[.ca] The Misfits (ISBN 0689839553)

What I thought of my book.:
I liked this book and I enjoyed reading it, eventhough some of the characters were younger than me and I can't relate to them as much. I liked this book because it shows how true friends help each other out and how to have good communication. It also teaches you that teasing others is not fun at all and it can be hurtfull to people. It hurts wether you are joking or playing around. You can also learn that you can make friends easily by not even trying but most importantly not to forget the ones you already have. I didn't like the way the author ended the book it didn't end as I thought. What I did like is that it tells you what happened to the characters over the years and who they became. The introduction caught my eye because the main character describes his friends and personalities in one chapter. The story elements I thought were the most vivid were the author described each characters personality, feelings, image, and what they said or acted. You can almost see and comprehend the characters. Another element I liked was the characters conflicts. Their conflicts they each have are realistic ones such as with teachers, family, frinds, e.t.c. They have problems that make you appreciate the things you have.

The Misfits:
Fatso, Dough Boy, Spaz, Roly-Poly...Fairy, Queer, Mutant, Tinkerbell...Greaser, Dummy, Freak, Scuz...Beanpole, Big Mouth, Godzilla, Einstein... As four twelve-year-olds go through Middle School, you remember how much you just wanted to get through the seventh grade. Bobby Goodspeed, Joe Bunch, Skeezie Tookis, and Addie Carle were the same way, but it was harder than it looked. Going through the hallways of Paintbrush Falls Middle School getting called names was just a regular day for them. They each thought that they didn't belong; they were the outcasts, the weirdoes, and the ones who wanted to flee from their godforsaken hometown and forget about their pasts. So each one found each other, forming the Gang of Five, even though there were only four of them to keep people on their toes. The Misfits was a very intriguing book that I would suggest to anyone who would attempt to read it. You are drawn in and enthralled by the plot of four "misfits" trying to fit into their middle school and create a new political group, the No-Name Party. The new group would help the students in middle school get along better and relieve pressure on the ones who get called the worst names. They have each gone through a troubling childhood, getting called names from Nerdette to Twinkletoes and from Blubber to Hooligan. From the beginning of their story to the end, you get attached to Bobby, a "fluffy" boy who thinks he is fat that works selling ties, Joe, the one who is a little too feminine and who only paints his pinky, Skeezie, a boy that never washes himself and chews with his mouth open, and Addie, the tall smart one that gets on almost everyone's nerves. No matter what they look like or how they act, you listen to their realistic problems, like boyfriends and girlfriends, not getting the rights each and every seventh grader deserves, and their peers, flinching at every nickname they are called. James Howe keeps you on your toes and on the edge of your seat with every conflict with Ms Wyman, and her tearing your liver out, and each vote that would make the No-Name Party the winning one, no matter what the definition of "winning" you have. I would recommend this book to anyone who would learn that making friends is more fun than name-calling. I really enjoyed this book, and I think that it would benefit everyone who read it, whether a bully, popular student, or a "misfit." I give this book five stars for it's colorful, yet understandable plot that brought a smile to my face and a twinge in my heart. With every new character and personality, you understand how each Misfit was torn down inside with a name that would stick to them for the rest of their lives, because as their slogan says, "sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit." Pork Chop, Lardo, Fluff, Geek...Girl, Wimp, Josephine, Nerd...Slimeball, Grease ball, Dork...Show-off, Know-it-all, Nerdette

The Misfits unabridged audio book:
Want your middle-schoolers to listen with rapt attention? This audio version of THE MISFITS by Full Cast Audio is fabulous. The characters, read by talented young actors, leap to audio life from page one until the very end. There is even an interview with the author. My students are completely absorbed!

Stick's and stones may break our bones:
I thought the book at first was awesome but after finishing the book it sounded a little too predictable and i would recommended this book for grades 5-9 and remember stick's and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit.If you are wondering what is the story about it is about: These students who didn't fit their school and made their own group called "THE MISFITS".

JINC's Children's Book Club:
Our group thought that this was a very entertaining book although it was slow at the beginning. However, we felt that all the funny parts made up for it. Also, the plot had many surprising twists and turns that led you to believe one thing would happen and the opposite did. The author did a great job in describing the characters and giving them their personalities. The Gang of Five (actually four) are all misfits. They don't fit into any category. In many ways, each is an individual, but their personalities can be watered down to these: Bobby is chubby and has low self-esteem. Addie is tall and an individualist. Skeezie is a slob and is like John Travolta in "Grease." Joe is girlish. We liked how Bobby found his strength, how Joe didn't let things get to him, how Addie didn't mind being a smarty pants, and how Skeezie was outgoing and just hilarious. This book was very realistic in many ways, but in some ways it wasn't. First of all, a twelve year old boy (Bobby) would never actually be hired as a salesman. Second, when the Gang of Five decided to run for office, something happens that in reality probably wouldn't. Overall, this book is extremely well written and a great read. James Howe does a fantastic job writing this book and creating suspense. This was a very emotional book that we would recommend to everyone.