Funny Girl

Starred review from April 3, 2017
In this winningly diverse collection edited by librarian and author Bird (Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature), readers can sample highly entertaining entries from more than two dozen contemporary female writers, including Cece Bell, Libba Bray, Lisa Graff, Mitali Perkins, Ursula Vernon, and Rita Williams-Garcia. The short contributions burst with self-deprecating humor regarding friends, families, and the awkwardness of growing up, and they come in all formats, including short stories, exchanged letters, comics, verse, and magazine-style quizzes. Several writers mine real-life embarrassments for material: YouTuber Akilah Hughes recounts a traumatic bikini-related “wardrobe malfunction” (“My best life will be lived warm and dry, away from parties, fun, and freshman boys); Meghan McCarthy recalls stapling her own thumb at school, an injury no one seemed to know how to handle; and Adrianne Chalepah closes the collection with an instructive essay that offers advice applicable to these and other situations: “Have an unshakable sense of confidence. Even when you’re literally bleeding.” It’s certain to fit the bill for just about any child looking for a good laugh or 20. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management.

Starred review from February 15, 2017
The 28 short stories, autobiographical essays, and comic strips in this entertaining anthology are meant to prove that females can be funny, and they succeed. Librarian and blogger Bird has gathered contributions from a stellar group of female children's and teen writers and illustrators, including Rita Williams-Garcia, Jennifer Holm, and Shannon Hale, plus a few professional comedians who give advice on crafting and delivering jokes. Variety abounds, encompassing Lenore Look's pun-filled Chinese zodiac, Mitali Perkins' "Brown Girl Pop Quiz" of multiple-choice questions, and Raina Telgemeier's comic strip "Attack of the Killer Bee." Among the standouts are Carmen Agra Deedy's first-person account of the time her mother set a bathtub on fire to rid it of germs and Libba Bray's "Public Service Announcement About Your Period" from a witty 12-year-old girl who objects to the secrecy surrounding the subject. A handful of other entries also deal with girl-specific topics such as bra shopping, and nearly all the stories and reminiscences focus on girls. Boys will also enjoy the humor, which ranges from slapstick to subtle. Brief biographical notes about the contributors conclude the volume. Whether these live up to the subtitle's claim of "funniest stories ever" is subjective, but the lighthearted array will surely appeal to a wide audience. (Anthology. 9-13)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-A collection of hilarious short stories, comics, letters, and quizzes, geared toward middle grade girls. A range of well-known authors contribute pieces (Amy Ignatow, Libba Bray, Raina Telgemeier, Ursula Vernon, and Shannon Hale) along with lesser-known writers. The pinkish cover, depicting a girl dangling upside down and reading Funny Girl, is appealing, as are the accessible font styles and comic illustrations throughout. Many of the stories describe bodily functions (farts, poo, pee, and periods all make appearances), proving boys don't have a monopoly on toilet humor. Though the majority of the humor is lighthearted and kid-appropriate, some jokes hit a sour note. In the first story, "How To Tell a Joke" by Delaney Yeager and Mackenzie Yeager, the narrator relates the tale of watching an antidrug assembly featuring a former drug addict with a prosthetic hand. She explains how she later imitated the man by putting her own hand inside her shirt and suggests that this is a good way to get laughs from classmates-a gag she comes back to several times in the chapter. Readers whose families have experienced addiction or who have physical disabilities are likely to find these jokes painful rather than chuckle-worthy. Authors and characters come from a range of backgrounds, including Cuban American, Native American, and Indian American. A short biography of each author can be found in the back matter. The stories work especially well when read consecutively, since several jokes recur, but most pieces stand alone. VERDICT With the exception of the first chapter's insensitivity, these stories are bound to engage most readers and tickle ribs.-Michelle Anderson, Tauranga City Libraries, New Zealand

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2017
Grades 4-7 In this testament to female funniness, librarian-book blogger Bird (Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature, 2014) culls short stories, personal essays, and bite-size comics from a diverse array of creators, including celebrated author-illustrators (Raina Telgemeier), best-sellers (Kelly DiPucchio), stand-up comedians (Adrianne Chalepah), and TV writers (Delaney and Mackenzie Yeager). Designed to introduce youngsters to laugh-out-loud ladies, a historically underrepresented niche in kids' lit, this anthology covers everything from race (Mitali Perkins' Brown Girl Pop Quiz: All of the Above ) and burning bathtubs (Carmen Agra Deedy's One Hot Mess ) to champion bird-calling (Rita Williams-Garcia and Michelle Garcia's Desdemona and Sparks Go All In ). While playful potential activities, including Mad Libs and Leila Sales' How to Play Imaginary Games, keep things interactive, the collection's tender tidbits of advice, particularly Libba Bray's take on first periods, truly stand out. As these ladies prove, with positivity, pluck, and a dash of hindsight, you can find humor just about anywhere. Hilarious and heartfelt, this won't only appeal to funny girls and boys, it'll inspire them.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)