The first order of business is a shout out to the illustrator and the awesome cover art, which perfectly captures the vibe for this middle grade spy adventure book. The Misfits is just a lot of fun to read. The plot moves quickly and there is an interesting cast of characters. Then, throw in the time-tested boarding school setting, delicious pastries, a burglar, and a secret organization and one has a recipe for a great read. (The delicious pastries are a mild problem though–as the reader will spend a lot of time feeling hungry.) There are positive lessons about self and others. As a bonus, this novel is also a love letter to various San Francisco locations with a wink to Alcatraz. This is a book that can be whole-heartedly recommended to a wide audience.

Review of an Advance Digital Copy Provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Vague verbal threat of harm when someone bullies someone else; training in martial art tactics; teenagers bully younger kids at a park resulting in a brief confrontation using martial art tactics and restraining a bully; threat of an explosive device to property and people; perilous situation(s); kids detain adults using marital art moves and tactics; chase and pursuit; endangerment of an animal; use of various spy sprays to briefly detain or mark individuals; brief scene where character is tackled, scuffle, mild martial arts.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of a family member (reported), theft, bullying, parental-child relationships.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Spray that makes people fall asleep; spray that smells stinky; candy cigarette.