twitter that it was is favorite YA of 2010.
Yes, you did the points correctly :)
Kellee wrote: "Karis wrote: "
The author often breaks into the story with his own commentary that is so sarcastic that I couldn't help but laugh out loud. He had perfect..."
Sounds good to me. I'll take it! :-)
Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot cracked me up, and of course, the banter between the editors Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier was as entertaining as the stories themselves!
Points earned: 1
Total points: 21
I just read Hexbound, which has a sidekick type character named Scout who cracks me up immensely. Love that girl. :)
I thought the scholar-alien, Bart, was a funny character with all of his outdated perceptions of American culture. It was also pretty funny how, when the aliens would kill a human, they would say, "Sorry for your loss." to the dead person.
Points earned: 1
Total points: 22
Absolutely hilarious account of tween angst and friendship! I loved the honesty of the writing and the drawings were great! I'm so glad my daughter suggested it!
Points earned: 1
Total points: 23
Just finished "Second Helpings" by Megan McCafferty! There were definitely funny moments, but I think the greatest parts were Jessica's cynical comments regarding her high school and its students.Points earned: 1
Total points: 3
Karis wrote: "
Absolutely hilarious account of tween angst and frie..."
I'm going to read this in January too- good to hear it is hilarious :)
I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson
There were so many laugh-out loud moments from both authors, although David Levithan's humor can be much darker than John Green's.
And some of the scenes in Tiny Cooper's musical are absolutely hilarious!
Points:2
Total Points: 55
Cathy wrote: "I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson

There were so many laugh-out loud moments from both authors, although David Levithan's humor can ..."
Love Tiny Cooper!!!
And on the audiobook they really sing the songs :)
Love it!!!
Cathy wrote: "I know, I listened to the audio too!! It made it even better!"Didn't it?!?! I loved that they had them sing!
Heather wrote: "I love John Green and although I wouldn't say his books overall are humorous thematically he definitely has loads of laugh out loud moments for me. I just finished Paper Towns. It's ..."I always listen to John Green's books and they always make me laugh out loud :)
Completed Tasks: JanuaryZombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
Some of these stories were LOL funny including Meg Cabot’s “Princess Prettypants”
Points Earned this month: 5
Total Points: 68
Completed Tasks: JanuaryThe Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow 1/21/11
A look inside two girls’ plan to become popular. The missions include things like dying their hair, which results in bald spots. The banter back and forth is quite funny as well.
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka 1/21/11
A lunch lady who doesn’t take any beef. Love the gadets!
Cinder-Smella, A Timeless Tale of Stinky Feet by Alan Sitomer 1/21/11
When her hairy fairy godfather showed up, I almost lost my cookies. A fun twist on Cinderella.
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee 1/22/2011
Although this book ended up being quite serious for me, there were definitely moments throughout where I had to laugh. The teacher, Mr. Jiang, is great and his answer to which is better: Star Wars, Star Trek or Batman made me laugh. Also, Marley’s captain’s log throughout the book makes a hilarious connection between his life and Star Trek. Great book.
Points Earned this month: 9
Total Points: 72
Just updating my current reads:Babymouse #13: Cupcake Tycoon
I think this is my favorite Babymouse yet - I laugh everytime I read a Babymouse.
The Popularity Papers: Book Two: The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang
Got an ARC at ALA. Navigating the middle school world of groups that are popular or not. Fun read.
Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset
Some very funny parts in this book. And a bit of a comedy of errors too.
3 additional points for a total of 15.
I would never have thought of non-fiction/history/biography making me laugh by Vicky Alvear Shecter has a way with words. Cleopatra Rules! is a great read and I found myself chuckling several times throughout this great look at Cleopatra's life.additional point, total up to 16.
I just finished reading Captivate by Carrie Jones. My funny parts were all the references to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series and the end of the world. I'm a huge Buffy fan (obsessed with it back in the day) so to see a newer book reference that made me laugh (and made me happy).
I finished Turtle in ParadiseTurtle has some of the funniest lines as she compares life to comic strips and Hollywood and Shirley Temple. Also her 3 cousins and the Diaper Gang just make you laugh.
additional point, total up to 17
Just finished Zombies vs. Unicorns. This one definitely had some funny stories, like Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot!Points earned: 1
Total points: 4
Izzy wrote: "Just finished Zombies vs. Unicorns. This one definitely had some funny stories, like Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot!Points earned: 1
Total points: 4"
Love the jasmine and rainbows!
Completed Tasks: JanuaryDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney 1/24/11
Ummm- Jeff Kinney brought funny back!
Points Earned this month: 10
Total Points: 73
You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah! by Fiona Rosenbloom. Cute teen girl story about a girl's friendship drama as she prepares for her bat-mitzvah. My favorite part was when the main character got stuck in a dress in a fitting room and her mom had to call the sales assistant to literally cut her out of it.
I just finished Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. While it was a fairly serious book, there were definitely cute and funny parts, especially Courtney's ramblings.Points earned: 1
Total points: 5
Last night I finished The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade. This was a light fun read with several LOL moments. The banter between the two main characters was my favorite part.Point earned: 2
Total points: 20
I read Pink by Lili Wilkinson. I won the book from goodreads giveaways. It was a funny, light-read. The humor in the book reminded me of the Shopaholic series. The main character, Ava, would often find herself in some pretty embarrassing situations, especially in the beginning of the book.Points Earned: 2
Total Points: 18
Books mentioned in this topic
Beauty Queens (other topics)The True Meaning of Smekday (other topics)
Little Brother (other topics)
The True Meaning of Smekday (other topics)
Castle Waiting, Vol. 1 (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Libba Bray (other topics)Jeff Kinney (other topics)
Lisa Yee (other topics)
Jarrett J. Krosoczka (other topics)
Amy Ignatow (other topics)
More...



Hope you enjoy this cha-ha-ha-llenge :)