Meet the Misfits and Odd Girl Out Review!

Zoey’s pretty sure her life is over when her wannaba-rockstar mother uproots her from from their home in Seattle and deposits her in Nowheresville, Oregon to live with her whackadoodle grandparents. Things start to look up, though, when she reconnects with Louisa, the girl from across the street. Maybe, just maybe, Louisa won’t mind that Zoey’s always been a bit of a misfit.

Louisa’s ex-BFF, however, doesn’t seem too happy to welcome Zoey to the neighborhood. And when they all end up at church camp together, it isn't just a matter of whether or not Zoey can fit in…it becomes a firsthand lesson in what it really means to “love your enemy.”


Zoey’s school year is beginning...without her new BFF. Louisa is out with a bad case of the flu, and that leaves Zoey to fend for herself in the first days of middle school.

She thinks maybe it won’t be so bad when she strikes up a conversation with another new girl, Taylor. But as she tags along on Taylor’s quest to become one of the A-crowd, she starts to wonder how much of herself she can safely change and still be…well, herself.

Worse, new friends don’t get rid of old enemies. And somehow, despite trying so hard to fit in, Zoey finds herself exactly where she didn’t want to be—all alone in her new school. The odd girl out.

My thoughts: Meet the Misfits is a delightful, middle school age book about Zoey, a young girl trying to find her place in the new community she has been deposited in by her mom. When she meets Louisa, things seem to be looking up, but then their friendship puts her in the crosshairs of a couple of bullies. I thought that this book did an excellent job of dealing with relevant problems, like bullying and how to deal with them. I also enjoyed the Christian message that the story has.
In Odd Girl Out, Zoey has settled in (somewhat) and just starting school, after an amazing experience at church camp. When she has the chance to become friends with another girl who seems similar, things appear to be looking up. And yet, if only middle school were that easy. This is an excellent story of one girl learning to balance her faith with real life. I really appreciate the message in these books, and how the author shows the readers that they are not alone. For those of us out of middle school, these stories will most likely bring back memories!
This series is an excellent one to give middle school age girls.
I received these books through Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review and is in no way influenced by receiving a complimentary copy.

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About the Author:
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

More from Melody
Being a tween these days is more complicated than ever. With our culture’s fast pace, social networking, peer pressure . . . growing up is hard to do. So I wanted to create a relatable character with some tough challenges. And Zoey Petrizzo definitely gets more than her fair share. About to start middle-school, Zoey is forced to relocate her life with her less than conventional grandparents. And it’s not easy! My hope is that readers will either relate to Zoey, or develop more empathy for ‘misfit’ kids like her.

For a complete list of blog stops, go here!

Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Melody is giving away a grand prize package of Meet the Misfits and Odd Girl Out, Sketching Pencils, and a Sketchbook!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link here to enter.