5 funny books about serious issues

If I’m facing a challenging circumstance as an adult, I spend a vast amount of time and energy thinking about it. It can dominate my life. So sometimes, what I really need is a distraction to make me laugh. 

Why do we humans laugh? According to scientists, it’s part of our evolutionary chill kit. Be it a giggle or a guffaw, endorphins are released into our bodies to lower our stress levels and make us feel relaxed. Also, like reading books and listening to music, shared laughter can bind us together. Think of those funny moments in films or on TV that make everyone watching laugh at the same time – it feels life-affirming, doesn’t it? Perhaps because it gives us a sense of belonging. 

I passionately believe that the protagonists in children’s books should be drawn from a diversity of backgrounds, including children who have experienced challenging circumstances. It is crucial that every child has a chance to relate to main characters. There is exceptional children’s fiction exploring topics such as bereavement, refugee experiences, children who are unable to live with their birth parents and children affected by prejudice and discrimination. 

And sometimes these topics are explored through humour. Here are some suggestions for books that may be relatable to children who have experienced challenges, but might also make them laugh out loud.* 

I first read this illustrated middle grade book when I was judging the Little Rebels Children’s Book Awards. It made me laugh out loud and continued on to win the award. The author wanted to write funny stories like Liz Pichon’s Tom Gates series, but with Muslim main characters that her own children could relate to. While the book explicitly addresses the impact of Islamophobia and bullying on Muslim children, at heart it’s a tender, funny story about friends, family and an invisible dragon. 

One rainy day, Philo is standing by the grandfather clock that once belonged to his parents, when the door in the front of the clock opens. Out peers a strange-looking creature called Mr Spronkel who leads Philo into an Alice in Wonderland-type adventure of flying castles, Deep Dark Dungeons and riddles. Philo lives in a kinship family, cared for by his uncle and aunt. 

RAMZEE (aka Ramsey Hasan) cut his teeth as a comic book creator and these roots show in this comic, highly illustrated book. Kamal wants to be one of the cool kids at Shackleton Academy. Unfortunately, he is anything but – and vomiting in front of the whole school from stage fright doesn’t help his cause. Then one day in the library, The Cheat Book lands in his hands, with all the hacks he needs to ascend the popularity ladder at school. Kamal is a refugee from Somalia and this book subtly touches on what this means to his everyday life. 

I read this book while travelling on a London bus and laughed out loud. (Anybody who’s travelled on a busy London bus knows that it is not usually an environment that engenders joy.) Eliott is a young carer trying to keep his mum’s illness a secret. Not only is he trying to fight off the wealthy neighbour trying to get her hands on his home, but there’s also an ancient freed demon and some very annoying Greek gods to contend with. It’s very funny, but the relationship between Eliott and his mother is at the heart of it.

Zeke and his friends Daniel and Alicia have been made school Hall Monitors, although this has nothing to do with the fact that they are monitor lizards, according to Principal Wombat. Who knew that this could be such a dangerous job? Well, it is when there’s a megalomanic pelican about. This is brilliantly imaginative, both in words and pictures, but is also about a child affected by his mother’s grief-stricken depression which is literally portrayed as a black dog. 

*While researching this article, I realised that all the books have male main characters. Authors, illustrators, publishers – we need more funny middle grade books with main characters that aren’t boys!