The Misfits

by James Howe

Book Overview

A group of middle school misfits band together in this first, bestselling book of the funny, heartfelt, and beloved series by Bunnicula author James Howe.Kids who get called the worst names oftentimes... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689839553
• ISBN13: 9780689839559
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Capturing the true essence of middle school life

The reason i started to read this book was because of my language arts class which made me think that the book was going to be a boring dud. I was pleasantly surprised to find that throughout the book each chapter was laced with humor and realism. It completely captured what life is like as a middle schooler, not what a forty-year-old man perceives it to be. Although I could not fully relate to the charcaters i felt as though they were my friends not just a group of kids. My favorite charcter was Joe for his adorable sense of humor, keen sense of pop culture, and boldness. This book is full of struggles, differences, confusion, love, and most of all amusement inside a middle schooler's life. -Allie P.

Mrs. Comforts review

The book The Misfits by James Howe was a great young adult book. the books basic plot was about a school election one group running, the misfits, are the main characters. One is a rebel, the others are chubby, to smart and gay. They are all best friends and decide to run to support the other misfits in the school. The book has a satisfying surprise ending. Besides the book being funny it has a bit of puppy love and drama. I would recommend this book for girls and boys in the jr. high. This book had a good theme which was, stick up for yourself and names don't matter they are just something to be called by. I would recommend this book. Though this book is fun to read it is not very changing and does not use high vocabulary. Over all I think this book was great. James Howe did a great job making the characters act like seventh graders. The problems made me reminisce of the seventh grade. I highly recommend this book for a quick and easy read.

Misfits ROCK!

I read The Misfits just last month, and I can't stop raving about it! I love the way that everyone can relate to at least one of the characters in this story. I found it easiest to relate to Bobby, because I am overweight myself, and I get teased a lot about it. Though I am only in 8th grade, I can understand the storyline, and find this incredible book to be a real inspiration to the world. It made me want to take back every name I ever called a kid. James Howe, I think this is your best work yet!!!!

A must read for middle schoolers

This book is a must read for anyone in middle school. It really teaches people about name-calling, and it strongly brings out the known saying of "Treat people the way you want to be treated." Though in this book it explains this rule from a seventh grader's point of view which is a lot better than your kindergarten teacher telling it to you. I HIGHLY suggest this book for all middle schoolers or anyone who wants a good read!

James Howe's Gift to Middle School

Known best for his Bunnicula series, James Howe breaks out from that mold and ventures forth with one of the best books written this year, "The Misfits".Both touching, cutting edge, real and gutsy, the Misfits in the title are a band of four friends, each one with a trait that society unfairly and immediately judges them on: being too tall, too fat, too gay, too greasy, and all of them too smart for their peers.. : ) The kids band together for survival, security, and to experience something they all yearn for: acceptance. The story, compelled by the characters needs, is about a schoolwide election, and how the students are forced to join the Democrats or Republicans. Of course, they don't quite fit in either group, and decide to form their own party: initially "the Freedom Party" and then, more appropriately, "The No-Name Party". What follows is stunning, inspirational, heartbreaking, and guaranteed to provoke thought.The story is written in a very interesting way. Partially prose, partially "minutes" which read like a play, it moves the story along to give a true sense of these kids, and they become very real as we hear their voices. One side plot involving a manager of the tie department didn't quite work, but the story more than compensates by offering us middle school intrigue with many twists and turns. How many of us at one time or another that we could fit into that group. It's a shared feeling, and Howe brilliantly captures the agony of not fitting in, and the joy of finding a group to fit in with. After all, isn't that we all want?