Misfit [Hardcover]

Jon Skovron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2011

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She's changed schools too many times to count. The only family she's ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother--well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn't exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In an impeccably paced and unusually profound urban-fantasy novel, 16-year-old half-demon Catholic-school student Jael Thompson comes into her powers, explores her heritage and battles a tyrannical Hell beast...Thoughtful, scary and captivating. (Urban fantasy. 14 & up) "

-- Kirkus Reviews

"Skovron's second book is a two for one: a coming-of-age story wrapped within a captivating paranormal context. Ages 14-up. (Aug.)"

-- Publisher's Weekly

About the Author

Jon Skovron has never really fit in, and has no plans to start now. After twelve years of Catholic school, he went on to study acting at a conservatory program for four years before returning to his first love, writing. Misfit is his second novel. His first novel, Struts & Frets, was published by Amulet in 2009. Washington Post Book world said, "Skovron perfectly captures that passion--sometimes fierce, sometimes shy--that drives so many young artists to take the raw stuff of life and transform it into something beautiful." Bestselling author Cory Doctorow said, "Struts & Frets will feel instantly authentic to anyone who's ever felt the pride and shame of being an outsider". Jon lives with his two sons outside Washington, DC. Visit him at jonskovron.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Amulet Books (August 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419700219
• ISBN-13: 978-1419700217
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #746,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jon Skovron has been an actor, musician, lifeguard, Broadway theater ticket seller, warehouse grunt, technical writer, and web developer. Now he is a father and the author of Young Adult novels Struts & Frets, Misfit and the forthcoming Man Made Boy, as well as many short stories and essays. He generally likes stories that are dark, strange, and occasionally funny.

Jon was born in Columbus, Ohio. After traveling around a bit, from Pittsburgh to London to New York to Seattle, he has settled, somewhat haphazardly, in the Washington, DC area, where he and his two sons can regularly be seen not fitting into the general Government scene.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right! August 1, 2011

By bendingthespine

Format:Hardcover

Misfit is a whole new take on demons and hell, and it totally worked for me! I devoured this book like Jael devours a veggie tray.

Don't get me wrong there are a few lulls in Misfit. The beginning does take some getting used to because with each chapter you are going from the present with Jael in one , then into the past with her mom in the next. After getting used to being swung back and forth from past to present, I'm actually happy Mr. Skovron introduced Jael's mom in this way. I got such a better feel for her character.

Speaking of characters, this book is packed with the awesomeness of great ones. Jael's uncle for starters is well... a fish monster. I would have thought him to be cold, but he brought a lot of humor and sincerity to the story. But my favorite character is Jael. I love how Jael grows so much just from the beginning of this book alone. When I started Misfit she was very cut off from the world and confused about who she was. By the end of Misfit, Jael understands who she truly is and uses that power to be her full potential. Even though this takes place in a relatively short amount of time, in no way did it feel forced or contrived.

I would be an absolutely horrible person if I didn't put something in this review about Rob (Jael's love interest). In all honesty I think I could start the I HEART ROB fan club. Rob is one of those characters that the moment he jumps on the page you start to smile and you just can't stop yourself. He should have his own theme music... Maybe Skater Boy by Avril Lavigne. Yep Rob's that much fun. By the end of the book you find out what Rob actually wants to do with his life... So he and Jael must have more to come. Or at least I hope so.

Misfit is a YA book but I think anyone who loves paranormal would like it. This is one of those wonderful books where I got to feel every emotion. The humor in Misfit was superb. I mean, come on, a half-demon going to Catholic school? Then Misfit pulled out the big guns and made me cry. I loved this book and hope that it turns into a series!

Happy Reading,
Rebecca

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Half-demon good vs evil that just didn't find its stride August 26, 2011

By Shannon O'May

Format:Hardcover

Cover: Mostly gray and black with title in silver blood-tipped letters. Tagline of "Are some girls just born to cause trouble?"

First line: "Jael Thompson looks at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and frowns."

Synopsis (courtesy of Goodreads): Jael has always felt like a freak. She's never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad's always been super strict--but that's probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family's dangerous history and Jael's untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.

Review: Sigh. I've gone back and forth on exactly how to write this review. I very much appreciate where Kovron was trying to go with MISFIT, and it did have some enjoyable moments, but alas, it just didn't come together for me.

Jael is your typical teenager though she's lonely and fairly bitter toward her father who is distant and elusive. She is tired of the constant moving, the secretive nature of her father and the lack of a real relationship with him (or any other boy). She wants to be in a normal family and stay in one place. But that isn't in the cards for her since she secretly is half-demon and has a bit of a prophecy to fill. When Jael's 16th birthday arrives and she finds out this secret, she clues in to some of her father's motives and we begin to bridge the relationship gap a bit.

However, and that's a big HOWEVER, a lot of the development that I yearned for just didn't happen. You do get a greater sense of who her father is and what has led him to this point, but I wanted more. His story was a highlight and I would've loved to delve in more with him. Pre-birthday, the issue was dad being despondent toward Jael. Post-birthday the issue reversed to Jael being oblivious toward him (or anyone else). Lose/lose. Upon receiving her powers, Jael used them haphazardly and without fear of public scrutiny or danger to those around her. Her reactions and behaviors became more than a little annoying. You don't have to hit the reader over the head - have some faith that they can and will get where you are going on their own. We are smaaaat.

Other weaknesses for me were the over-the-top religious tones that seemed so off-putting in the beginning and the cookie-cutter minor characters. They seemed to always be in the background, standing just off stage right waiting for their cue to help Jael or push the plot forward, then retreat back. The only exception was Rob who was so interesting in the beginning but then wasn't given his own leg to stand on. But yet you still root for him and Jael. Well, until she ... just does something else stupid. After that you just can't trust that anything is real anymore. Which may appeal to some, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Conclusion: Yes, MISFIT had potential and Jon Skovron still has some as a writer, but overall this version (which I do believe is the final) felt like a rough draft. Honestly I just wanted more. *2 Kindle hugs*

Copy origin: Netgalley. Published August 1, 2011, by Amulet Books

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique, Super Awesome Read August 17, 2011

By Erica

Format:Hardcover

This book was really quite snazzy. I had picked it up at BEA, and when I did so, I was super happy. Misfit was pretty much everything I thought it would be, and was one heck of a read.

The plot was very cool. I loved the unique perspective on demons Skovron had. Just that alone had me wanting to flip pages at some insane speed, so I could learn more about that, and then you add in the rest of the plot. I loved the whole setting - half demon at a Catholic school. I wish certain aspects of the plot, especially towards the end had been a bit more developed. I loved the ideas it just felt like some things were a tad to rushed. Some of the plot was a bit predictable, but that really just added to Misfit's charm.

I really enjoyed the characters. I wish some of the characters like Father Aaron had played a bigger role. I really enjoyed his character. Jack was quite a lot of fun - for the smaller role he played I thought he was great. Rob was quite the charmer as well. I loved Jael's confidence she had throughout the book. She really grew as a character with each chapter.

Readers will fall in love with Jael's story and when the last page is turned, they will be asking for more! I know when I finished, I turned the page wishing that there was a lot more story.

I loved this book quite a lot. In fact, I would say it is a must read. I fell in love with the characters and the story. Jael's world is a world I would love to return to!