Navigating the middle-school years is no easy task. I, for one, have no desire to revisit that tumultuous age—outside the pages of a book, of course. With her Being Zoey books, Melody Carlson delves into the challenges of those years in a meaningful, uplifting way.

In Meet the Misfits, Zoey moves away from the home and friends she’s known to live with her grandparents. Then, in Odd Girl Out, Zoey heads into her first days of middle school without a friend and must figure out who she wants to be in this new school.

Throughout these stories, as she adjusts to her new life, Zoey deals with making new friends, bullying, fitting in (or not), and more—plus, how her new faith can help her through it all. Her experience has moments of fun, plenty of drama, and great life lessons for the middle-grade reader.

I received a complimentary copy of these books and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Meet The Misfits starts a series that is geared towards pre-teens. I found Zoe to be a perfect example of how most of us felt going to middle school. This is the age where you want to be cool and fit in. Zoe has come to live with her grandparents while her mom goes off to be in a rock band. That was kinda silly but it does show how some parents still have a dream they want to pursue.

I remember how awkward I felt in school with cat glasses , permed hair and clothing that was made by my mother. I was definitely an outcast and hated even speaking in class. I was bullied everyday until I decided to stand up to them. It deflated my bullies and they stopped bothering me. One thing I do remember is that even though the bullying stopped, it did leave a scar on me for many years.

Zoe meets a great friend in Louisa. Louisa is a great character who helps Zoe believe in herself and encourages her to trust in God. I loved the part about camp and how Zoe was a changed person because of something special that happens to her while at camp. Louisa is someone we would all want to be friends with. her family life is good and she shares her faith with Zoe and accepts her for who she is. One of the things I took away from this book was how this age group is vulnerable to finding their worth and wanting to be liked. The author does a good job of showing the struggles that every young person has experienced.

The author does an excellent job of showing how difficult it is to overcome bullying. There were times I wanted to give Zoe a hug as the bullying became almost too much to handle. The story is good but mostly light hearted and doesn't go into the extremes of bullying. I was hoping for a more realistic look at bullying and how hard it can be.

Zoe and Louisa become great friends and along the way try to fit in with their peers. It is a great lesson in self-esteem and loving each other even your enemies. The author does achieve the surface of what bullying is about and the struggle for someone to fit in at a new place. Zoe not only has been dumped on her grandparents but seem to be mostly on her own at times. The interaction with her grandparents is good, but i was hoping the author would explore the relationship better and have more hands on with Zoe and her struggles.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

As I read this first book in a new series by Melody Carlson, I found so much to love about Meet the Misfits. Yes, it is intended for girls who are ten or older, but I found it very enjoyable and I am a grandmother many years past being ten. Zoey is an eleven year old girl from Seattle, WA who is left to spend some time at her grandparents house in Cedarville, Oregon. She is at first very upset with her mother for uprooting her but she begins to realize that her grandparents and her Uncle Ned aren't so bad after all. Living across the street from a girl her own age is certainly a big part of her gradual acceptance and she and Louisa experience becoming best friends in the next few weeks. Zoey and Louisa enjoy the same things and they aren't quite ready to enter the world of boys, makeup, and constantly worrying about their clothes and their looks.

Zoey soon experiences being the target of many insults and pranks from Louisa's friend Kayla and I was reminded of some similar occurences when I was growing up. Bullying certainly isn't new and Zoey and Louisa are confronted with the evidence that some people are naturally jealous and just not very nice. Carlson uses this as a way to introduce Zoey to the concept that since Jesus loves everyone, we are expected to do the same. I especially liked that Zoey came to know God and Jesus at a church youth camp.

Meet the MIsfits is a great introduction to the Being Zoey series and it is a book that I plan to share with my granddaughter when she is a little older. It offers entertainment as it teaches morals and Christian values and Zoey is the perfect example of a young girl facing the problems associated with growing up.

I received a complimentary digital copy from Celebrate Lit Tours but I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts. ( )

What eleven-year-old girl wouldn’t be upset about being taken away from not only her best friend but also the home she’s always known to be dropped off with grandparents she hardly knows?

Young readers will relate to Zoey and her uncertainty with a move and plenty of friendship drama. Melody Carlson expertly weaves some important lessons into these 250 pages.

Zoey learns she can make new friends wherever she is, her grandparents and uncle aren’t as weird as she believed when she gets to know them and being bullied is no fun.

The first book in Carlson’s Being Zoey series is a wonderful introduction to Zoey, her friends, family, and new town while also leaving room for more adventures (and possible trouble) to come.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ( )