Shiny Misfits
By Maysoon Zayid
Recommended
Reviewed by Catherine Duynhoven, Head of English, Otahuhu College, Auckland
| Author & Illustrator: | Maysoon Zayid, Illustrator: Shadia Amin |
| Publisher: | Scholastic |
| ISBN: | 9781761525827 |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Publication: | June 2024 |
| Ages: | 8-12 years |
| Themes: | Family, friendship, perseverance, disability awareness, rivalry, social media, self-belief |
Recommended
Reviewed by Catherine Duynhoven, Head of English, Otahuhu College, Auckland
Opening sentence
Hey Pops, what’s on the menu tonight?
Shiny Misfits is a graphic novel written by Maysoon Zayid and Shadia Amin. The main story revolves around Bay Ann, a young girl with cerebral palsy, who is in fierce competition with her school crush Alyee who seems to win at everything. Throughout the graphic her best friends Michelle and Davey Matt (as well as her cat Lucy who only talks in rhyme) and her divorced parents try to guide her to overcome the rivalry and focus on the things that matter – her own talents and strengths, her friendships and her family.
There is a lot to like about Shiny Misfits – its representation of a protagonist with cerebral palsy, its narrative which involves this protagonist competitively engaging with a range of school activities – from dancing in the talent show, to competing in the science fair to leading a debate team – its themes and messages about friendship, rivalry, self-love, confidence, fame and going viral on social media.
At the same time, there are a number of less appealing qualities to this graphic novel. I found the protagonist's character reasonably unlikeable – she is hot-tempered, unrelenting, and at times petty. The illustration style sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish individual characters (this was especially confusing in a moment where it looked as if Bay Ann was being bullied by one of her best friends) and much of the story requires the reader to complete closure to understand the hints given along the way – such as Bay Ann’s disability, her parents’ separation, her dislike for her mother, and the loss of Cherry (who I assume to be a previous pet).
The narrative is separated into 19 chapters, some of which present Bay Ann’s life, some of which present her dreams. The visual element of the graphic novel is colourful and engaging and there is a sufficient number of words on the page to help support the narrative told through images without overwhelming any reluctant readers. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read, with some really important messages to share with younger readers.
Content advisory: Violence, bullying, social media.
There is a lot to like about Shiny Misfits – its representation of a protagonist with cerebral palsy, its narrative which involves this protagonist competitively engaging with a range of school activities – from dancing in the talent show, to competing in the science fair to leading a debate team – its themes and messages about friendship, rivalry, self-love, confidence, fame and going viral on social media.
At the same time, there are a number of less appealing qualities to this graphic novel. I found the protagonist's character reasonably unlikeable – she is hot-tempered, unrelenting, and at times petty. The illustration style sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish individual characters (this was especially confusing in a moment where it looked as if Bay Ann was being bullied by one of her best friends) and much of the story requires the reader to complete closure to understand the hints given along the way – such as Bay Ann’s disability, her parents’ separation, her dislike for her mother, and the loss of Cherry (who I assume to be a previous pet).
The narrative is separated into 19 chapters, some of which present Bay Ann’s life, some of which present her dreams. The visual element of the graphic novel is colourful and engaging and there is a sufficient number of words on the page to help support the narrative told through images without overwhelming any reluctant readers. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read, with some really important messages to share with younger readers.
Content advisory: Violence, bullying, social media.
| Author & Illustrator: | Maysoon Zayid, Illustrator: Shadia Amin |
| Publisher: | Scholastic |
| ISBN: | 9781761525827 |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Publication: | June 2024 |
| Ages: | 8-12 years |
| Themes: | Family, friendship, perseverance, disability awareness, rivalry, social media, self-belief |
Recommended
