Humor is a central genre of young adult literature.
This style of writing is crucial to young adult literature because of the
motivation that it gives young adults to read. Humor tends to be a lighter form
of literature, therefore making it easier to read and comprehend. Humor also
tends to be relatable for young adult readers because laughter becomes a
connection point between the reader and the text. It crosses the lines of
character and reader, connecting young adults to the personality of the
characters in humor novels. When young adults feel as if they are relating to
friends, there is more of a connection made between the reader and the text.
Humor in young adult literature is important not
only because it is a fun twist on reading but also that most young adult humor
novels are complete with bigger issues to young adults. Incorporated into the
seemingly laughable books is a life lesson that is usually not funny but and
very real. Many times jokes are made about real-life issues to make light of
heavy situations. Comedians and authors alike use this to shine light on a
situation that may in no way be funny but very relevant to the audience whom
they are entertaining. This is done so that the topic at hand becomes easier to
talk about because it is easy to laugh at. Topics like sex, fitting-in, and
racial assimilation are some of the issues that are portrayed in a laughable
fashion so to inform young adults while also entertaining them.
Annotated Bibliography
Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New
York: Hachette Book
Group USA, 2007.
The centerpiece for my annotated bibliography is The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The book is
a story of a young Native American boy, Junior, who moves from a school on an
Indian reservation to a "white" school, in attempts to further his education
and expand his opportunities. He uses funny tidbits to shine light on the
difficult situations that Native Americans endure and the oppression that
occurs. Junior struggles with the idea of fitting in. His problem when he moves
schools and essentially moves societies, is that he does not know where he is
"supposed" to fit in, with the new white kids in his new school, or with his
old friends on the reservation. He struggles with the problems that come with
growing, the difficulties of assimilation, and the tragedies of reservation
life all at the same time. Junior's sense of humor and sarcasm in his tone is
what classifies The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in the
humor genre.
The reason that I chose this piece as my centerpiece
is because it is a well-written piece of literature which depicts real life
situations in the Native American community and masks it under banter, jokes,
and sarcasm from Junior. In this way, The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian is a perfect example of using humor in a work to get to
deeper meaning, a more serious problem. Junior's character is burdened with
social problems like poverty, depression, and assimilation, however the reader
becomes attached to Junior because of his personality and his comical manner of
speaking. The book is also one of positivism and working toward a better life.
It gives hope to young adults, while making them laugh, and simultaneously
opening their eyes to larger issues in their country.
"Teen Troves: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian." 21 January
2008. Teen
Troves.
12 Nov 2008. <http://teentroves.com/blog/?cat=96>
Bradley, Alex. 24 Girls in 7 Days. New York: Dutton Books, 2005.
24 Girls in 7 Days is a romantic comedy
intended for a young adult crowd. It is about prom and Jack, the main
character's quest to find a prom date. After being shot down by his crush, his
friends decide that he needs help in finding a date to prom. The put an ad in
the school newspaper advertising Jack's need for a date. He goes from awkward
and dateless to being bombarded with 24 dates. He is on the quest to find the
perfect date, however he begins to learn that finding one person that you truly
like is better than being surrounded by many people that you d o not.
24 Girls in 7 Days is a comedy meant for
entertainment. The underlying message is that life, especially for males,
should not necessarily be about the chase of the girl or the amount of girls in
your life, but about finding one that really means something to you. It is also
a lesson on sex and love, therefore it is a comedy with an important underlying
message.
"24 Girls in 7 Days Review."
teenreads.com 12 Nov 2008.
<http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0525473696.asp>
Burgess, Melvin. Doing It. New York: Henry Holt & Company Inc.,
2006.
Doing It is a novel about sex in the
perspective of three young boys. The book is centered about sexuality, mainly
male sexuality. The boys are comical in their speech toward one another,
however the real humor comes in with the boys' inner dialogue and
"conversations" with the reader. It is a story that follows the boys and their
sexual excursions, their success, their failure, and their growing knowledge of
the subject.
This book is important in the humor genre of young
adult literature because, like Vegan Virgin Valentine, Doing It
addresses the subject of sex but puts a comical spin on it. Because it is
addressed, it makes the subject less taboo to talk about in a society where sex
is a subject that students are not well-informed about, it is refreshing for
literature to address this subject. The boys in the book are inexperienced, and
the knowledge that they gain in the book is important to their transition into
adulthood. It is also a book geared towards males. There are an abundance of books
on sex for females, however sex books for males are a little harder to come by.
Doing It is in a male's point of view, and they truly express their fears and
concerns about sex. It is proof to males and females alike that not all sex
talk among boys needs to be "locker room talk." The ability to speak normally
about the topic instead of trying to "one-up" all the other males you come in
contact with is possible and it is demonstrated in Doing It.
Hird, Laura. "The New Review: Melvin Burgess." Retrieved 12 Nov 2008.
<www.laurahird.com>
Chbosky, Steven. Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York: Pocket Books,
1999.
Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story composed
of letters from a boy named Charlie to an anonymous recipient. This book is
insight into Charlie's life and struggles. He is an introverted boy who does
not socialize much and does not have friends who relate to him. The one place
that Charlie truly feels he can be himself, his comical, funny self, is through
the letters. He struggles with fitting in, but then meets up with "the wrong
crowd." He gets into things that teens tend to meddle in when they are trying
to find themselves such as20sex, drugs, and drinking. The year that the book
accounts for is Charlie's freshman year in high school, and it proves to be a
socially educational one.
Perks of Being a Wallflower contains a basic
story line of a young boy finding himself and fitting in in his own way. It
reveals social pressures about our adolescent years and the need to be "cool"
and "fit in." It also reveals some depressed thoughts from Charlie and uncovers
suicide as an issue as well. This is a major connecting point to other young
adults who have the same feelings and worries. It is a lesson that they are not
alone and that others share in their problems. Though Charlie's character in
Perks of Being a Wallflower is where the comedy is, the issues behind the
laughter is what is truly significant in the novel.
Going, K. Fat Kid Rules the World. New York: G.P. Putnam Sons, 2003.
Fat Kid Rules the World is a book about
misfits. The main character, Troy, is an overweight high schooler. The book
begins with Troy and his thoughts of suicide. He is a social outcast, and he is
suffering the death of his mother. He wants to jump off a train, but he ends up
meeting a homeless man named Curt who changes his life. He and Curt form a
friendship and decide to start a band. Troy becomes very invested in his new
found hobby, drumming. His newfound problems then become those that Curt h as
brought along with him. The complications with living on the streets, drugs,
and a combination of the two.
Fat Kid Rules the World is a book that is
definitely funny. The main character has a sense of humor despite his inner suffering.
He has learned to be quite, not be too noticed, but his inner dialogue is
comical. The reason that he is so quiet and tries to be so discreet in social
settings is because he wants to fit in, however he is struggling with the fact
that he is overweight. His weight, in his mind, leaves him no room to make
other noticeable mistakes that he can be ridiculed for by his peers. The humor
is on top of a story of a young boy fighting his own demons: weight, no mother,
and acceptance. His interest in music is a positive outlet and a way to get out
all that he is feeling without breaking down or committing suicide. This book
is significant in that way. It teaches lessons of self-acceptance and healthy
outlets for young adults.
Brotman, Amy. "Review: Fat Kid Rules the World." Common Sense Media. 12 Nov
2008.
<http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Fat-Kid-Rules-World.htm>
Mackler, Carolyn. Vegan Virgin Valentine. New York: Candlewick Press,
2006.
Vegan Virgin Valentine is the story of Mara
Valentine, an ambitious, type-A, control-oriented high school student who is in
her senior year of high school. She is applying for colleges and attempting to
get herself together before she graduates high school. She encounters some
things in her senior year that force her to relinquish control of her life a
little more than she would like. Her irresponsible, promiscuous niece comes to
live with her and shakes her idea of "normal." She also develops feelings for
her boss, and struggles with the choices that she makes in her life like eating
habits, sexual forwardness, and things of that nature. Mara learns lessons on
control and how to deal with things when the do not go the way that is
expected.
The humor is built in to the book. The sight of a very
controlling person losing control and then figuring out what to do in their new
situation is comical to the reader. The inner dialogue from Mara makes readers
laugh and connect to her personality. Though not all teens are
control-oriented, most young adults have their moments. Everyone also has
experience with expecting things to go one way and then our plans being turned
upside-down. Vegan Virgin Valentine deals with a lot of issues of
growing up. Sex and virginity are big issues in the book, and making them
lighter issues and laughable create an opening for discussion. Information
about issues is the best way to keep young adults "in the loop" so that they
can make informed decisions and know all of their options.
"Description From My Publisher." Autho rs on the Web: Carolyn Mackler. 12 Nov
2008.
<http://www.carolynmackler.com/Vegan-Virgin-Valentine-by-Carolyn-Mackler.asp>
Oates,
Joyce Carol. Big Mouth and Ugly Girl. New York: Harper Collins
Children's Books,
2002.
Big Mouth and Ugly Girl is a novel on two high
school students. Big Mouth, Matt, makes a comment in his school about school
safety which he does not think anyone will pay mind to. To his surprise, it is
blown up into a huge legal debacle. Ugly girl, Ursula, talks to Matt through
email and gives her opinions and insights to what he should do, and is able to
connect with him on a level of friendship.
Big Mouth and Ugly Girl is a comedy because of
the personalities of the characters. They are both smart. The use of letters
throughout the book shows readers a real relationship being built between
Ursula and Matt in the exact way that it falls together. There are no
unexplained gestures or things that the reader is left out about because it is
through letters that they communicate. The masking of physical appearance with
a good personality and a few laughs is a central theme in this piece. The
beauty within is addressed with "ugly girl" who is not ugly in character.
Anderson,
Eric Karl. "Big Mouth and Ugly Girl." Book Review.com. 12 Nov 2008.
<http://www.bookreview.com/$spindb.query.listreview2.booknew.5749>
Vizzini, Ned. Be More Chill. New York: Hyperion/Miramax Kid, 2004.
Be More Chill is a comedic novel about a high
school boy named Jeremy. He is fighting to fit in in high school and is having
a rough time doing so. His solution to the problem is to take a pill with a
computer chip inside, making Jeremy more "cool." His main motivation for
gaining the cool attitude is so he can get to know his crush, Christine. The
computer chip makes him do things that he would normally not do, including
drugs, womanizing, and partying. Though the computer chip is making him cool,
Jeremy begins to realize that he did not really even need the chip to obtain
the things that he really wanted.
The concept of the Be More Chill is hilarious.
Swallowing a computer chip that tells you how to be more cool is a funny
overall plot. The way that it is executed with the computer chip voice in
Jeremy's head and Jeremy's awkwardness makes for a laughable novel. This book
brings up the topics of sex, love, fitting in, conforming, and the real
importance of life. Be More Chill is a funny, light way to make young
adults see that they do not necessarily need to be "cool" to be happy. Fitting
in is such a status goal in high school, that often young adults lose a sense
of who they really are because they are too worried about what their peers want
them to be, and sometimes it does not equate happiness.
Information taken from Manuel Vasquez's Book Talk Handout.
Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. New York: Roaring Brook Press,
2006.
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel in
which racism and assimilation is addressed. The main plot is about a high
school boy, Jin Wang, who struggles with his race because he is the only
Chinese kid at an all white high school. His race sets him apart from his peers
at a time in one's life where fitting in and being "normal" is what one strives
for. This book is written comic book style, therefore making it lighter and
there are inserts of the "Chinese stereotype" and Chinese fables which add
humor to the piece.
The reason that I thought American Born Chinese fit
into the humor genre so well is because it is a comical piece with a joking
sentiment, however it stands for real issues. American Born Chinese is
an easy read because of the comic book style that it is written in. It is one
of those pieces that will pull young readers in who do not necessarily have a
deep interest in reading, because it does not seem like literature reading, but
leisure reading. Racism is one of the themes; Jin Wang struggles with racism
because he is "different." This is a serious problem presented to young adults
in a joking manner. Fitting in and finding his own way to fit in is what Jin
Wang begins to figure out throughout the novel Blake Matthews states that American Born Chinese,
"...has a subtle ay of handling racism without being preach or beating you over
the head with a message."
Matthews, Blake. "Graphic Novel Review: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang." 7 Feb
2007. BC Books. 12 Nov 2008. <http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/02/07/040843.php>
Zevin, Gabrielle. Memiors of a Teenage Amnesiac." New York: Douglas
McIntyre Ltd., 2007.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is a novel about
a high school age girl named Naomi, who hits her head and gets amnesia. She
returns to school without a sense of who she is or what has happened to her in
the past few years. She then sees that her life had some major problems, and
she is dumbfounded as to why she had not repaired her life when she was in the
right state of mind. She tells readers of the life she had as she figures it
out in her "amnesia state," and comes to some self realizations. There are only
three chapters in Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, "I was," "I am," and "I
will," standing for where she has been and where she will go with her new
realizations about her life. The book has a humorous tone while still addressing
Naomi's true self-discovery as she struggles with her amnesia.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is defined as
"humor" because the colloquial tone that Nao mi has toward the reader and her
attitude in general is comical. This is an important work because it addresses
a young girl's life analysis. Her getting amnesia is a connection into
self-analysis through an "outside" perspective, even though it is still her own
life. It allows Naomi to see herself in an objective light so that she can
change things about herself that she was reluctant to do in her "normal" state
of mind because she was too comfortable with the way things were. This book is
comical but it teaches life skills like self-exploration, growing up, and
self-discovery.
Aileen. "Review: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin." 11 Nov
2008.
Chicklish. 12 Nov 2008.
<http://keris.typepad.com/chicklet/2008/11/reviews.memoirs.html>