Within the heart of Gary Davis’ novel, Misfits contains a rather dynamic cast of characters, through whom he elaborates this particular story, deeply entertainingly and insightfully. Narrated by Mr. Bill, the janitor of a local high school, the book gives vivid light to an assembled roster of teenagers with distinctive, varied, different personalities-all in different manners for varied purposes. Rather than only keeping them as story-central characters, they have proven to be an extra source for developing momentum throughout the plot.
Misfits are not about one lead character, instead, it is about several kids ranging in age from 12 to 20 years, who are residents of a small mill town with a pretty rich history. In the way they present themselves and join forces, they turn out to be unique among all other children because of not only their age and background but due to their way of embracing this fact. They are misfits in the real sense: society doesn’t quite know where they fit, but together, they make an unbreakable team. There is the tech-savvy teenager who hacks into his father’s government lab computer, thus unknowingly setting in motion a chain of events that will affect the whole town. His decision to double the order of custom parts for the government’s top-secret alien research project creates a ripple effect that leads to the construction of a duplicate alien artifact in a Cold War shelter beneath the school. It is his creativity and ambition that make him an indispensable part of the story. His gaze brings about the ability of curiosity and the need to uncover that which has not been revealed.
Other than the hacker, a multitude of other characters makes Misfits memorable in their own ways. The town’s janitor, Mr. Bill, is one such individual whose perspective displays a glimpse into the rise and fall history of the town and the secrets buried beneath, right in plain sight. With years of experience and learning, Mr. Bill is the right narrator, old and retired; he narrates in a very humorous manner, along with a lot of reflection. His way of narration makes it really easy for readers to get on his wavelength, yet allowing for many humorous comments along the way, thus soothing the darker points of the story.
Another central character is the fearless leader of the group, leading not by strength but by the power of ideas and a strong sense of community. It is this character’s unshakeable belief in the potential of their team that fuels the mission of the group and enables them to surmount obstacles that would otherwise have been insurmountable. The dedication of the leader to the cause and to the group is a key element that unites the characters in their quest to uncover the truth.
The Misfits also includes a set of characters whose growth and development throughout the course of the novel bear witness to the power of friendship and perseverance. These young misfits may be outcasts from their peers, but in fact, they are unsung heroes of this town, whose actions ultimately reveal the hidden truths and expose the mysteries of the alien artifact.
Gary Davis’ lineup of varied characters reflects in the different amounts of viewpoints and experiences in the world. It reminds one that everybody has their place, if not to convention and tradition. Misfits is a core celebration of those who beg to differ, and it’s through the characters that this tale comes alive.