Shiny Misfits

Shiny Misfits by Maysoon Zayid, illustrated by Shadia Amin (Scholastic) PB RRP $18.99 ISBN 9781761525827

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Bay Ann loves hanging out with her best friends Michelle and Davey Matt, and her cat Lucy. However, what she loves most of all is attention and winning. She is thrilled when she is crowned the winner of the school talent show for her well-rehearsed tap-dancing routine. However, her moment of glory is short-lived as a video goes viral of her uber talented classmate and crush, Aylee Maq. Alyee is receiving widespread praise for his kindness towards the winner of the talent show (i.e. Bay Ann, who is pixelated in the video) who he describes as a ‘special girl’ and a ‘sick girl’.

Bay Ann has cerebral palsy and is in no way ‘sick’, however Aylee is lapping up the hero status and even gives a tv interview! Believing that she is destined for fame and greatness, Bay Ann is determined to get vengeance on Aylee and put the spotlight back on herself for her talents. However, all does not go according to plan in her quest and Bay Ann learns that winning at all costs, costs more than she is willing to give.

Shiny Misfits is a humorous graphic novel for an audience aged 8 years and older. Its themes include friendship, fame, and differing parent-child relationships. The full colour illustrations bring the diverse cast of characters to life, as do the speech bubbles conveying each characters’ unique voice (which includes some Arabic language expressions from Bay Ann and her parents).

Maysoon Zayid is a comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate, who brings an authentic voice to the self-assured protagonist. If you would like to learn more about Maysoon, I suggest watching her Ted Talk titled ‘I got 99 problems… and palsy is just one’ or visiting www.maysoon.comby Maysoon Zayid, illustrated by Shadia Amin (Scholastic) PB RRP $18.99 ISBN 9781761525827

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Bay Ann loves hanging out with her best friends Michelle and Davey Matt, and her cat Lucy. However, what she loves most of all is attention and winning. She is thrilled when she is crowned the winner of the school talent show for her well-rehearsed tap-dancing routine. However, her moment of glory is short-lived as a video goes viral of her uber talented classmate and crush, Aylee Maq. Alyee is receiving widespread praise for his kindness towards the winner of the talent show (i.e. Bay Ann, who is pixelated in the video) who he describes as a ‘special girl’ and a ‘sick girl’.

Bay Ann has cerebral palsy and is in no way ‘sick’, however Aylee is lapping up the hero status and even gives a tv interview! Believing that she is destined for fame and greatness, Bay Ann is determined to get vengeance on Aylee and put the spotlight back on herself for her talents. However, all does not go according to plan in her quest and Bay Ann learns that winning at all costs, costs more than she is willing to give.

Shiny Misfits is a humorous graphic novel for an audience aged 8 years and older. Its themes include friendship, fame, and differing parent-child relationships. The full colour illustrations bring the diverse cast of characters to life, as do the speech bubbles conveying each characters’ unique voice (which includes some Arabic language expressions from Bay Ann and her parents).

Maysoon Zayid is a comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate, who brings an authentic voice to the self-assured protagonist. If you would like to learn more about Maysoon, I suggest watching her Ted Talk titled ‘I got 99 problems… and palsy is just one’ or visiting www.maysoon.com