Top 5 Favorite Funny Finds

Welcome back! Today’s genre–humor–is super fun because who doesn’t love to laugh, right? 😀 *sings song from Mary Poppins* *straightens face*

A joyful heart is good medicine and here is some…

The Kitten Files series by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick (which I’ve actually only read two of so far–yes, I’m behind. Be shocked.) is really the most hilarious and adorable thing ever. You’ve read books about talking cats, well this one can WRITE! And she’s an “assistant” to a detective and very snarky. I’ve enjoyed these complicated but very safe/lighthearted mysteries.

The Father Christmas Confessions by Emily Ann Benedict was a highlight for me last year. I read it to myself in November, then aloud to Anna in December. It was that good. 😀 Quite humorous with a surprising depth and heart to it, this book was the perfect Christmas read for me. 😉 I laughed out loud sometimes over the main characters’ dynamic, and all the hidden references were quite fun. 😉 (And I hear there’s a sequel which I really need to get my hands on…) (Read my full review here.)

This book, Martin and Marco by Jonny Jimison, is actually a graphic novel. And as you can probably tell from what today’s genre is… it. cracked. me. up. XD The entire book is so quotable, and the second book is just as hilarious and adventuresome and wacky. (Read my slightly crazy review here.)

Someone actually recommended The Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett to me during the very first Five Fall Favorites party, and here they are now. That’s pretty ace. 😉 My favorite thing about this series is how it totally makes fun of, celebrates, and plays with the cliches of the kid detective genre. The concept of the first one (scary librarians) cracked me up to no end, but the plot of the second one surprised me with how complicated it was. (Read my reviews of the entire series here. I’d really only recommend books one and two.) 

This lovely adventure, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein, was a nice surprise from my local library. Chock full of literary references, clever clues, and a fun plot–this was definitely my kind of book. 😉 Seriously, who wouldn’t love a Wonka-like character who literally speaks in book titles?? 😀 I was able to share it with my younger siblings which is always fun, and they tell me I must read the second book. 😉 (Read my full review here.)

So grab a book and find a lovely bench somewhere to read on. And if a stranger asks why you are laughing so hard, just hand them your book because laughter is meant to be shared. 😀

Don’t forget to stop by our hostess’s blog to enter the (absolutely amazing and happifying) giveaway and find everyone else’s posts! 

What book has made you laugh recently?

 

 

Book Review: Danger Goes Berserk

“It’s a routine case…
     …or at least as routine as a cases get when you’re a twelve-year-old private detective who’s been sleuthing for just a few months: Steve Brixton must don a neon wetsuit and work undercover to retrieve a stolen surfboard.
     But when the assignment goes all wrong, Steve finds himself caught inside mysteries involving wild surfers, pirate smugglers, thick-necked goons, and a sixth-grader who can’t find his gym shorts.” (from Goodreads)

This is the fourth (and currently final book) in the Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett, one I’ve been enjoying immensely for the last few months. I was excited to read this one, especially since I heard it was connected to a case in the previous book. First off, Steve’s dogho–er, office was hilarious. Talk about cramped quarters! The mystery was actually quite complicated, and it was neat to see that fascinating loose thread from the previous book picked up. I enjoyed having Dana on his own side case. Some of his ideas were pretty clever even if Steve solved the case in the end. 😀 Steve trying to blend in with surfers was really funny–especially when he accidentally broke out of character and called Dana “chum”. 😛 Even though I suspected who the villains were all along, I could have never imagined such a motive! That was a surprise. XD The content/danger levels were about the same as the other books, although this one was a bit more bizarre than usual. Also, there was a mention of dating teenagers holding hands.

I already sent the book back to the library, so I don’t have a “best quote” this time. Pretty much any time Steve talks in surfer lingo is pretty funny.

Altogether, I enjoyed this installment, and I hope the author writes more! 😀

Book Review: It Happened on a Train

“Retired private detective and current seventh grader Steve Brixton has a new career: taking out the garbage on Wednesdays for five bucks a week. But it’s hard to leave the old game behind, and on a train trip down the California coast, Steve finds himself pulled back into sleuthing. Soon he’s in over his head in four feet and eleven inches of mystery involving a fleet of priceless automobiles, a deadly assassin (or maybe just a faulty lock on a sauna door), and a secret train car filled with intrigue. Plus there’s a girl involved, which complicates everything. I mean she’s just Steve’s friend. And really, they barely even know each other. It’s not like they’re boyfriend or girlfriend or anything, okay?” (from Goodreads)

This is the third book in the Brixton Brothers series, a.k.a. the acest “kid’s” detective series you’ll ever read by Mac Barnett. I was excited to revisit the humor and cleverness of this series! The case Steve tried to avoid while he was taking out the trash really blew me away (even though it’s only partly solved!). I also loved his trick to SPOILER ALERT! get the one guy to prove he owns the car. Nice foreshadowing for later! And Rick SPOILER ALERT! knits!Train travel actually sounds pretty cool; though I never want to be on top of one, and it could use being a little fancier. This mystery was so complicated, I suspected everyone–except the real villains of course. The solution was actually oddly hilarious but slightly disappointing because Steve barely got to solve anything. (Although the Wooden Hound With Two Tails trick was awesome.) My siblings tell me that this case is closely connected to the next one, so maybe that will be good. 😉 Not recommended for younger readers because of some disrespect of adults and intense action including SPOILER ALERT! accidental kidnapping, and and SPOILER ALERT! enter “girlfriends”! (Barely.) Although, Dana’s has him reading some pretty weird wizard books. There were two pictures from books they were reading where the women were dressed immodestly.

Best quote: The thin man chuckled. “Cyrus. They’re just children. They could hardly be car thieves–they don’t even know how to drive.” “Actually, I do,” said Steve. The man looked surprised. “Well, anyway, I’m sure they wouldn’t steal a car.” Actually, Steve had, technically. Twice. Once with Dana and once without. But it seemed better to leave that out right now.

Altogether, while this was a fun installment, it wasn’t the best in the series. We’ll see how the next one is. 😉

Book Review: The Ghostwriter Secret

“Steve Brixton is fast becoming America’s top detective. After saving the United States of America in The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity, he has opened his own agency. Steve gets a call to solve the case of the Fairview diamond but it turns into an even bigger mystery. MacArthur Bart, author of Steve’s beloved Bailey Brothers series, has been kidnapped!! And there is only one 12-year-old detective who can find him. But not without the help of his best chum Dana and The Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook. Full of run-ins with goons, bullys, and the B. Syndicate (or is that Bee Syndicate?), The *Ghostwriter Secret will keep everyone laughing with suspense.

*Please note Steve encounters no specters in the course of this book.” (from Goodreads)

How could anything compare to the clever and hilarious first installment of this series by Mac Barnett? This book almost didn’t make five stars until the last few chapters. Serious suprises there. And then more suprises. And even more. The plot is as good as if Steven Moffat wrote a kids’ book. The writing style was fantastic (and funny!) as always, and it was fun to see Dana getting in on the adventures. He packs a good punch! I especially enjoyed that there were SPOILER ALERT! literary-related villains again. 😉 Not recommended for younger readers because of some disrespect of adults and intense action including kidnapping, and SPOILER ALERT! being threatened with a gun and shot at on two separate occasions. Also Dana is SPOILER ALERT! called someone’s “girlfriend” by a bully who is teasing him that his name is a girl’s name.

Best quote: Anyway, now Steve had a huge bag of red Jolly Ranchers. And this was a problem. Because his second favorite flavor, watermelon, was red, but so was the flavor he hated most: cherry, a.k.a. disgusting cough syrup. And since watermelon and cherry looked exactly the same, Steve was constantly putting the wrong one in his mouth and then spitting it out.

Altogether–yeah, I need the rest of the series pronto. 😀

Book Review: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity

“Steve Brixton always wanted to be a detective…until he found out he already WAS one.

It all starts here: The thrilling story of Steve Brixton’s first case. Our hero has a national treasure to recover, a criminal mastermind to unmask, and a social studies report due Monday — all while on the run from cops, thugs, and secret-agent librarians.

Since when can librarians rappel from helicopters? Does Steve have any brothers or sisters? If not, then why is this series called The Brixton Brothers? You will solve all these mysteries and many more by the time you finish The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity.

We think you’ll agree: Steve Brixton’s first adventure is his best adventure yet.” (from Goodreads)

I’ve always loved (and slightly laughed at) children’s detective novels, so this book by Mac Barnett was a real treat! It celebrated the cliche in a preposterous, humorous way while disproving some of the old flex-your-muscles-when-you’re-tied-up tricks in the process. 😉 The main character has some crazy adventures with detective manual and wits tested to the limits as he faces kidnappers, thieves, SPOILER ALERT! highly trained librarians, and the whole police department. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the true to life details kept me laughing. The plot was very good, and a few twists (SPOILER ALERT! like the brother) were surprising. 😉 Not recommended for younger readers because of some disrespect of adults and intense action including kidnapping.

Best quote: It’s a well-known fact that the chums of detectives are always getting kidnapped. For instance, Shawn and Kevin Bailey’s best friend, Ernest Plumly, gets abducted in thirty-two of the fifty-nine Bailey Brothers adventures. Every time, the Bailey Brothers always come to the rescue.

Altogether, I quite enjoyed this fantastic, clever, hilarious book! I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.