Outsiders, Misfits, and Oddball Heroes

Bloomington Public Library* is pleased to present our newest Young Adult collection: Outsiders. 

The protagonists and supporting characters in this collection are fundamentally different from their peers. They are the “other” in a sea of sameness. They are called - or call themselves - misfits, oddballs, and outsiders. They are often misunderstood and pushed to the periphery of society. Whether they stay on the outside or join the mainstream is often the best kind of story.

Check out our top ten sneak preview of this fantastic collection:

10. Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas (2004-2007)

Veronica (Kristen Bell) used to be part of Neptune High School’s in-crowd. She was until her father, the Sherriff, accused the wrong man of murder in the death of Veronica’s best friend, Lilly Kane (Amanda Seyfried). Veronica uses her newly acquired outsider status to solve crimes in this short running television series. 

9. March: Book One, John Lewis (2013)

March is the graphic novel interpretation and first-hand story of Congressman John Lewis' lifelong fight for civil and human rights. Book One documents Lewis' early life; growing up in Alabama, meeting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his role in the creation of the Nashville Student Movement, a group famous for their nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins.

8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie (2009)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian tells the story of Junior, a teen who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to steer the direction of his life, Junior leaves the reservation school to attend an all-white high school in town. This novel, partially autobiographical, illustrates the lengths humans will go to change their destiny – even if it does make them outsiders in the process.

7. The Encyclopedia of Immaturity, Klutz Editors (2007)

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity is a handbook of pranks, jokes, secret knowledge, and trivia all packed into 300 entries. Whether you are looking to gain a foothold amongst new friends or just like to learn things, this book is for you.

6. Hop Hop is Dead, Naz (2006)

Prolific rapper, Naz, released Hip Hop is Dead in 2006 as a eulogy to the hip hop that he once knew. Gone are the days of B-boy lyrical rap battles; instead hip hop is rife with posturing and material excess. Returning as an outsider to this new hip hop world, Naz takes on the role of teacher to a new generation of  aspiring hip hop artists to possibly change the tide of the future .

5. American Teen, Nanette Burstein (2008)

American Teen is a documentary that follows 5 teens through their senior of high school at Warsaw Community High School in Warsaw, Indiana. Each of the five teenagers belongs to a different group in school and each experiences life very differently. Can the outsiders (the Rebel and the Geek) survive their high school experience? Can the popular kids learn to be themselves so as to survive life after high school?

4. A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah (2008)

Ishmael Beah used to be in the thick of it. The thing is, ‘it” was not something anybody should want to be in. He was a child soldier fighting in a civil war in Sierra Leone. In A Long Way Gone Ishmael gives readers a glimpse into the desperate lives of an estimated 300,000 child soldiers across the developing world.

3. Mexican Whiteboy, Matt De La Peña (2010)

In San Diego, California, having brown skin can only mean one thing – you MUST be Mexican. This novel illustrates how wrong perceptions can be. Even though Danny has brown skin, he does not fit the stereotype. He does not speak Spanish and lives with his white mother. Danny decides to spend a summer with his father’s Mexican family. Can he find out who he is and who he wants to be in a town that has already made those decisions for him?

2. We Are The Best!, Lukas Moodysson (2014)

Set in Stockholm in the 1980’s, We Are The Best! is a film that follows three rebellious friends who decide to form their own punk band, despite not having the talent or any instruments to help them in their quest.

1. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, Leslye Walton (2014)

Ava Lavender is a Roux, just like her mother and her grandmother before her. How can she tell? Because she is odd – she was born with wings. There is also the problem of the disastrous loves of the Roux family. Can she escape her fate? Can she survive being different in a world that fears what is different?

Which Outsider Are You Most Like?

Take our quiz to find out: Who Is Your Outsider Kindred Spirit?

Dive into the outsider life of Jin Wang, the main character from Gene Leun Yang’s fantastic graphic novel, American Born Chinese, on our pinterest board:

https://www.pinterest.com/thekatematsby/all-about-american-born-chinese-by-gene-luen-yang/