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The Ones Who Don’t Quite Fit In
The Misfit Crew follows a sixteen-year-old girl who has lost her mother and is forced to move to a new town where she discovers friends to whom she can relate. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I started writing this book shortly after my own mother passed away in 2021 so I was dealing with a lot of pain and grief myself. Writing for me has always been therapy and a way to process my feelings, so I think I channeled a lot of my emotions into Bay’s character, who also just lost her own mother.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing, or did the characters’ personalities grow organically as you were writing?
Yes I did quite a thorough outline of characters and plot outline before writing. But these character personalities definitely progressed beyond what I had originally envisioned. I really wanted very real, flawed, three-dimensional characters, and I feel I definitely achieved this, more than any other story I have written. So much so that I actually missed writing this story after I was finished, I found I missed the characters. They became very alive to me, and I found myself re-reading my book quite a few times after I was finished – like I wasn’t quite ready to let them go.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Besides dealing with the theme of grief and loss, I wanted to write a story about a girl coping with anxiety and depression, just as I did as a teenager. Even before her mother dies, Bay has been struggling with mental illness, and I wanted to explore what it really feels like for someone going through this. I started getting severe anxiety and panic attacks around 12 or 13, and it is terrifying for a teenager who has no idea what is going on. Also friendship, especially for teens who are on the outside, the “misfits,” the ones who don’t quite fit in anywhere, but who luckily find each other at a time when they need it the most.
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
I wrote this as a standalone story, not as a series. I just felt like I had told the story I had wanted to, so didn’t feel the need to expand upon it. As a multi-genre author, I find I am always working on something different. My first book, Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot, is a children’s picture book, and I have a second Amber Tambourine book that will be coming out in the next year or so. As well, I am working on an idea for a poetry and prose chapbook on the topic of grief.
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Sixteen-year-old Bay’s life is slowly unravelling. Already dealing with a debilitating anxiety disorder and a shameful secret, her world is further turned upside down after the sudden death of her mother. Not quite ready to let go, Bay continues sending emails to her dead mother. Her father moves her and her twin brother Ronin to small-town Woodgrove, hoping to make a fresh start. She meets Evie and Xander, fellow misfits who help restore her belief that deep, meaningful friendships do exist, even if you are on the outside. But her friendship with Xander is put to the test when romantic feelings come into play. After her anxiety disorder turns life threatening, Bay discovers that you can never really escape your old life, and that problems will follow you wherever you go – especially when you don’t ask for help.
The Misfit Crew
Aimee C Trafton’s The Misfit Crew is a poignant narrative that follows the life of Bay, a young teenager who struggles with anxiety and feels like an outsider. The story takes a somber turn when Bay loses her mother suddenly and is uprooted from her life by her father, who moves her and her autistic brother to a new place. Despite feeling lost, Bay discovers solace in her newfound friends, who also face similar challenges, and she finally finds a sense of belonging. However, her anxiety spirals out of control when she begins to develop feelings for one of her friends.
Trafton’s use of relatable dialogue and narrative techniques humanizes the characters, enabling readers to connect with them on a personal level. In addition, the story touches on sensitive themes like mental health, grief, and loss, making it a valuable tool for young readers who may be experiencing similar challenges. By doing this, Trafton has successfully created a relatable storyline that readers can easily comprehend and apply to their own lives.
Trafton has done an excellent job of utilizing a multi-timeline structure to create an overarching plot that is engaging and thought-provoking. Additionally, using messages to Bay’s mother offers an intimate glimpse into the protagonist’s innermost thoughts and feelings. The overall writing and story are well-crafted, and the book’s short length allows this story to be read in a short period.
The Misfit Crew is a captivating young adult novel dealing with topics that teens often encounter. This short novel offers a strong foundation for future installments to expand on the characters and plot. Trafton’s work is engaging and provides valuable lessons to readers facing similar challenges.
Pages: 71 | ASIN : B0BWZ2NJX7
LITERARY TITAN 