The Misfits

The Misfits (Novel)

Author: James Howe

Ages: 6+ Grades

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: The Misfits, or The Gang of Five, are Bobby, Addie, Joe, and Skeezie. Each of these characters had been called several names throughout the course of their lives, and they decide to try and put an end to name-calling by creating the No Name Party for their 7th grade student government. Told through the perspective of Bobby Goodspeed, we as readers get to see the course of events that these students experience during their 7th grade year.

James Howe could not have hit on the topic of bullying any better than with his novel, The Misfits. Each of the characters are all different in their own interesting way, but they are done with being called names because of these differences. This book also touches on several different topics that often make people uncomfortable when talked about. These include sexuality, racism, and even politics. Unfortunately, bullying is everywhere, especially in schools. Middle school, is one of the toughest times for students who are going through changes in a multitude of ways, and sadly, this becomes a reason for name calling. In the book, The Gang of Five, posted posters around the school of names that they each had been called. It made other students think about the thoughtless and harmful words that they spoke so often. Although the No Name Party loses the candidacy in the end, their message was ingrained into the minds of all of their classmates.

This novel might be fiction, but the issues are real, and every school needs a program like this. There is an official "No Name-Calling Week," but I had never heard of it until I read this book. This should be implemented in schools all around the world so that they can witness firsthand what a week without name calling could do for the lives of students at all age levels. 

I hope to work with upper elementary students, and depending on where my students are at through the course of the school year, I would consider using this book as a read aloud. Even if my students are not at the appropriate maturity level to read a novel like this, I know I will take part in the "No Name-Calling Week."