I Funny: A Middle School Story

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains brief descriptions of bullying, ableism, and derogatory attitudes toward people with disabilities.

Jamie Grimm is the protagonist and narrator of I Funny. He is a middle school student who originally grew up in Cornwall, New York, but moved to Long Island after a fatal car accident killed his parents and younger sister and left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite losing his whole family, Jamie feels extremely lucky and grateful to have survived, and doesn’t allow the fact that he no longer has use of his legs to deter him from enjoying life or bringing joy to others. Jamie sees humor in everything and searches the world for reasons to be sarcastic and self-deprecating. Jamie uses humor as a mask for his true feelings, but humor is also his greatest strength and the main source of inspiration for his recovery. Jamie demonstrates deep compassion and care for others, and this is shown his desire to make them smile. Illustrations of Jamie are profoundly emotive, with his eyes and mouth being the primary modes of expression. On his wheelchair, a careful observer can often spot motivational and philosophical statements that relate to his struggles and shed light on the underlying messages of his story.