Look, I’m a 50-year-old guy. I wasn’t exactly the target audience for these funny books for teens. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying them! Sometimes I just want something light, wholesome, and easy to read… with a decent amount of humor and maybe a falling frozen iguana or two (see Chomp by Carl Hiaasen.) That’s where funny YA books come in.
This list isn’t packed with swoony romance or endless love triangles. Sure, a few of these dip into that territory. But the real draw here is awkward teens, ridiculous situations, and snarky dialogue. Whether you’re a teen, a parent of one, or just someone who occasionally raids the YA section for stress relief, this roundup is for you. (But really, for ME.)
The Best Funny YA Books (at least that I’ve read recently…)
| Title | Author | Year Published | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chomp | Carl Hiaasen | 2012 | A boy and his animal-wrangler dad are hired to help with a survival TV show gone wrong in the Florida Everglades. Funny, wild, and eco-minded. |
| Squirm | Carl Hiaasen | 2018 | Billy sets out to find his estranged dad in Montana and ends up in the middle of a dangerous plot involving a wildlife poacher and government secrets. Teens being awkward as teens are known to do. |
| Wink | Rob Harrell | 2020 | A middle schooler with a rare eye cancer tries to keep life semi-normal — with the help of a punk rock mentor and some well-timed humor. Silly comic book interludes break the tension. |
| Optimists Die First | Susin Nielsen | 2017 | A quirky, anxious teen joins an art therapy group and reluctantly connects with others dealing with grief, guilt, and regular ‘ol awkward teen moments. Mysterious boy with a robotic arm: friend or foe?? |
| How You Ruined My Life | Jeff Strand | 2018 | Rod’s life is completely upended when his eccentric, chaos-loving cousin moves in and causes mayhem. Super hilarious plot, dialogue and, absurd teenage drama. |
Funny YA Books Summaries
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
Description:
A survival reality show meets real wildlife adventure. Well, “real”, but still – this is a fiction book. Chomp by Carl Hiaasen follows Wahoo Cray, the son of a professional animal wrangler, as they get roped into helping a dramatic (and very clueless) TV star film in the Florida Everglades. What starts as a silly (but monetarily necessary) gig turns into something far more chaotic. And maybe even dangerous. Environmental satire and coming-of-age adventure.
- Author: Carl Hiaasen
- Year Published: 2012
- Type of Book: Middle Grade/YA Eco-Adventure
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Clean overall. Some heavier themes (like alligator-chomped fingers and child abuse), but they are handled gently.
- Humor: Funny teenage banter between Wahoo and friend, Tuna. (Humor already, just in the names!) Bumbling, pompous TV star, Derek Badger provides consistent comedic relief throughout. Especially when he thinks he’s turning into a vampire.
- Main Character’s Age: Around 14
Squirm by Carl Hiaasen
Description:
One more from Carl Hiaasen. (He has lots in the YA humor category to choose from!)
Billy Dickens is snake-obsessed and on a mission to find his estranged father. His journey takes him from Florida to Montana and drops him into the middle of a poacher hunt. (Sort of the “hunt the illegal hunter” thing.) Along the way, he meets his tough stepsister and discovers his dad’s secret drone-based wildlife surveillance project. Also: Lincoln Chumley, a cartoonishly awful bad guy seeking revenge.
- Author: Carl Hiaasen
- Year Published: 2018
- Type of Book: YA Adventure
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: A few mild swears and some real danger, but nothing too mature.
- Humor: Less funny than Chomp but still includes teenage snarky dialogue and a hilariously terrible villain (at least a hilarious name.)
- Main Character’s Age: 13
Wink by Rob Harrell
Description:
Based on the author’s own experience, Wink follows Ross, a seventh grader diagnosed with a rare eye tumor. It’s not just a cancer story — it’s a story about punk rock, drawing comics, and trying to survive middle school without becoming a complete social outcast. Quirky and uplifting.
- Author: Rob Harrell
- Year Published: 2020
- Type of Book: Contemporary YA
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Very clean. Touches on illness, bullying, and friendship.
- Humor: Nerdy, heartwarming, and frequently delightfully weird. Funny illustrations and comic book-style story interruptions (BAT-PIG!)
- Main Character’s Age: 12 (Sorry, not technically a teenager. Comment your complaints below.)
Optimists Die First by Susin Nielsen
Description:
Petula has anxiety, trust issues, and a tragic backstory. Forced into a teen art therapy group, she meets a collection of fellow damaged misfits. And one (handsome-adjacent) boy with a prosthetic arm who might not be what he seems. A funny, emotional story about learning to let people in (even if they’re annoying). Abundance of cats and crafting. Sometimes together in one.
- Author: Susin Nielsen
- Year Published: 2017
- Type of Book: Contemporary YA
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Most mature read in this list. A few swears, teenaged sex (off page), drug and alcohol addiction, and mental health struggles. All handled in an appropriate way for (mature) teen readers.
- Humor: Darkly funny, with awkward teen banter. Also, lots of cats and crafts.
- Main Character’s Age: 16
How You Ruined My Life by Jeff Strand
Description:
Rod had a good life. Low stress, chill friends, a punk band that kind of worked. Then his rich, weird cousin Blake came to stay and brought a whirlwind of destruction with him. A hilarious story about social implosion, cousin rivalry, and just trying to survive high school with dignity.
- Author: Jeff Strand
- Year Published: 2018
- Type of Book: YA Comedy
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Super clean. No found language or other questionable content. Just annoying teens.
- Humor: FUNNIEST YA BOOK IN THIS LIST! Fast-paced, absurd, and full of chaotic teenage energy. Main character (Rod) likes to “break the fourth wall” and chat with the reader. Punk band song titles are chef’s kiss hilarity. Do people still say “chef’s kiss”?
- Main Character’s Age: 17
Conclusion: Why Funny Books for Teens Are Still Worth Reading (Even for Adults)
Hey, not every teenager is looking for swoony romance or angsty vampire drama. Some of us… uh, I mean, some teenagers (because obviously I’M not one) just want to read something genuinely funny, a little weird, and not packed with soul-crushing existential dread. Maybe a bit of dread, but at least make it funny dread.
The books on this list prove that you can have humor, heart, and actual storytelling without resorting to endless love triangles or magical princess/dragon adventures. Whether you’re a teen trying to survive high school or an adult who just appreciates a well-timed fart joke, these funny YA books deliver.
Know a YA book that actually made you laugh? Don’t keep it to yourself. I’ve got shelves to fill. Comment below!
