49 pages 1 hour read

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

I Funny: A Middle School Story

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2012

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“But you know what they say: ‘If life gives you lemons, learn how to juggle.’

Or, even better, learn how to make people laugh.”


(Prologue 2, Page 7)

Jamie’s narration is full of humor, and he often likes to mix metaphors and play with clichés, creating whimsical new sayings out of familiar adages. Jamie constantly finds himself Using Humor as a Survival Tool to combat all of the pain that he feels and sees around him. Despite the hardships in his past and his present, Jamie always looks on the bright side of every situation.

Quotation Mark Icon

“Now, like all the other schools I’ve ever attended, the hallways of Long Beach Middle School are plastered with all sorts of NO BULLYING posters. There’s only one problem: Bullies, it turns out, don’t read too much.”


(Part 1, Chapter 2, Page 18)

With a wry tone, Jamie points out the unfortunate irony in the fact that anti-bullying posters do not deter those who neglect to read them. His comment also highlights the general pointlessness of such posters when malicious bullying behavior proceeds unchecked on multiple occasions. While the intentions of the posters are good, the results fall flat.

Quotation Mark Icon

“I’m not the kid in the wheelchair anymore (and not just because Stevie knocked me out of it). I feel normal, and normal feels absolutely amazing.”


(Part 1, Chapter 4, Page 26)

Jamie has only been using a wheelchair for a year, and he is still wavering between longing for the life he used to have and Challenging the Social Stigma of Disability. As a result, Jamie fights hard against pity and resents any indications of special treatment, and he relishes each occasion that allows him to feel like any other person, even if some of those occasions are inherently unpleasant.

Related Titles

By these authors

Study Guide
logo

1st to Die

James Patterson

1st to Die

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Ali Cross

James Patterson

Ali Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Study Guide
logo

Cross Down

James Patterson

Cross Down

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Chris Grabenstein

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Chris Grabenstein

Plot Summary
logo

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Holmes, Marple & Poe

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Holmes, Marple & Poe: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Plot Summary
logo

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Med Head

James Patterson

Med Head

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Study Guide
logo

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics

Chris Grabenstein

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics

Chris Grabenstein

Plot Summary
logo

Nevermore

James Patterson

Nevermore

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson