Up and Down by Terry Fallis

When NASA sets out to boost its image in the U.S. and Canada, newly hired PR hack David Stewart comes up with a massively popular contest to launch two average Joes into orbit. But when Landon Percival, one of the randomly drawn winners, turns out to be anything but ordinary, David has to pull some fast ones to win over NASA and propel her into space.

Up and Down, Terry Fallis, $23.

Shortlisted for the 2013 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.