Cover Image: The Misfits Club for Girls

The Misfits Club for Girls

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Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

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'The Misfit Club for Girls 1. Paloma' by BeKa with art by Camille Mehu is a graphic novel about an odd group of friends.

Paloma has moved from foster home to foster home. The woman at her new home challenges her to make even one friend, but Paloma wants nothing to do with that. When a new secret club at school starts, they target Paloma for friendship, but will they succeed?

This was a pretty good story and I liked the characters and the art. There are some heartwarming moments along the way.

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A group of schoolgirls, already finding themselves to be outsiders, or misfits, seek out eachother to help deal with their problems. It seems like it's going to be pretty sweet, which it is, but it's also pretty serious..

I can't make my mind up about the art - it feels like manga-ish art, with all the facial extremities filed off. It sort of works, but it's not great.

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Paloma is a forster child and has recently joined a new school as she has moved to yet another foster home.
She is a raging teenager who struggles to make fiends. Only until she meets a bunch of other misfits.
The art style was pretty story was sweet.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me this eArc to review.

Warning the main character in the volume calls someone the d slur.

This follows Paloma, a troubled girl who finds her way to her 15th foster home. Paloma's foster mum is actually great and Paloma is a ball of anger and fury.

I adore the art and I liked how the other girls came together quite easily even though they have so many differences and they all tried so hard to get Paloma to be in their group.

Other than the slur, I really liked this book. I wish Paloma would apologise for slur or that it was just taken out.

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The Misfits Club For Girls is the beginning of a great series that focuses on female friendship and its trials and tribulations.

The Misfits Club for Girls presents us in each entry with the back story of one of the girls in the club. Through their perseverance and friendship, they try to help solve each girl's problems. The first issue introduces us to Paloma, a teenage girl who has been through 15 different foster homes before the story started and is written off by the system as a troublemaker. Her final foster home before being sent to a group home is with Liselotte Berger. Liselotte gives Paloma a year to make a genuine friend, or else she is sent to the group home, and each year, Liselotte continues to extend this deadline as Paloma fails. In her fifth year, Paloma is given the opportunity to join the newly formed Misfits Club, but thinking the idea is stupid, so she rejects them. The girls of the club, Chelonia, Sierra, Apolline, & Celeste, then become determined to make Paloma join. Through their determination, they are able to understand the root of Paloma’s problems.

While the first volume primarily focuses on Paloma’s struggles with accepting others and her foster care trauma, it gives us glimpses into each of the other girls’ issues that will hopefully be explored in more volumes - as of reviewing, only volume two Celeste has been released. The group consists of; Chelonia, an expert hacker who lives alone with her severely disabled father. Celeste, a meek girl who is being bullied by her classmates. Sierra, a girl with a fiery temper. And Apolline, a kind lesbian rugby player who has a budding romance with Sierra.

Our budding friendship group is at the core of The Misfits Club For Girls. Each girl brings their strengths and weakness to the group, and they bring out the best in each other through their friendship. Sierra’s fiery temper often causes setbacks within the group, but she can recognise her wrongdoings and deeply cares about her friends. Chelonia’s hacking skills gets them crucial information about Paloma’s foster care situation that allows for Paloma to have closure. Apolline’s kindness is their first inroad into gaining Paloma’s trust. And Celeste, despite being timid, does not give up on Paloma because she believes Paloma needs them, rallying the other girls into continuing their quest.

However, Paloma is not easily won over due to her foster care trauma. She trusts no one, not Liselotte, and especially not her peers. Having been proven time and time again by the system that no one will stick around. However, it is through the Girl’s determination that they are able to give Paloma closure and bring her into their group.

The Misfits Club for Girls is the beginning of a great series that focuses on friendship and overcoming trauma. And I can’t wait for its next release.

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The Misfits Club For Girls is a new teen coming-of-age graphic novel series from Europe Comics that sees five young women who are outsiders and outcasts come together to form a friendship that will help each of them deal with their issues and live happier lives. At least, that's the plan.

The story begins with the focus of this volume, Paloma, arriving to live at her 15th foster home. Paloma has failed to find a place in any of the homes that have taken her in, and she expects that this one will fail for her too. She believes it so much that the first thing she does upon arriving is to set a fire in her bedroom. Fortunately for her, her new foster mother, Liselotte, takes it in her stride and doesn't let it bother her. She doesn't mind when Paloma refuses to eats with her, she doesn't say anything when Paloma wrecks the house. Paloma is sure that Liselotte is going to throw her out any moment. But then Liselotte makes her a deal, if Paloma can make a real friend within a year she won't get thrown out, and won't have to go into a group home.

The first year comes and goes without success, so she gets an extension. She gets another when she fails again, and another, and another. It's whilst in her fourth year living with Liselotte that she gets an email from the school informing her that she has to go to a mandatory tutoring session. When she arrives she finds four other girls from the school, other outcasts. There's Celeste, Sierra, Apoline, and Chelonia. It turns out Chelonia, who's something of a hacker, used her skills to get in the school system and look into the other girls, and faked the emails to get them all together. She's seen the way the five of them are treated by the other students, how sad and angry they are, and is sure that they can help each other. She proposes they become The Misfit Club For Girls.

Whilst the others are up for the idea Paloma is angry that they would try to be her friends and storms out. This leads to the club making getting Paloma to join be their first official action. They try talking to her inviting her to hang out, and whilst these plans and schemes bring the rest of them closer it doesn't convince Paloma. They know that they're going to have to take drastic steps to get her into the club, and so form a plan that will uncover some startling revelations.

I really enjoyed The Misfit Club For Girls. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it when it first began, mainly because Paloma is a really tough character to like at first; especially when she's being so mean to Liselotte, who is just wonderful. When the book introduced the other members of the group things got better, and it felt like a much needed injection of new and exciting energy. Whilst we don't get to know all of the group super well at this point I did like what I learnt. Apoline is a tall, Black lesbian who gets picked on for her sexuality, but is super confident in who she is and doesn't seem to let it bother her. Pretty early on we see her get a comment about being a 'dyke with big boobs' and it doesn't even phase her. She forms a connection with Sierra, who has pretty extreme emotional reactions to things, especially seeing her ex with new girls. Over the course of the book the two end up kissing more than once, and whilst Apoline is cool with it Sierra is clearly struggling with her identity and who she's attracted to. This is something I really hope comes up more in future volumes.

Celeste seems super quite, not really speaking much and avoids confrontation. She loves to read and tries to be nice to folks. There are a couple of moments throughout the book where she ends up turning up to the group with scrapes and cuts, and I wouldn't be surprised if perhaps this is setting up a future revelation of her being a victim of abuse at home, or possibly self harming. Whatever route her story goes, I'm super interested in seeing it. Chelonia is the member of the group that seems the most well adjusted. She doesn't appear to have any real issues to be dealing with, and has a good handle on her emotional state. Yes, she engages in some pretty illegal activity with her hacking, and has no sense of personal boundaries when it comes to looking into folks past; but she seems fairly okay. However, there is a scene where the girls visit her house and she tells them her mother died years ago, and her father is disabled and stays in his room. There's a moment where the book makes a point of showing us that there's only one toothbrush in her bathroom; so I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out she's living alone and has no parents in her life.

But, the focus of this volume is Paloma; and over the course of the book we begin to understand why she's so angry, why she doesn't want to make friends with people, and how much Liselotte means to her. Her story was pretty interesting, and I enjoyed learning about her history and why she ended up the way she did. It was lovely to see her change over the course of the book too, learning that it's okay to open up to people and to start letting her guard down. There are developments towards the end of the book that means whilst her initial story here seems to be fairly resolved she'll be going through some big things going forward. I was surprised at how much the end of her story effected me emotionally, and I found myself tearing up at one point.

The art on the book, by Camille Mehu, is very pretty, and I really liked how the book looks. The art feels very soft, with minimal lines that are all really thin and precise. It felt kind of delicate at times. Each panel is filled with detail though, and every location feels lived in and full of things to look at. Each of the girls looks instantly unique too, with their own distinct looks and styles that mean you're able to identify them straight away on the page.

The Misfits Club For Girls: Paloma is a great start to this new series. It was a really entertaining and endearing introduction to these characters and this idea, and whilst it wasn't perfect it ended up entertaining me and delighting me throughout. With more of the group yet to focus on, and with the seeds of future stories already being planted here, I look forward to seeing what comes next.

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Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

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A graphic novel on finding your place in the world and recovering from childhood trauma.
Paloma is a loner, having been in care most of her childhood and 15 different foster homes she is given an ultimatum by her foster mother; she can stay if she makes some friends. For the next few years this ultimatum is renewed until one day The Misfits, a group of girls at school who are isolated in their own ways and decide that maybe they can help each other come out of their shells and make each other stronger.
This was an emotion filled book, looking at each girls inner struggles and Paloma's eventual acceptance of her past and path towards healing.
With strong illustrations and colours, these added to the telling of Paloma and The Misfit's journey, through snapshots and bold images.

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This book was good and enjoyable, but not great. The plot holes were honestly quite distracting.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank You to Negalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC for an honest review!

I DNF'd this about half way through. I thought it was rushed and didn't like it but the breaking point was when the main character called a LGBTQ+ girl a slur, at that point I was done.

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A very great graphic novel. You instantly get attached and want to know more. I can’t wait to get to read the second book.

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A review copy of this book was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow, I really enjoyed this book.

It opens with a view of Chelona turtles trying to swim to the sea, giving an explanation of their lives and honestly, I think I might only have an idea of its' relation to the story. I enjoyed the storyline, and it is exactly what it sounds like. No twists, no turns, very direct.

I liked the differences between the characters. The intense Sierra, silent Celeste, gentle Apolline, calm and yet terrifying Chelona and the angsty Paloma, all different but bonded through Chelona and her group of Misfits. In the story, they helped Paloma gain closure about what happened in her first foster home - the one that sparked her rebellion.

The art style is unique - mostly solid colours, defined shadows, mostly playing on the value of colours. I only wished there was more about Chelona's backstory. There's a lot of questions I have about her, and none of them were answered.

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This is a sadly sweet tale of a foster child named Paloma. She has been a troubled foster child, who is being placed with their 15th family. This is her last chance before a group home. For 4 years nothing happens, but quiet loneliness with her foster mom. Her foster mom just wants her to not only make friends, but have someone what to be her friend. It finally happens when a girl who takes the name of a turtle, creates a girl gang for misfits. This story was very interesting. It is quiet and has a bit of strength not normally felt in many graphic novels. I have a feeling this series will delve into the life of each of the girls one by one, and this was a great first read.

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This book follows Paloma, a troubled young girl who has just entered her 15th foster home and the deal she makes with her new foster mother to make friends. After the first year, she still has no friends, and the deal gets extended. Paloma can't understand why her foster mother is so adamant she makes friends so simply tries her best not too. That all changes however when she falls into step with a bunch of other "misfit girls" who don't fit in for one reason or another. They form a club and aim to get Paloma to join their ranks. They are each unique with their own story that makes them a misfit, but they band together to form quite a cohesive group.

I liked the story, I really really did. The art was cute, the story was fun, but I wish there was more. I understand making a graphic novel or a comic series of any kind is a lot of work. It requires dedication out of the wazoo and a lot of dedication goes into it, but I wanted this to be longer. It felt like everything very quickly was wrapped up with a nice bow and it was called a day. I would've liked to see more of these characters, their individual lives and stories and be shown it, rather than simply told and moved on. I did enjoy this story overall though.

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wow just wow.....
I read this in less than 30 minutes, I was so invested and it broke my heart in many ways!
I loved all the misfits and their characters<3
The art style was soothing <3 the colors were so perfect I kept gazing at the pages<3
The story was presented in a realistic way, and now I really want to hug the girls and never let them go<3
I wish it was longer so we would get to know them more<3

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In The Misfits Club For Girls, four High Schoolers form their own club of outsiders. Their first goal is to get Paloma, an anti-social teen who lived in many foster homes since she was a kid, to join the club. But first they have to understand more of Paloma’s background.

I love stories about friendship, so I was excited about this one! It’s not as lighthearted as I thought, but I still enjoyed it.

Paloma, the main character, is not a very likable character from the beginning. Paloma is very distant from her foster parent, and she is rude at first. She also has difficulties making friends. However, as the story progresses, I started to understand more of her backstory and personality. And even though the story’s focus is not on her relationship with her new foster mother, I appreciated Liselotte’s patience and overall care towards Paloma.

The comic firstly focus on introducing Paloma, so the club only appears later on in the story. Paloma rejects the idea of the club at first, and it is sweet to read about the girls fighting for her. Also, it’s interesting to see the girls’ quick-friendship dynamic.

I liked what I got from the other girls. Sierra is funny, Apolline is a cutie, and Chelonia is so mysterious! Celeste is the one who gets fewer scenes, so I hope to see more of her in future issues.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read with sweet and dramatic moments. I liked this beginning introducing the club and the early dynamics among the girls. Paloma is not amiable from the beginning, but I started to understand more of her personality as the story goes. The art style is pretty cute, and if you’re looking for a comic with many teens as protagonists, who are outsiders, you should try The Misfits Club for Girls!

Courtesy of Netgalley.

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There is absolutely nothing that I didn’t like in The Misfits Club for Girls; the style of the drawings was fantastic, I just loved the colour palate. As to the characters I found them likeable and was interested in their back stories. I appreciated that Paloma got to find a foster career who was patient with her and that after all the things she had been through, she found a place and people who cared for her. I respected her friends and Liselotte for not giving up on her. Celeste, Paloma, Sierra, Apolline and Chelona might be the school misfits but together they form a very strong group. My pupils are going to love this ❤️

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The Misfits Club for Girls follows the story of five girls who feel different and don't have anyone to confide in. One of them decides that they should stick together and become friends. Nevertheless, our protagonist Paloma doesn't show any interest in this and think that it would be useless. They other girls try to convince her to join their club by learning about her past and trying to help her overcome it.

I honestly didn't really enjoy this book. I think this is because it all felt way too rushed and the reader didn't even get the chance to get to know the characters, so they all end up seeming quite plane and superficial. The main focus of the story seems to be in Paloma, but we don't get to see much of what is going on inside her head. Also, the motivations of the characters are not very clear or well thought out: why do they want Paloma in their club so badly?

I must say that the illustrations were very beautiful and I really liked the style of Camille Méhu, but I don't think it is enough to compensate for the weak plot... However, if you're looking for a fast read, cool illustrations and some badass (although sometimes also borderline abusive) girl group, this graphic novel may be for you!

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Has some qualities that I love best in comics; a wonderful art style (looks very Ghibli-esque in some panels), and really nice coloring as well.

As for the story... I don't know. It's a bit ridiculous, how the girls come together, and especially seeing the lengths they go to befriend Paloma. Wasn't a fan of how they dug into her past, and some things that happen in the story as well as the ending felt a bit forced. Honestly wish more focus was on Paloma and her foster mother.

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