Shiny Misfits
Going viral can be a one way ticket to fame … or a gut punch about how the rest of the world sees you. In Maysoon Zayid and Shadia Amin’s Shiny Misfits, Bay Ann discovers that even when she’s showing off how talented she is, many people can’t see past her disability. Can she one up the sudden fame of her former crush turned archnemesis?
A few things about Bay Ann Musa: she won’t eat any food with a face, she has the best friends in the world, she walks her pet cat Lucy (who speaks to her privately in rhymes) in a stroller, and she loves to perform. For this year’s talent show, she’s created a zombified tap dance routine called “Broadway Zom-by” and, as expected, comes in first place. As she soaks in all the praise of the adoring audience, the swoon worthy Alyee Maq gives her a kiss, causing Bay Ann to start to fall, only for Alyee to catch her and save the day.
When the video of Alyee catching Bay Ann goes viral, Alyee is hailed as a hero for saving a “special girl” and making a “sick girl’s dream come true.” Yes, Bay Ann has cerebral palsy, but she’s certainly not dying! She won the talent show! But no one can focus on that and she starts to notice the world sees her only as her disability, not the tap dancing talent show winner that she is. She makes it her goal to prove she’s the best and deserves her own fame, without anyone saving her.
Shiny Misfits is an Own Voices story. Like Bay Ann, Maysoon Zayid is Arab-American, Muslim, and has cerebral palsy. Zayid’s voice is very strong in her writing, with her comedy skills shining through. When things go wrong for Bay Ann, they usually go comically wrong, so there is a lot of humor in this story. Young readers who want their own fifteen minutes of fame will be inspired by Bay Ann’s dedication. Her relationship with her parents, who are divorced and are two very different forces in her life, is a particular highlight of the storytelling.
Readers looking for a story heavily focused on cerebral palsy or disability in general may find themselves disappointed. Being disabled is just another thing about Bay Ann and not a large part of the narrative. Instead, her friendships, her interactions with the adults in her life, and her desire to be famous on her own terms show the type of girl Bay Ann is. She’s not a perfect protagonist but it’s clear that’s now the intention of Shiny Misfits. Readers looking for a fast paced graphic novel should also pass on it; the story takes time to build up. A positive of that is that the book leaves the reader feeling like Bay Ann, impatient as she waits to get her revenge and go viral.
Shadia Amin’s art is joyful and expressive. The emotions on Bay Ann and the other characters’ faces are obvious before you even read the text. Plus, Lucy the rhyming cat is super cute. The graphic novel’s coloring, by Elle Pierre, is vibrant and colorful, bringing this memorable story and cast of characters off the page.
Middle grade readers who like graphic novels with plucky protagonists, like the Sanity and Tallulah books, or ones where friendship helps drive the story, like the Paws series, will enjoy Shiny Misfits. Zayid’s voice is distinctive and fun—the graphic novel world needs more characters like Bay Ann and her friends.
Shiny Misfits
By Maysoon Zayid
Art by Shadia Amin
Scholastic GRAPHIX, 2024
ISBN: 9781338752502
Publisher Age Rating: 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Tween (10-13)
Creator Representation: Palestinian-American, Muslim, Cerebral Palsy
Character Representation: Cerebral Palsy, Muslim
