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The Misfits Club
A group of small-town kids revive their childhood adventure club when they think they snap a picture of a ghost in this middle-grade novel by Kieran Crowley
Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Newpark where Brian, Hannah, and twins Chris and Sam live. And when they start their summer vacation, they know it’s the end of an era. The Misfits Club, a club they started when they were 8 years old, is disbanding and they still haven’t managed to solve any real mysteries.
But when they persuade new club member Amelia to go and investigate a spooky old house, they unexpectedly discover some stolen goods.
Could this be their chance for one last adventure? One thing is for sure Newpark is decidedly more exciting now.
Praise for The Misfits Club :
"Filled with adventure until the very last page and with incredible humor that will have readers laughing out loud, this action-packed, entertaining read is perfect for mystery fans." ― Booklist , starred review
Also by Kieran
The Mighty Dynamo
Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Newpark where Brian, Hannah, and twins Chris and Sam live. And when they start their summer vacation, they know it’s the end of an era. The Misfits Club, a club they started when they were 8 years old, is disbanding and they still haven’t managed to solve any real mysteries.
But when they persuade new club member Amelia to go and investigate a spooky old house, they unexpectedly discover some stolen goods.
Could this be their chance for one last adventure? One thing is for sure Newpark is decidedly more exciting now.
Praise for The Misfits Club :
"Filled with adventure until the very last page and with incredible humor that will have readers laughing out loud, this action-packed, entertaining read is perfect for mystery fans." ― Booklist , starred review
Also by Kieran
The Mighty Dynamo
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
16 people are currently reading
1086 people want to read
About the author
Kieran Mark Crowley
7 books47 followersKieran Crowley is from Cork in Ireland. His first book, "Colm & the Lazarus Key" was shortlisted for the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award 2010 and was followed by a sequel, "Colm & The Ghost's Revenge". His third book "The Mighty Dynamo" was shortlisted for the Hull Children's Book Award in 2017. "The Misfits Club" was published by Macmillan (Ire & UK) in 2017. "The Santa List" will be published by Scholastic in October 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 7, 2022
okay, so i meant to go to bed quite a while ago. there's no way brian and amelia weren't in love, the criminal minds mention made me involuntarily panic, and there were a few too many middle school boys for my liking. but pretty good soup.
April 16, 2018
I'd score this one a 3.5 as it kept me engaged all the way through and I enjoyed having part of the story told through newspaper stories. Amelia's journal, and Hannah's field notes. As twins Chris and Sam and their family get ready to leave the small town of Newpark for a bigger city, the rest of the members of the Misfits Club--Hannah and Brian--are having trouble dealing with the thought of the group breaking up. Even though they haven't really solved many mysteries or crimes, they've still managed to pass the time in interesting ways. But now that it's time for summer vacation, another youngster joins them when Amelia comes to stay with her elderly grandmother. Readers get glimpses of the home lives of each of the characters as well as having a bird's eye view on how they solve a crime. Their quiet little town seems to have a lot more going on in in that most visitors would guess. There's quite a lot of humor in the story as some of the club members take the club more seriously than others, but there is also some pathos in the form of overprotective parents, another father who seems to have lost the way and treats his son as more of a servant than a son, and a novice female police officer who redeems herself in the end. There's more than just a mystery or a ghost at the heart of this well-written story. I liked the characters so much that I'd enjoy reading more about their adventures. I especially liked how Amelia, banished to her grandmother's for her own good, comes to realize that she fits more with these misfits than she does with her friends back home.
August 14, 2018
The Misfits Club by Kiernan Crowley, 310 pages. Fiewel and Friends Book (Macmillan Publishing Group), 2018. $17.
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (10 and up)
EL, MS – ADVISABLE
The Misfits Club is a group of friends that have set about to solve crimes. This is their last hurrah before two of the founding members move away to Galway. Surprisingly to even the Misfits they actually solve a crime and save a rare Honey Badger.
This is a fun book set in modern day Ireland, an interesting look at how similar and yet different the lives of preteens are. The story is carefully put together, lots of different story telling voices, a fun read for adventure seekers.
Lisa Moeller, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
July 26, 2017
A delightful and entertaining book, aimed at children aged 9+.
The Misfits Club is coming to an end. For one member in particular this feels like the worst thing that could ever happen; not only is his home-life awful, but now Brian is losing his best friends and the Misfits Club all at the same time. To make matters worse, Hannah has found a new member of the club for its final weeks. Amelia has come to live with her Granny for a few weeks and is now living opposite Hannah. There is something about her that makes Brian take an immediate dislike to her, though he may come to change his mind later. It is during her initiation into the club that the Misfits encounter their biggest and most dangerous mystery to date.
Kieran Crowley has written a fantastic children's book, the second in the Misfits Club series. I love his characters, who have a depth that makes them feel real. It is interesting to watch the children in particular develop and reveal more about themselves as the book goes on. The children all have problems, whether this is over-protective parents, parents who don't pay the least attention unless it is to demand another cup of tea or a smart-mouth that gets them into trouble with the local bully. This is all far less important than solving the mystery they are now faced with, especially as there is no-one else who even believes there is a mystery to solve.
One of the things I love about this book is the inserts that appear from time to time; these vary from the children's diary entries to newspaper articles related to something discussed during the chapter. The diary entries are a great way of adding depth to a particular character, while some of the newspaper articles are very humorous. I particularly enjoyed the newspaper article about the cat rescue... The scenes at the leaving party did make me laugh; it also made me think of the first time I saw my dad drunk (I was in my teens), which made me laugh all the more.
The mix of characters works well; there are different backgrounds, different levels of intelligence, different jobs - in other words it is reflective of the mix of society, which makes it far more realistic than many books of this type. I am trying to think of something I disliked about the book, or some constructive criticism to give, but I am struggling to think of anything negative about it. I just found it to be an enjoyable read with enough depth to keep it feeling realistic.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to both children and adults - I found it to be well written, entertaining and full of humour. Buy it or borrow it from the library, but do pick it up and read it.
The Misfits Club is coming to an end. For one member in particular this feels like the worst thing that could ever happen; not only is his home-life awful, but now Brian is losing his best friends and the Misfits Club all at the same time. To make matters worse, Hannah has found a new member of the club for its final weeks. Amelia has come to live with her Granny for a few weeks and is now living opposite Hannah. There is something about her that makes Brian take an immediate dislike to her, though he may come to change his mind later. It is during her initiation into the club that the Misfits encounter their biggest and most dangerous mystery to date.
Kieran Crowley has written a fantastic children's book, the second in the Misfits Club series. I love his characters, who have a depth that makes them feel real. It is interesting to watch the children in particular develop and reveal more about themselves as the book goes on. The children all have problems, whether this is over-protective parents, parents who don't pay the least attention unless it is to demand another cup of tea or a smart-mouth that gets them into trouble with the local bully. This is all far less important than solving the mystery they are now faced with, especially as there is no-one else who even believes there is a mystery to solve.
One of the things I love about this book is the inserts that appear from time to time; these vary from the children's diary entries to newspaper articles related to something discussed during the chapter. The diary entries are a great way of adding depth to a particular character, while some of the newspaper articles are very humorous. I particularly enjoyed the newspaper article about the cat rescue... The scenes at the leaving party did make me laugh; it also made me think of the first time I saw my dad drunk (I was in my teens), which made me laugh all the more.
The mix of characters works well; there are different backgrounds, different levels of intelligence, different jobs - in other words it is reflective of the mix of society, which makes it far more realistic than many books of this type. I am trying to think of something I disliked about the book, or some constructive criticism to give, but I am struggling to think of anything negative about it. I just found it to be an enjoyable read with enough depth to keep it feeling realistic.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to both children and adults - I found it to be well written, entertaining and full of humour. Buy it or borrow it from the library, but do pick it up and read it.
May 25, 2018
When I heard that this book described as being like “The Famous Five meet The Goonies” I was intrigued to dive in and now, having read it, I can understand exactly why such comparisons have been made. With plenty of humour, some great action-packed crime chase scenes and a good old adventure driven by a group of friends who long for the world to take their discoveries seriously, this was an enjoyable read that will appeal to readers in Key Stage 2.
When new girl Amelia joins a group of friends who call themselves the 'Misfits Club' during the summer holidays, the club's future does not look great. It seems to Amelia more like a selection of kids that don’t fit in at school rather than a real detective club. What's more, the group has never managed to solve any proper mysteries and is on the verge of disbanding as twins Sam and Chris will soon be moving away.
Nonetheless, Amelia passes the club’s initiation test and very quickly the group finds itself wrapped up in an exciting real-life mystery involving derelict houses, criminal gangs and undercover villains. The children desperately endeavour to get to the bottom of what’s going on before it’s too late, as the criminals become increasingly aware of Misfits Club’s activities and the other grown-ups are not at all interested in taking the children seriously about what they have uncovered. The narrative is well-paced and is interlaced with newspaper clippings, diary extracts, police reports and other sources that add a fun ‘casebook’ feel to the growing bank of evidence the children uncover.
Lashings of ginger beer may have been replaced by smart phones, but the premise of children relying on their own resourcefulness to solve mysteries and put right criminal wrongdoings holds a timeless appeal in children’s literature. What I liked especially about this narrative was the impending sense that this was ‘one last adventure’ for the club before they move on to other things. Along with various hints throughout the story about dawning adolescence, the characters all seem in their own ways to be sitting on a threshold between clinging onto childhood status and wishing to be taken seriously like adults. Many readers in upper Key Stage 2 will find the frustrations of the “tween” stage to be entirely relatable. I think that Kieran Crowley has perfectly captured the notion of the characters feeling torn between hoping for ‘one last adventure’ in childhood and also being ready to move on to a more mature phase.
Many thanks to the author Kieran Crowley for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
When new girl Amelia joins a group of friends who call themselves the 'Misfits Club' during the summer holidays, the club's future does not look great. It seems to Amelia more like a selection of kids that don’t fit in at school rather than a real detective club. What's more, the group has never managed to solve any proper mysteries and is on the verge of disbanding as twins Sam and Chris will soon be moving away.
Nonetheless, Amelia passes the club’s initiation test and very quickly the group finds itself wrapped up in an exciting real-life mystery involving derelict houses, criminal gangs and undercover villains. The children desperately endeavour to get to the bottom of what’s going on before it’s too late, as the criminals become increasingly aware of Misfits Club’s activities and the other grown-ups are not at all interested in taking the children seriously about what they have uncovered. The narrative is well-paced and is interlaced with newspaper clippings, diary extracts, police reports and other sources that add a fun ‘casebook’ feel to the growing bank of evidence the children uncover.
Lashings of ginger beer may have been replaced by smart phones, but the premise of children relying on their own resourcefulness to solve mysteries and put right criminal wrongdoings holds a timeless appeal in children’s literature. What I liked especially about this narrative was the impending sense that this was ‘one last adventure’ for the club before they move on to other things. Along with various hints throughout the story about dawning adolescence, the characters all seem in their own ways to be sitting on a threshold between clinging onto childhood status and wishing to be taken seriously like adults. Many readers in upper Key Stage 2 will find the frustrations of the “tween” stage to be entirely relatable. I think that Kieran Crowley has perfectly captured the notion of the characters feeling torn between hoping for ‘one last adventure’ in childhood and also being ready to move on to a more mature phase.
Many thanks to the author Kieran Crowley for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
July 10, 2018
The characters did not feel authentic and the story could have been told more effectively if Brian and Amelia were the only two protagonists, as those were the only two people Crowley bothered to develop. The plot did not grab my attention, as several “twists” were predictable (Sharon was a villainess to fulfill the worn-out stereotype of a bossy lady no adolescent boy feels comfortable being around,) or unbelievable (Horace’s dad just happens to be a former real estate agent who knows the names of every homeowner in town, just to propagate the kids’ decoding process.) It did not help that Crowley referenced his pop-culture influences, namely: Scooby Doo, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys.
I was somewhat pleased by the prose writing, as the sentences flowed with rhyme and reason for a children’s book. The characters’ sarcastic dialogue was somewhat fresh and funny... but I just did not care much about these kids or the mystery of the stolen treasure. The plot admittedly grew more interesting as the book progressed, (particularly a sub-plot involving Amelia as the mastermind who set everybody up,) but these moments of intrigue were off-set by endless pages of silly nonsense like stealing a hunny badger because a rich man’s kid wanted one (?).
I was hoping this book would have stronger characters with stronger motivations. I decided to read this book in the first place after reading the stirring descriptive flap: “...when they start their summer vacation, they know it’s the end of an era. The Misfits Club... is disbanding, and they still haven’t managed to solve any real mysteries.” These two sentences made me wish for a “growing up” story, where friends sometime have to grown apart and/or leave their childhood memories behind. But instead, I got a Goonies-ripoff set in 2018 (painfully made obviously by the constant descriptions of cellphones).
I was somewhat pleased by the prose writing, as the sentences flowed with rhyme and reason for a children’s book. The characters’ sarcastic dialogue was somewhat fresh and funny... but I just did not care much about these kids or the mystery of the stolen treasure. The plot admittedly grew more interesting as the book progressed, (particularly a sub-plot involving Amelia as the mastermind who set everybody up,) but these moments of intrigue were off-set by endless pages of silly nonsense like stealing a hunny badger because a rich man’s kid wanted one (?).
I was hoping this book would have stronger characters with stronger motivations. I decided to read this book in the first place after reading the stirring descriptive flap: “...when they start their summer vacation, they know it’s the end of an era. The Misfits Club... is disbanding, and they still haven’t managed to solve any real mysteries.” These two sentences made me wish for a “growing up” story, where friends sometime have to grown apart and/or leave their childhood memories behind. But instead, I got a Goonies-ripoff set in 2018 (painfully made obviously by the constant descriptions of cellphones).
May 3, 2018
This is a pretty good book about a diverse group of friends who for one reason or another have cast themselves as misfits. Their prime goal is to solve mysteries, though they haven't done much of that so far. When they discover stolen treasure, it seems their mystery solving skills will finally be needed.
All throughout this book, I had the feeling I'd read it before. The plot was so familiar to me, but the copyright indicates it is new and not a reprint. So I'm not sure what book I'm thinking of, but it also involved an abandoned house, a treasure, and some amateur sleuths.
Book description:
Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Newpark, where Brian, Hannah, and twins Chris and Sam live. And when they start their summer vacation, they knew it's the end of an era. The Misfits Club - a club they started when they were eight years old - is disbanding, and they still haven't managed to solve any real mysteries. But when they persuade new club member Amelia to go investigate a spooky old house, they unexpectedly discover some stolen goods. Could this be their chance for one last adventure? One thing is for sure, though: Newpark is decidedly more exciting now.
All throughout this book, I had the feeling I'd read it before. The plot was so familiar to me, but the copyright indicates it is new and not a reprint. So I'm not sure what book I'm thinking of, but it also involved an abandoned house, a treasure, and some amateur sleuths.
Book description:
Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Newpark, where Brian, Hannah, and twins Chris and Sam live. And when they start their summer vacation, they knew it's the end of an era. The Misfits Club - a club they started when they were eight years old - is disbanding, and they still haven't managed to solve any real mysteries. But when they persuade new club member Amelia to go investigate a spooky old house, they unexpectedly discover some stolen goods. Could this be their chance for one last adventure? One thing is for sure, though: Newpark is decidedly more exciting now.
August 31, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It is a story that most can relate to, whatever their age. The Misfits Club is running out of time, two of its founding members are leaving. The children in the club long for one last adventure, though nothing exciting ever really happens in their neighbourhood. A new face, Amelia, ventures to join them. There are the usual little tests, to see if she is brave enough to be admitted to The Misfits. They persuade her to enter a spooky old house, leading to an unexpected discovery. Could this be the start of a really great adventure?
The characters are varied. The adults appear a little caricatured compared to the innocent children, adding a dose of slightly mocking humour. There are plenty of smiles and chuckles as you follow the adventures of the club. Kieron Crowley has his finger firmly on the pulse of the young, and Vince Reid's illustrations help bring the characters to life.
I know young man who would love a copy of this for his birthday, he's just about old enough to join this select group who form The Misfits Club.
The characters are varied. The adults appear a little caricatured compared to the innocent children, adding a dose of slightly mocking humour. There are plenty of smiles and chuckles as you follow the adventures of the club. Kieron Crowley has his finger firmly on the pulse of the young, and Vince Reid's illustrations help bring the characters to life.
I know young man who would love a copy of this for his birthday, he's just about old enough to join this select group who form The Misfits Club.
July 10, 2019
After four years, The Misfits, a club begun when they were only eight, is about to split up with the moving away of twins Chris and Sam, but there is time for one last adventure in their hometown of Newpark, where boring is a way of life. Brian, Hannah, the twins, and Amelia (who has been banished to live in Newpark with her grandma for the summer) happen upon a real-life mystery that involves stolen goods and dangerous thieves. When no one believes what The Misfits have uncovered, it is up to them to bring the criminal gang to justice in a hilarious turn of events that includes a honey badger to the rescue. Interspersed with Amelia’s journal entries and newspaper articles, this mystery is sure to intrigue middle-school readers.
July 10, 2017
Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. A great summer read. The front cover drew me in and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is a story of friendship, people meeting at University, from all walks of life, and how relationships develop, primarily through their love of music. We really do get to know several individuals very, very well and how they interact with each other. As the story moves on, we are then fast forwarded 20years and we find out how and where the individuals are now. A great read, and one that I would highly recommend..
February 26, 2018
The Misfits club is breaking up at the end of summer because 2 of the members are moving away. A new member joins the club and during the final step to become an official member something is discovered that gets the Misfits into investigating mode. They think it could be something big and they start checking things out. The club has many different personalities that are opposites but they work well together and prove they were correct.
I got this for free in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I got this for free in a Goodreads Giveaway.
October 17, 2018
I LOVED this book. Whenever I read a book, I decide if it kept me invested the whole way through. This one surely did, and its one of the best books I have ever read. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat as the mystery unfolded.
February 13, 2019
Having start the Misfits Clubs when they were eight years old, the club is being disbanded. Having never solved a mystery the Misfits are given a chance to finally solve a case. Great storyline with interesting characters.
June 16, 2018
It seemed to take a long time to get to the point, and eventually my interest faded. My son seemed to feel the same way - he didn't really want to pick it up and read it.
May 19, 2020
My kids enjoyed this book, which we read out loud. I would give it a 3 for me, but a 5 for the kids...so evened out at a 4.
March 9, 2025
Very cute! I, as a 20 year old, was entertained and curious through the story. Great book for elementary and middle schoolers, especially those who love a good mystery!
January 24, 2019
Although this book is written for middle schoolers, it has all the hallmarks of an adult cozy. It is character and situation driven. It's set in a small town. The sleuths are amateurs with a unique and useful skillset. There are fun supporting characters who can help or hinder.
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Want to read
March 9, 2018Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018.
June 15, 2021
Great book
This was a book was action packed and very exciting. I loved it and recommend it if you are looking for a good old adventure book.
This was a book was action packed and very exciting. I loved it and recommend it if you are looking for a good old adventure book.
Read
June 5, 2018Gave up. Long set-up meeting multiple POV characters took too long to feel engaged in story. Lost interest.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews