Shiny Misfits

by Maysoon Zayid (Author) Shadia Amin (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade

Bay Ann doesn't think she's a star--she knows it! Now how does she prove it to the rest of the world? This is a hilarious graphic novel about friendship, fame, and fighting for control of your own story, perfect for fans of Nat Enough, Click, and Invisible.

Bay Ann wants to shine. No matter what.

She's sure her moment in the spotlight has arrived when she wins the school talent show with a showstopping tap routine! But then her classmate and crush, Alyee Maq, causes her to wobble and almost fall. The video of him catching her goes viral, making Alyee an overnight sensation for "helping her." Bay Ann is reduced to her disability and her talent is ignored.

Bay Ann doesn't want her classmate to get all the fame, and she is NOT satisfied being anything but the best. She'll do everything in her power to beat Alyee at his own attention-seeking game. With the help of her two best friends, Michelle and Davey Matt, she'll go up against Alyee and his crew to prove she's number one.

But as Bay Ann tries to find the thing that really makes her stand out, everything she tries goes disastrously wrong. What if the only way to beat her enemy . . . is to join him?

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Kirkus

Starred Review

Comical, nuanced, and visually engaging.

 

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8--Bay Ann, an Arab American girl who has cerebral palsy, is determined to become a famous dancer by winning her school's Halloween Idol show--and she does! Yet, her fame is cut short when classmate and crush Alyee Maq inappropriately kisses her on stage, causing her to fall into his arms. It's now Alyee Maq who goes viral for not only rescuing the girl with cerebral palsy but also for giving her a fairytale kiss moment. Bay Ann will do whatever it takes to beat Alyee Maq's viral fame so that she won't be used as a form of internet disability inspiration. Bay Ann's obsession with going viral causes her to make mistakes along the way, most notably ignoring the feelings of her friends and family, and not working collaboratively with others to solve problems. She is also unapologetic about "playing the disability" card with the adults in her life, most of whom fall for it because they don't see her as anything more than her condition. Her relationships with her supportive father and distant mother are complex, but despite conflict, neither of her parents let her lower her expectations for herself. VERDICT A humorous middle school graphic novel featuring a strong-willed protagonist who won't stand for anyone to define her solely by her disability.--Amanda Melilli

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for Shiny Misfits:

"You ain't never seen anything like it before. Bound to win over fans and a hell of a lotta hearts as well, this is one cool book. Like it or not, Bay Ann is here to stay." — Fuse #8, A School Library Journal Blog

Maysoon Zayid

Maysoon Zayid is a comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and a Princeton Fellow. Maysoon is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and The Muslim Funny Fest. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has sold out top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and The Together Live Tour. Maysoon has also appeared alongside Adam Sandler in You Don't Mess With the Zohan and has written for Glamour magazine. And she is the author of the best-selling memoir Find Another Dream. To learn more visit http: //www.Maysoon.com


Shadia Amin is a Colombian cartoonist and illustrator based in Savannah, Georgia. She graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a bachelor's degree in sequential art, minoring in illustration. She later earned her master's degree in sequential art, also from SCAD. Her art aims to capture the fun of superheroes, fantasy, and life itself, and her works include Shiny Misfits, Spider-Ham, Aggretsuko, and Olive & Popeye. She has also contributed to anthologies like Alloy: Electrum and Votes for Women: The Battle for the 19th Amendment. Shadia is also a teacher, and when she is not working, she can be found cooking, playing video games, or spending time with her husband, dog, and cat. Find her online at shadiaminart.com.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781338752502
Lexile Measure
400
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Graphix
Publication date
April 16, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039150 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Special Needs
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
Library of Congress categories
Self-confidence in children
Self-confidence
Children with disabilities
People with disabilities
Graphic novels
Contests
Tap dancing
Cartoons and comics
Talent shows
Cerebral palsied children
Arab Americans
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship
JUVENILE FICTION / Disabilities
Arab American children
Cerebral palsied

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