The Misfits

The Misfits by James Howe is an interesting look at name-calling in middle school. Bobby and his friends - Addie, Joe, and Skeezie - make up the "The Gang of Five" (keeping a place open for another outcast).

During the Paintbrush Falls Middle School election, the Gang starts a new political party - the No-Name Party. Their platform is that name calling hurts and it must be stopped. Their posters are names they have been called with a red line drawn through them. It is a very well received, much discussed campaign at the school. Whether or not they win the election, the group doesn't have much hope of that, they will learn to stick up for each other and spark discussions of how name-calling hurts even the popular kids.

This book is a look at kids who don't fit in and all kids who have been called names. I think that covers pretty much all kids.

Howe, James. (2001). The misfits. New York: Adaddin Paperbacks.