The Misfits

by James Howe

Other authorsGerald Slota (Illustrator)

Hardcover, 2001

Status

Available

Call number

PZ7.H837 Mi

Publication

Atheneum (2001), Edition: 1ST, Hardcover, 288 pages

Description

Four students who do not fit in at their small-town middle school decide to create a third party for the student council elections to represent all students who have ever been called names.

Media reviews

School Library Journal

Howe's versatility, gift for wordplay, and distinct brand of humor have produced books that create an emotional connection with a wide range of audiences. Regrettably, this novel is a misfit.

User reviews

LibraryThing member amspicer

Have you ever been called a mean name? Been picked on? Felt like you don't fit in? We all know that words can wound but more importantly, friendships may heal. The misfits is a great book about a group of kids in middle school who are viewed as the 'outcasts'. This group of students call themselves

the "Gang of Five." When it is time for student council elections, Addie, one of the "Gang of five" decides to take a stand and give all of those who don't normally have a voice, a chance to be heard. This third party that they create brings the reader on a mix of emotions from happy to angry to sad. This is a wonderful book and is especially great for classroom discussion.

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LibraryThing member LisCarey

Bobby Goodspeed and his three friends--Addie Carle, Joe Bunch, and Skeezie Tookis--are the misfits in their middle school. Bobby is fat and quiet, Addie is both very bright and very idealistic (and outspoken), Skeezie cultivates an image somewhere between Elvis and Fonzie, and Joe Bunch is gay.

But

the middle school election for the student body government is coming up, and Addie has an idea. She wants them to participate--and not by joining in on one of the existing parties, Democrat and Republican. She wants to launch a third party, the Freedom Party, with the idea that they will represent minority students.

But the school administration is not impressed by their vague platform and the fact that they've managed to recruit a popular black student as their presidential candidate. Addie is passionate, but they don't really have a platform.

Then Bobby realizes their real platform has been staring them in the face all along--all the mean, belittling names they've been called since kindergarten--and not just them, of course. It's a torture most kids live through, and it's something the four-member Gang of Five can speak about with eloquence and clarity.

This book takes on some tough issues, but it does so with good humor and a light touch. These kids aren't miserable; they're not the popular kids at school, but for the most part they enjoy their lives. They're not the victims of bullying who are at risk of suicide from the abuse--but they still hate being the targets of name-calling, and their big insight is that everyone else hates being the targets of name-calling, too.

James Howe has a gentle sense of humor and treats all his characters with respect, and this is, as you'd expect from Howe, an excellent story. The bonus extra is that this is a Full Cast Audio recording, with all the excellent production values that that entails.

Recommended.

I bought this book.

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LibraryThing member christina.h

I read this book when it first came out and managed the young adult section of a bookstore.

More recently, I read this book with my nine year old son. While it endeared to me the first time around, I think as a parent that I like The Misfits even better. I know nine might seem a touch on the young

side for this book, but my son was able to process the ideas of bigotry, name-calling, accidental racism, and homophobia without trouble.

I'd suggest this book to any parent who thinks they're kiddo is the right age to learn these concepts, and more broadly to anyone who just wants a good read that covers heavy topics with a few smiles and proud moments along the way.

James Howe does a fantastic job of looking his target audience in the eye without giving them too much to handle, or insulting anyone's intelligence along the way.

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LibraryThing member ewyatt

Four long-time friends take a stand against name calling within their school by running for student government. Bobby, the narrator, has a great voice for telling the story. You will cheer for these underdogs as they try to change the culture of their school.

LibraryThing member allikitty699

One of the best books I've ever read. The characters are heart-warming and real, and their honesty and friendship have always endeared me to them. A fantastic story that gives you insight into the minds of anyone who has ever been picked on.

LibraryThing member kirkonly

The Misfits is a great book about four kids who call themselves the “Gang of Five”. Bobby, the narrator of the story and a fat kid, Addie, a brainier, Skeezie, a greaser, and Joe, a gay boy, are the Misfits of the school. Well one day they are told that the school elections are going to be held

soon. Addie, being an activist, wants to make a different party to run against the Democrats and Republicans. So the Misfits become the No-Name party. You are taken on an emotional roller coaster throughout the book. But it is an amazing ride!!

As a student reading this book I found myself having tears in my eyes at times, but then turning the page and laughing out loud. This book took me back to my middle school days. I even remember having some of the same things happen to me that happened to them. This is a great read!!!!

As a teacher this book is another great discussion starter. You can talk to your kids about any of the topics or characters in the book and have a lengthy discussion. This book brings up some controversial issues that might need to be explored in your classrooms as well. Awesome book!!!

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LibraryThing member elizabethholloway

Bob and his friends, who are seventh grade social outcasts, decide to start a political party based on the premise that name-calling is wrong. Not only do they gain a lot of support from their classmates, they gain inner strength as well. this confidence aloows Bob to pursue the girl he really

likes and for Joe to come out to his friends. Good for middle school and ninth grade.

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LibraryThing member sexy_librarian

Basically the story of just about every high school outcast, this is amazingly easy to get in to. When four "misfits" decide to run for school council, it causes it bit of a stir. One is a too tall, too smart girl, another a motherless, fat boy, a third is a a fashionable diva boy, and the last as

a too tough, rough and tumble boy. The four of them together form the Gang of Five (just to keep people on their toes). At first they only run to take a stand, but when they run to make a difference, people start paying attention.
This is really an easy book to slip into and enjoy. The message is straight forward, and of course everything resolves itself in the end, even going so far as to have a follow up on the characters adult lives. Suggested for teens in general.

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LibraryThing member mrindt

Skeezie, Addie, Joe, and Bobby -- they've been friends forever. They laugh together, have lunch together, and get together once a week at the Candy Kitchen to eat ice cream and talk about important issues. Life isn't always fair, but at least they have each other -- and all they really want to do

is survive the seventh grade.

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LibraryThing member iluvvideo

"Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit." Is that a lesson for us all or what?

The first book in the 'misfits' trilogy (so far) introduces us to the gang of five; friends who have come together for support and camaraderie. They are the teased, the bullied, outcasts at

school, and worse, even in their own minds.

Don't dare call these kids 'losers' however. They realize that each of them is OK - just the way they are. They decide to take action in the elections for Student Council. They meet opposition from many sides, including the school administrators. But instead of just quietly disappearing, they plan to achieve success in spite of the obstacles. Do they make it? Read the book and find out!

James Howe, the author shows a keen ear for the voices of young people, in this case seventh grade. They ring true and make the story that much more believable.

I recommend this book especially for middle school aged folks. It's a fun read and very empowering. I look forward to more books in this series.

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LibraryThing member lilibrarian

Bobby Goodspeed and his friends have been friends and misfits for years. Now in 7th grade, they figure they have been called at least 72 different names, and decide to run for student council on a "no names" party line.

LibraryThing member leftik

I very much enjoyed this book. If I had had more time, I probably could have finished it in a couple of hours.

The narrator was funny and the storyline was interesting. What I liked most, however, was the fact the book had a good message and meaning, but it wasn't overly preachy. Which, for YAs

that's a good thing.

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LibraryThing member breksarah

This is the story about a group of friends who are protective of one another and take on the student council to begin an anti-bullying campaign. This is a great story of adversity and friendship. I would use this story for 5th grade on up.

LibraryThing member MeganSchneider

I've just started this book and can already tell I will like it, however, I wish I would have read it before "Totally Joe" because now I feel as if I will be totally disappointed because I found "Totally Joe" so amazing.

More to come...

LibraryThing member benuathanasia

I swear to god, if I was anything like these kids when I was in high school, I now understand why I was bullied so badly.

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