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casehouse's review
2.0
This was OK. I didn't care for the narrator - the inflections and emphasis were very off at times. While I certainly was rooting for the main character, I didn't really find him that funny. I can't imagine that a kid would really think so, either. There seemed to be several "lessons" to be learned - laughter is the best medicine, keep at it to overcome adversity, be kind to others, etc. It came off feeling a little scattered. Also, I didn't find the characters believable at all. I know it's "just a kids' book," but the characters, especially the bully, were so extreme that they were hard to believe.
markma's review against another edition
4.0
I Funny is about a boy named Jamie Grimm. Jamie always likes to see the funny side of things, he wants to be a comedian. He has recently moved to Long Beach in New York where he lives with his cousins, and hangs out with his Uncle at his dinner. All Jamie wants is to become a comedian and be treated normally. People sometimes do not treat Jamie normally because he uses a wheelchair. At school Jamie has some great friends, but he is also bullied. THe bully also happens to be his cousin. Jamie hears about a contest to be the Planet's funniest kid and everyone but him thinks he should enter. Jamie does not think that he is funny enough and he is also afraid to go in front of an audience. This book is Jamie's journey to being treated normally and getting the confidence to go onstage in front of people.
I loved this book. My brother recommend this book to me and I did not expect to like it, but I loved it. It is a truly heartfelt book that makes you smile. AS much as it makes you smile it makes you sad when you see how Jamie is treated. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a read that is heartfelt and funny. It is also a good books for boys to read. I know that it is hard to find good books for guys, but this is one of them.
I loved this book. My brother recommend this book to me and I did not expect to like it, but I loved it. It is a truly heartfelt book that makes you smile. AS much as it makes you smile it makes you sad when you see how Jamie is treated. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a read that is heartfelt and funny. It is also a good books for boys to read. I know that it is hard to find good books for guys, but this is one of them.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Laughter truly is the best medicine. As we follow Jamie's journey to become Long Island's best kid comedian, we can truly see how laughter can heal. What is on the outside a very funny book also has some poignant and deeply touching moments. Recommended for 4th grade and up.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
crowmaster's review against another edition
4.0
Middle School classic. I laughed the whole while I read this book during middle school.
maycho's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
A fun, quick-read about a boy stuck in a wheelchair who dreams of becoming the world's greatest stand-up comedian.
I didn't like the writing style in the beginning because it felt off-handish and really quite irritating, but then I realised that when I was in Middle School, this was exactly how I used to talk. It still irked me a little throughout the entire read, but I got used to it, largely because I liked the narrator.
Our narrator is middle schooler Jamie Grimm. After a car crash that killed of his family and left him disabled, he sought solace in reading joke books. This consequently leads him to pursue his dream of stand-up comedy. I liked Jamie. He was annoying at times, sure, but his character was heart and humour combined. He does not pity himself and yearns greatly for people to treat him like how they treat everybody else.
I liked the way issues of death, discrimination and bullying were handled in this book. These are definitely elements that children will go through in life and I felt that the subject matters were appropriately dealt with in the book.
The jokes in the book were, for the most part, humourous but it was not laugh-out-loud funny. I enjoyed them, though. Jamie likes to pull one-liners of famous comedians, so now I've got a huge list of stand-up comedians to check out.
One thing I disliked immensely about this book was its title. I mean, I Funny? Really? It's a limp, weak and annoying title. Wish it was named differently, but oh well.
Looking forward to reading the next book!
A fun, quick-read about a boy stuck in a wheelchair who dreams of becoming the world's greatest stand-up comedian.
I didn't like the writing style in the beginning because it felt off-handish and really quite irritating, but then I realised that when I was in Middle School, this was exactly how I used to talk. It still irked me a little throughout the entire read, but I got used to it, largely because I liked the narrator.
Our narrator is middle schooler Jamie Grimm. After a car crash that killed of his family and left him disabled, he sought solace in reading joke books. This consequently leads him to pursue his dream of stand-up comedy. I liked Jamie. He was annoying at times, sure, but his character was heart and humour combined. He does not pity himself and yearns greatly for people to treat him like how they treat everybody else.
I liked the way issues of death, discrimination and bullying were handled in this book. These are definitely elements that children will go through in life and I felt that the subject matters were appropriately dealt with in the book.
The jokes in the book were, for the most part, humourous but it was not laugh-out-loud funny. I enjoyed them, though. Jamie likes to pull one-liners of famous comedians, so now I've got a huge list of stand-up comedians to check out.
One thing I disliked immensely about this book was its title. I mean, I Funny? Really? It's a limp, weak and annoying title. Wish it was named differently, but oh well.
Looking forward to reading the next book!
stacyjuarez122's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is pretty funny and a very good fast paced book. The only thing I didn’t like was how he didn’t stand up to the bullying. It is very understandable though that you wouldn’t want to get hurt but you gotta stand up at a time when it’s taken too far. Other than that I thought it was an awesome book to read and very interesting.
dchaseb's review against another edition
5.0
I Funny was a book that I chose for the kids in the after school book club I attend. While the humor is mostly elementary (of course it is, look at the targeted audience), there are still some funny jokes that found me laughing. The story follows orphaned Jamie Grimm who is a wheel-chair bound, hopeful stand-up comedian. The story contains the typical middle-school drama and situations of most middle-readers (bullies, cafeteria lunches with friends, girls) but Jamie's use of humor to get through these situations is unique. The main plot line follows Jamie as he tries to win a contest to be known as the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic.
The message of anti-pity is one I thoroughly enjoyed. It looks down on the "participation trophy" mentality in a way. There is an instance when Jamie is overjoyed to actually be bullied and punched in the gut just like any other kid with bully problems. To me, this is true inclusion. No special favors or pity points but truly treating everybody equally. This makes me like this book more than Wonder (which is still great, don't get me wrong).
The message of anti-pity is one I thoroughly enjoyed. It looks down on the "participation trophy" mentality in a way. There is an instance when Jamie is overjoyed to actually be bullied and punched in the gut just like any other kid with bully problems. To me, this is true inclusion. No special favors or pity points but truly treating everybody equally. This makes me like this book more than Wonder (which is still great, don't get me wrong).
erinlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
This will appeal to the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" crowd - short chapters and line drawings throughout. I can't really find anything wrong with this book, but it's not as good as some of the other kidlit I've read lately. There's a pretty good message about perseverance. Grades 5+
sean67's review against another edition
3.0
Patterson creates comedian for the younger generation in this the first of a series.
The problem with the books Patterson writes for the younger set are the real issues that are trivialised.
The bully in this book is particularly violent and aggressive and over the top.
Bullying is a realise and here it is swept under the carpet with a joke or two.
The book itself was quite readable, but being it was full of quarter and half pages and with illustrations the 300 odd pages felt more like 125!
Anyway one of the better Patterson Inc books I have read for a while.
The problem with the books Patterson writes for the younger set are the real issues that are trivialised.
The bully in this book is particularly violent and aggressive and over the top.
Bullying is a realise and here it is swept under the carpet with a joke or two.
The book itself was quite readable, but being it was full of quarter and half pages and with illustrations the 300 odd pages felt more like 125!
Anyway one of the better Patterson Inc books I have read for a while.