Top Ten Books That Would Be on My Syllabus if I Taught Sarcasm in YA 101 (in no particular order):
1. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan - because Nick Ryves excels at sarcasm and is one of my favourite characters of all time. His sarcasm is often not taken well by the people he's speaking to - but as a reader, you can't help but laugh. He is gifted with sarcasm in a way us mere mortals could only ever long for. We could all learn a lot from him - like how to say sarcastic things at really inappropriate times. Also, how to look good when throwing a knife - but that's a lesson for another day.
2. Cracked by Eliza Crewe - Meda's brand of sarcasm is subtly different to Nick's - there's usually a bit more emotion hidden behind it, and she is excellent at directly responding to something with sarcasm on the spot. Clearly, she's got a natural talent for it, and knows how to use sarcasm as a weapon if necessary. We can't miss out on this hilarity.
3. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson - you can't have a class on sarcasm without including Sage. This guy is a pro. Forced to be independent at a young age, he's perfected his technique over the years. We mostly hear his sarcasm through his narrative, seeing as he's constantly around people who would dearly like to beat him up during this book. Still, he's hilarious and for someone who was never originally sarcastic, he sure has taken to it like a duck to water.
4. The Turn of the Story by Sarah Rees Brennan - another SRB book (well actually, free online story which you can read by clicking the title), because she is oh so very talented. Elliot's sarcasm is a bit more obvious, a bit more in your face - but there's nothing wrong with that. People always know when Elliot is being sarcastic - and he wants them to, because that's just how he is. He's a bit more out there with his examples - he's definitely a creative soul - and he would probably really enjoy teaching a class on sarcasm, if he could.
5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas - Celaena Sardothien comes under the category of dangerously sarcastic. I mean yeah, she's funny - but she also has weapons. And you know, is an assassin. For characters wishing to go down that line of work, her type of sarcasm is one to consider. She can be sarcastic in a fun every day kind of way, but then she can also make really cutting remarks that make you kind of fear for your life. Not a skill everyone can learn.
6. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - oh Percy. All you have to do is read the chapter titles of this book to realise how hilarious this guy is. His sarcasm is a lot more light-hearted, the kind that everyone can appreciate (and if you don't find him funny, you just don't have a sense of humour. End of). And Percy gets more sarcastic as the series goes on - which each book, he becomes more of an expert. He's sarcastic to everyone; the people he loves, the people he likes, the people he hates - the gods of Olympus. EVERYONE. And you know what they say, practice makes perfect. You can't be as good as Percy if you're only sarcastic to a few people now and again.
7. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - Will Herondale - a boy who has much to offer in the sarcasm department. Brooding heroes with painful pasts - take note. Will's sarcasm is a mixture of delighting in an exchange of witty banter, and covering up a broken heart. His sarcasm is both an indication of his humour, and a shield - because that guy doesn't not trust people. It's easy to love Will Herondale (really, ask anyone), and his sarcasm is a definite contributing factor.
8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling - you didn't think I'd have this list without Harry Potter, did you? This book is a double whammy, because both Harry and Ron are amazingly sarcastic. Ron is more so at the start of the series (so of course, we'll also study the later books to pick up on how Harry's sarcasm develops). He's is the classic sarcastic friend, the source of humour, the one who makes the jokes. In a family with five older brothers, and one younger sister, he's had to learn how to get his voice heard. Harry is a bit more sassy - he's not as sarcastic as often as Ron, but when he is, oh you can tell. Ahhh I miss these characters so much.
9. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan - yes, yes, another SRB book. What can I say? She knows what she's doing. Angela is another sarcastic friend - but her sarcasm is a bit more hard-hitting. She really enjoys being sarcastic, really takes pleasure in it - and of course, if you really enjoy what you do, you're going to end up being good at it.
10. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell - here, we have Damien. A guy who's life is turned upside down when he finds out that he's half superhero. Understandably, Damien is upset. His plans of being a supervillain are thrown out the window. He's thrown out of his house. How does he react to it all? By being a sarcastic little shit, of course. I'm not saying he wasn't always one, but when he goes to live with his dad - oh is the sarcasm level amped up considerably. And it's doubly hilarious, because his superhero dad is a) completely not used to it, and b) has no idea how to react. It's a brilliant combination - and one that Damien uses to advantage. If you want cunning sarcasm, manipulative sarcasm, sarcasm with a kick - Damien is your guy.
There are probably more, but here are my ten!
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