Misfit by Jon Skovron

Misfit by Jon Skovron
Publisher: Amulet
Release Date: 8/1/11
Pages: 382
Grade: D

Synopsis (GoodReads): Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help. 

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much. 

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

Review: I wanted to love this book so much! Couldn't wait to get my hands on it and my eyes running over it!! And what a disappointment! I love YA literature, especially the supernatural stuff!!!!

I do love the look of the book...the page edges are marked and chapter pages are grayer, providing an antiquey look and feel. That is what grabbed me initially...then the whole demon aspect is what made me want to read further.

Sadly, the characters are severely under-developed! The reader doesn't learn anything about Jael that isn't school or demon related.  And then there is her father.  In flashbacks we see how happy he is to have a daughter and how much he loves her...but in the present he is at best apathetic to her, and at worst almost abusive.  But we, the reader, have no idea what is causing this...we can speculate, but even those speculations don't really apply given what we know.  There is some great comic relief, and the only highlight of the book, by a demon Uncle named Dagon. 

I found the story to be inconsistent. For example Demons are stronger in Hell. Yet the Boss Demon engages Jael in a battle on Earth. Now before you say that he couldn't take her to Hell for the battle, let me say the battle takes place shortly after he takes her to Hell for a tour! HELLO! It doesn't make sense.  This is just one example.

I'm sad I couldn't write a more positive review...the story had great potential that just never materialized.