Helen Rutter

You won't notice, because you'll be laughing too hard, but this book is a work of art. Every chapter leads off with a joke--young comedian Billy Plimpton is practicing and he's pretty good! There are so many excellent things about this story: loving and grieving a grandma, daring the "old people's home", coming to better terms with a bully, choosing between friends and "fame" with a rock band and coming into your own as a comedian, even with a stutter. Side characters include a beloved and wise teacher, a friend that's a girl, and a potential (very potential) girlfriend (see choice about fame). The relationship between the mom and Billy is pitch perfect: "You are a strange creature" manages to be a believeable endearment. I love how he wins at the end.
Beautifully done. Go get a copy and share with all the people you love. You'll be swapping jokes in no time--if you can stop laughing long enough.
Note: There were a few British expressions I didn't get. Is there a drink called Rib? Is verruca a word for a wart? But they didn't distract.… (mer)