The Misfits by: James Howe

Ages: 10-14

The Gang of Five consists of Bobby Goodspeed, Skeezie, Addie, and Joe. Bobby is overweight, Skeezie is labeled a “hooligan,” Addie is tall, intelligent, and outspoken, and Joe is judged because he acts more like a girl than a boy most of the time. What do these four seventh graders have in common? They are all called names and made fun of. They are misfits. It is time for school elections, and Addie decides she wants to add a third party. They put up posters at school for their party, the Freedom Party. However, they did not get permission and the party is forced to disband. Bobby comes up with another party name, the No-Name Party. The idea is to stop name calling in school. Will the No Name Party be allowed to run in the school election? Read about the problems these seventh grade students face and find out if the No Name Party can run in the school election in The Misfits.

I really enjoyed reading The Misfits. It was not what I expected it to be about at all. I found the book to be a fast read, and hard to put down. For being such a controversial book, I did not find it to be that controversial. There were a few parts in the book where I could see where it would be controversial, but overall I thought it was a great book. The parts of the book that people may find controversial are some of the names used and the fact that Joe is gay. Some of the terms used in the book may be words that parents do not want their children to know/use. Some of the words that I found inappropriate for a children’s book include: moron, faggot, queer, homo, retard, and lardass. The other part of the book that people may find controversial is the fact that Joe and Collin are gay. However, the book portrays the fact that they are gay as being accepted by most people. I liked the author’s style of writing. The characters and story line are unique. The reader gets to know each of the four main characters very well. The story is written in an interesting way, and is very realistic. It is mostly told by the narrator, a seventh grade boy, but also contains “minutes” which read like a play. This helps move the story along, and allows the reader to get a true sense of the characters. The characters become more real when the reader reads what they are actually saying. I like the fact that the author includes what happened the characters when they grew up at the end of the book.

I thought The Misfits was a great book that deals with realistic issues. The book is full of struggles, differences, confusion, love, and amusement that middle school students experience. Middle school is often a time of exploration and uncertainty. Students want to feel accepted and fit in. However, many students do not fit the stereotypical norm. When students are not “normal,” they often become labeled, get made fun of, and are called names. In the book, this happens to the main characters, along with other students in their school. This is a book that I feel many students can relate to. With a variety of characters and struggles, students may personally relate with one or more characters. If they don’t personally relate to a character, they probably know someone that could identify with one of the characters. The book also has several discussions that deal with issues such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. There are several positive messages throughout the book. This book shows middle school students standing up for what they believe, and overcoming fears. It also shows that students can make a difference. There is also a positive message about individual differences. There was a great theme in the book to stand up for yourself, and that names don’t matter. The speech at the end of the book was motivating and inspiring. I would definitely recommend this book to middle school aged children, especially students who are bullied or “different.” Overall, I thought The Misfits was a great book!