Generation Misfits - by Akemi Dawn Bowman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Generation Misfits by Akemi Dawn Bowman is a heartwarming, fish-out-of-water own voices story about an eleven-year-old Japanese-American girl who finds her true friends--through the power of J-Pop!

Millie is attending a real school for the first time, and she dreams of finally having friends and a little bit of freedom. She finds her chance when she joins an imitation band of her favorite J-Pop group, where she's thrilled to meet a group of misfits who quickly become a tightknit group of friends that are like family.

But Millie soon realizes that one of them is dealing with problems bigger than what notes to hit when it comes time for their performance. Can Millie help her friend, even when their problem feels too big to say out loud?

Review Quotes

"A heart-warming story about friendship that will have readers cheering for Millie and her friends." --Debbi Michiko Florence, author of Keep It Together, Keiko Carter

"A rhythmic, melodic story of friendship and bravery. You'll not only root for Millie and her misfits--you'll want to join them." --Ashley Herring Blake, author of Stonewall Honor Book Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World

"Akemi Dawn Bowman's debut middle grade novel hits all the right notes with this authentic, vulnerable, and triumphant tale of coming into your own space with courage and grace." --Jessica Kim, author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung

"This character-centered coming-of-age novel features authentic dialogue with a fully realized cast of diverse characters, and celebrates the power, importance, and value of friendship. Highly recommended for school and public library collections." --School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"...the book is uncondescending and happily celebratory about the fandom experience and what it means to the kids. Never mind cool: sincerity and enthusiasm rule here in a book that believes fervently in the value and joy of friendship." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB), STARRED REVIEW

"One of the great themes of the book is how everyone is going through something ... Bowman also gets into the good, bad, and ugly of what it means to be a friend. A great read for both misfits and insiders, this encourages readers to embrace their true selves." --Booklist

"A sincere story about being true to oneself and others." --Kirkus

About the Author

Akemi Dawn Bowman is a critically-acclaimed author who writes across genres. Her novels have received multiple accolades and award nominations, and her debut novel, Starfish, was a William C. Morris Award Finalist. She has a BA in social sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and currently lives in Scotland with her husband and two children. She overthinks everything, including this bio. Visit Akemi online at her website or on Instagram.