Sunday, June 16, 2024

Shiny Misfits by Maysoon Zayid, illustrated by Shadia Amin - ESSENTIAL

Shiny Misfits
by Maysoon Zayid, illustrated by Shadia Amin
, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphix (Scholastic), 2024. 415 

Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Bay Ann is in middle school and she wants to shine. She wins the school talent show with her tap routine, but when her classmate, Alyee Maq, steps up to accept his second place trophy, she wobbles and almost falls and Alyee catching her goes viral. Bay Ann has cerebral palsy and doesn't want to be seen only as her disability but as the best. She does everything in her power to beat Alyee at his attention seeking game. 

The characters are great. Bay Ann is flawed, but her angst about getting clicks and going viral is relatable. Bay Ann talks to her cat who answers in rhyme. My favorite character is the teacher, who makes me smile. It is interesting to see how Bay Ann deals with her disability and even works it to her advantage. I love the diversity of the characters and their situations, the humor, the art, and the divorced parents. It all works together to make a fun and compelling read. The two main characters and their families are Arab American. 

Michelle in the Middle School 

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