Funny Books for Tweens
If you’ve ever tried to convince a tween to read for fun, you already know it can feel like negotiating world peace. Kids ages 9-12 have a world of new things being thrown at them, from hormone shifts to homework. Things like extracurricular activities, increased academic pressure, after-school clubs, and the strong pull of video games and chat groups often push reading for fun to the bottom of the list. It’s all part of the infamous “decline by 9,” when reading for pleasure drops by nearly 70% after age eight.
But here’s the secret weapon: humor. Tweens love to laugh, and funny books can pull them back into stories faster than you can say, “Put your phone down, please.” Whether it’s outrageous magical adventures, gross pranks, flying squirrels, or awkward middle school moments, these books will remind kids that reading isn’t a chore; it’s entertainment.
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Add to BookshelfFlora and Ulysses: Tie-in Edition
by Kate DiCamillo
This Newbery Medal–winning novel by Kate DiCamillo blends laugh-out-loud writing, heartwarming moments, and quirky comic-style illustrations. When Flora, a comic-book-loving cynic, rescues and resuscitates a vacuumed-up squirrel, she believes the ordeal gives him superpowers. Suddenly life takes a wonderfully unpredictable turn as Flora and Ulysses navigate eccentric characters, family tensions, and big questions about hope and heroism. A perfect read for kids who love warm, funny stories with a sprinkle of the impossible.
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The Dragon’s Apprentice
by James Riley
Readers looking for courageous heroes, clever dragons, and fantasy worlds full of secrets will find them in this book. Meet Ciara, a rule-breaking twelve-year-old, who accidentally awakened a sleeping dragon named Scorch when she dabbled in forbidden magic. With her village suffering under a cruel Warden and her mother gravely ill, Ciara and her snarky, fire-breathing friend team up to uncover the truth about magic and challenge the Empire’s harsh laws. This fast-paced adventure delivers big laughs and high-stakes danger.
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Max and the Midknights
by Lincoln Peirce
Max dreams of becoming a knight despite living in a world where everyone is expected to follow their family’s career path. When the villainous King Gastley kidnaps Max’s uncle, Max teams up with a quirky crew of friends called the Midknights to rescue him and save the kingdom. Magic, monsters, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments blend with comic-style illustrations to delight fans of Big Nate and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This series starter is a fun, feel-good tale about bravery, friendship, and daring to follow your own path.
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$10.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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The Area 51 Files
by Julie Buxbaum
When Sky Patel-Baum moves to the top-secret Area 51 to live with her eccentric uncle, she discovers the base is full of aliens (who prefer to be called Break Throughs) and unexplainable mysteries. Strange disappearances start the moment Sky arrives, and her uncle is the prime suspect. With the help of her alien neighbor Elvis and her hedgehog Spike, Sky sets out to clear her uncle’s name and uncover what’s really going on. Middle-grade mystery fans will love the quirky worldbuilding and fun illustrations in this fast, funny sci-fi adventure.
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The Twits: The Terrible Tale of Twitlandia
by Roald Dahl and Sam Hay
Now streaming on Netflix! Join two brave kids and a family of magical Muggle-Wumps as they battle the notorious Mr. and Mrs. Twit in this middle-grade novelization of the Netflix film, inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic! When the Twits try to reclaim their kidnapped creatures and seize a local orphanage, 11-year-old Beesha hatches a daring plan to stop them. Full of outrageous pranks, gross-out gags, and mischievous humor, this wild adventure delivers chaos, clever tricks, and plenty of laughs.
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Welcome to Wonderland #1: Home Sweet Motel
by Chris Grabenstein
From the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library comes the first book in a hilarious illustrated series. 11-year-old storyteller P.T. Wilkie thinks living in the Wonderland Motel is the greatest thing ever. With all you can eat poolside ice cream, a frog slide, and a snack machine in your living room, who wouldn’t? But with no customers and the bank calling in a huge loan, P.T. and his business-savvy friend Gloria must dream up the boldest, wildest plan to save his family’s beloved motel. This fast-paced adventure is full of madcap schemes, quirky characters, and fun bonus extras like how to say “Help, the toilet is clogged” in 20 different languages.
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Funny Girl
by Betsy Bird
Funny Girl brings together 25 of today’s funniest female authors and illustrators in a laugh-out-loud collection of stories, comics, and comedic advice. From disastrous family road trips to best-friend schemes gone wrong, these tales celebrate the hilarious chaos of growing up. Readers can also dive into interactive fun like “tell your own future” with Mad Libs, discover their Chinese zodiac sign, and even get comedic tips from women in the profession. With contributions from stars like Cece Bell, Shannon Hale, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Raina Telgemeier, this anthology proves, without a doubt, that girls are hilarious.
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The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels
by Beth Lincoln
When a Swift child is born, they are brought before the family dictionary and randomly given a name that they are destined to grow into. Shenaningan Swift is determined to prove that she can be more than a troublemaker. During a chaotic family reunion filled with treasure-hunting and eccentric relatives, the celebration takes a dark turn when the family matriarch is murdered. Shenanigan jumps into detective mode, unraveling twisty clues while questioning whether names and destinies are really set in stone. With sharp humor, wordplay, and a Lemony Snicket vibe, The Swifts is a wildly fun mystery that champions self-identity.
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Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
by Jessica Kim
Shy, 11-year-old Yumi Chung dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. Even when the cool kids at her elite prep school call, “Yumi, Yu-MEAT” (because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant), she adds it to her secret notebook full of joke-worthy life mishaps. When she’s mistakenly welcomed into a comedy camp run by her YouTube idol, Yumi jumps at the chance without correcting anyone about who she is. But juggling a double life, family pressures, and her goals soon becomes more than she can hide. Funny, warm, and full of heart, this is a book about finding your voice and stepping into the spotlight honestly.
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Wink
by Rob Harrell
Seventh grader Ross Maloy wants to blend in, but a rare eye cancer makes middle school anything but normal. Between losing his hair, wearing a cowboy hat, and navigating friends who don’t know how to act around “the cancer kid,” Ross must find a way to survive school and embrace life’s weirdness. With humor, comic panels, and heart, author Rob Harrell finds the humor in his lived experience and lends it to this honest, uplifting story that tackles themes like loss, anger, and courage in life’s toughest moments.
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Jake the Fake Keeps it Real
by Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach
If fake-it-till-you-make-it were an illustrated middle-grade novel, this is it! Jake, a sixth-grader with almost no musical or artistic talent, somehow fakes his way into the prestigious Music and Arts Academy, where garbage sculpting and bird poop art reviews are the norm. With the end-of-semester talent show looming, Jake must either discover his hidden skills or risk a spectacularly funny public failure. Black-and-white illustrations punctuate this hilarious quest to find your authentic self. This series is perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate.
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Goldilocks, Go Home!
by Martha Freeman
Get ready for laughs in this snarky, fractured fairy tale where Goldilocks meets The Three Bears and a host of other storybook characters. Overdramatic tween Goldilocks insists she’s a princess and overstays her welcome at the Bears’ cottage, while Baby Bear, who prefers the name Bobby, plots to deal with her antics. Hilarious alternating narrations between Bobby Bear and Goldlocks, quirky black-and-white illustrations, appearances by a hungry troll, three pigs with a home improvement show, and the Big Bad Wolf make this clever fractured fairytale mash-up mischievous and unexpected.
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