When I talk to kids about writing, I often compare it to the roller coaster to remind them to mix laughs with thrills in writing, because nobody wants to ride a roller coaster that's a long, never-ending and terrifying one. Even Shakespeare, in his darkest tragedies, opens each act with a funny scene before the swords and daggers or poison come out. We need comic relief in literature, a break in the tension.
I have always tried to write stories for kids that mix the heart-racing thrill of a mystery with a few jokes. Maybe this is because, when I was in the fifth and sixth grades, the fun comic magazine was my favorite reading material. Then in high school, was the class clown. When I first moved to New York City, I performed with one of the city's top comedy groups. Comedy, I have discovered, is a great teaching tool. It is also a wonderful defense against fear.
One of my favorite e-mails I've ever received was sent to me in 2009 by a young reader who loved my stories. Here's what he wrote:
Dear Mr. Grabenstein,
I just wanted to let you know that I really, absolutely love your books. I'm in 6th grade and recently finished The Hanging Hill after reading The Crossroads. Your stories mix action,humor and horror together in a perfect combination.
Thanks so much!
Will R.
Comedy is a writer's tool for releasing tension and it also simply makes books more fun to read. I used humor in my middle grade novel The Island of Dr. Libris to make classic literature feel more accessible to young readers. I also think it's why so many reluctant readers-including kids who haven't read a book in years-have been crazy about Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics. Learning the Dewey Decimal System in maths class can be fun if it is presented in a funny way. Because when we're laughing, we never think we're working too hard.
