The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum
By: Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (Illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 288
Published: January 2, 2024
Publisher: Random House for Young Readers
Dates Read: January 3, 2024 - January 4, 2024
Format: ARC / Library Book / Audiobook

Olive Cobin Zang has always slipped under the radar but problems have a knack for always finding her. But nothing would prepare her for the once prison, now turned to a reforming arts boarding school she’s dropped off at: RASCH. There, she’s lumped in with a team of four other kids whose goal is to fight crime.

Turns out, RASCH is in danger of closing. If Olive and The Misfits can stop the heist of the century, maybe she can stay at the school where she finally feels like she belongs.

One thing I want to make clear on this, is that I would not deem this as a graphic novel. It’s a novel with illustrations for sure, but not a graphic novel with pages full of panels; it’s mostly text. So hence my surprise when asked for the ARC, received it and opened it to find it mostly text. Now, it’s still a great story! And super fun and I can see a lot of kid enjoy the “being a spy” aspect 

Other than that, I enjoyed the middle grade spy/crime fighting book. Was some of it completely out there – yes. But it totally reads like a fun movie – and the illustrations here and there help with the film in my head. For those kids that like page turning action, this will do it for you.

*Thank you Random House for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review