School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-Wheelchair-bound Jamie Grimm is working on new material for his upcoming entry in the regional finals of the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic Contest. Patterson and Grabenstein pay homage to the timeless comedy of Abbott and Costello, Groucho Marx, and other greats, while introducing new jokes that speak directly to the middle school experience. Though it will date the series more quickly, references to trendy Vegas casinos and comedians such as Ray Romano, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Wright, and Chris Rock give the book an air of hip relevancy. Can Jamie find humor in his bullying cousin, Uncle Frankie's medical emergency, and confusing relationships with Gilda Gold and "Cool Girl?" Yes, he can. And if you're wondering if a heavily illustrated comedic novel can make it as an audiobook, that's a yes, too. Young Frankie Seratch is perfectly cast as the narrator of this heartfelt and very funny look at middle school and family relationships. Seratch ensures that the humor comes across as intended, without a hint of mockery or maliciousness. A PDF companion file of the book's illustrations is included on disc three.-Lisa -Taylor, Ocean County Library, NJ (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
New triumphs await would-be stand-up comedian Jamie Grimm despite challenges introduced in this Middle School series spin-off's opener, I Funny (2012). Those include being orphaned, confined to a wheelchair, and subjected to constant harassment from a bully as well as further setbacks as he advances to the national round of the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic contest. Once again Jamie gets loyal support from an appealing supporting cast led by girl friend (two words at the beginning, one word by the end) Gilda. The wisecrack-laced narrative is enhanced by lots of pen-and-ink cartoons with added dialogue. The book pokes fun at nerd dating, Las Vegas, and other such fertile topics, and it gives budding comedians in the reading audience useful tools both by showing Jamie developing his act from events in his own up-and-down life and by closing with a list of recommended online joke repositories.--Peters, John Copyright 2014 Booklist
