The Misfits

redheadperson22 - So there's this group of outcast friend's called The Gang of Five (even thought there's only 4 of them). There names are Bobby, Addie, Skeezie, and Joe. They're just starting 7th grade, and class presidential elections are coming up. Addie decides that she wants another party to run for president besides just the Republicans and the Democrats. So the rest of them just kind of go along with it. What I thought of it: Let me start with the thing that bothered me most about this book. The racism. Let me start with the names. There are 3 black people in the 7th grade. There names are DuShawn, Royal, and Tondayala (who's called Toni for oblivious reasons). Seriously. Those are their actual names. And of course they don't talk properly. You can always tell when the black people are talking. "Fool" is their favorite word. And of course Toni has an attitude. I was pretty offended by the way black people were represent. That was probably the main problem I had with the book. That and the way Joe was portrayed. He was just one big stereotype. He actually used the word "fabulous" several times. But Joe didn't offend me the way the black people did. That's probably because I am black. Despite Joe being so stereotypical, he was my favorite character. I enjoyed his dialog and his character overall. Skeezie was next. I enjoyed his dialog and character as well though I didn't like how he was portrayed as dirty. I liked Bobby too. He was a pretty good narrator, and I appreciated the fact that he was more of a minion than I protagonist. It was something different. I didn't like Addie. She was annoying, bossy, and obnoxious. She was always screaming about how everything was sexist, even though it wasn't sexist at all. Toni was actually pretty right about her, but it was still terrible the way Toni was portrayed as well as all the other black people. The plot was fine. The writing was good but hard to know what was being said sometimes. Even though I've said all this negative stuff, I actually really like the book, though I don't know why. It honestly probably doesn't deserve 4 stars but I couldn't give it 3. Overall, it was a pretty great book.

May 19, 2003
PW
called this story of four best friends, the target of cruel name-calling who decide they aren't going to take it anymore, "an upbeat, reassuring novel that encourages preteens and teens to celebrate their individuality." Ages 10-14.