I'm a realistic fiction reader, so these books will be in that vein: more witty than guffawing all over the place. Like me. Right? On to the first book, one I absolutely loved, An Abundance of Katherines.
Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines. New York: Speak/Penguin Group, 2008.
Plot Summary
Poor Colin (former child prodigy) has been dumped 19 times, all by girls named Katherine. Unfortunately, the 19th Katherine dumped him right after graduation. His friend Hassan decides that what he really needs is a road trip. They end up in Gutshot, TN, in search of the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Colin meets a girl named Lindsey who might be able to help him escape the curse of the Katherines.
Where I Found It and Why I Picked it
I've read An Abundance of Katherines. There's a copy in my daughter's room and somewhere in mine. I think I was influenced by a literary agent's tweet that she was so excited to take a long plane ride because she really wanted to read the book.
This book isn't an "issue" book like John Green's The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska. In addition to Green's normal wit, the book is filled with funny additions: footnotes, anagrams, graphs, equations, the "Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability," historical references, and an appendix. The book is also sprinkled with great quotes, including ones from Greek philosophers. There's a ton of sarcasm between Colin and Hassan.
Poor Colin (former child prodigy) has been dumped 19 times, all by girls named Katherine. Unfortunately, the 19th Katherine dumped him right after graduation. His friend Hassan decides that what he really needs is a road trip. They end up in Gutshot, TN, in search of the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Colin meets a girl named Lindsey who might be able to help him escape the curse of the Katherines.
Where I Found It and Why I Picked it
I've read An Abundance of Katherines. There's a copy in my daughter's room and somewhere in mine. I think I was influenced by a literary agent's tweet that she was so excited to take a long plane ride because she really wanted to read the book.
This book isn't an "issue" book like John Green's The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska. In addition to Green's normal wit, the book is filled with funny additions: footnotes, anagrams, graphs, equations, the "Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability," historical references, and an appendix. The book is also sprinkled with great quotes, including ones from Greek philosophers. There's a ton of sarcasm between Colin and Hassan.
LaZebnik, Claire. Epic Fail. New York: Harper Teen, 2011.
Plot Summary
Epic Fail takes place at Coral Tree School in Los Angeles, an elite prep school where Elsie is at the bottom of the food chain. Her failing? She's the daughter of the new school principal. Everyone at her school worships Derek, the "prince of the school." Her sister falls in love with Derek's best friend, which leaves Elsie with a lot of time to spend with Derek. But she's falling for Webster Grant instead, a social pariah.
Where I Found It and How I Picked It
I have heard of this book, but haven't read it before. I found it trolling for funny YA books on Goodreads, to be honest. The title pulled me in--my daughter and I use that term.
Part of the reason I fell for this book is that it's a modern day take on Pride and Prejudice, one of my all-time favorite books. Elise is Lizzie, and Derek is Darcy, of course. (Get the names? And her sister Juliana is Jane, and their last name is Benton...) An elite prep school is the perfect setting for Austen's mannered and genteel characters.
Just glancing at the first page made me laugh. Elise describes a "condom tree" at another prep school, where students put up their used condoms. Another funny moment right away is when she bumps into another girl on her first day, and the girl snarkily says, "Fail."
Kenneally, Miranda. Catching Jordan. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Fire, 2011.
Plot Summary
Jordan is the captain and quarterback of the high school football team, and in fact the best high football school player in the state. The catch? She's a girl. She's surrounded by hunky players, but she's focused on getting a college scholarship. And then one day, a new boy arrives, and Ty is both incredibly hot and a quarterback. She falls for Ty... or is she falling for her best friend, Henry?
Plot Summary
Jordan is the captain and quarterback of the high school football team, and in fact the best high football school player in the state. The catch? She's a girl. She's surrounded by hunky players, but she's focused on getting a college scholarship. And then one day, a new boy arrives, and Ty is both incredibly hot and a quarterback. She falls for Ty... or is she falling for her best friend, Henry?
Where I Found It and Why I Picked It
I've had this book on my Goodreads "to read" list for a long time. When I saw it listed as a funny book, I was skeptical; I thought it was just a sports romance kind of book. Instead, what seem like throwaway lines keep us entertained. Jordan narrates, "I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer reading. (1)" It's the kind of book that's sweet and funny, with some heart.
I've had this book on my Goodreads "to read" list for a long time. When I saw it listed as a funny book, I was skeptical; I thought it was just a sports romance kind of book. Instead, what seem like throwaway lines keep us entertained. Jordan narrates, "I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer reading. (1)" It's the kind of book that's sweet and funny, with some heart.
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