Freaks: Alive, on the Inside!
Set in 1899, Freaks: Alive on the Inside tells the story of Abel Dandy. Born to an armless mother and a legless father, Abel’s upbringing has been anything but normal. Even so, this seemingly ordinary teen finds himself running away from the freak show to join the circus. Is it a coincidence that he leaves his world—or most of it—behind after being gifted with a mysterious turquoise ring, carved in the image of a scarab beetle, or that he is also suddenly plagued by peculiar dreams?
Annette Curtis Klause takes the concept of “normal” and turns it on its ear, using unusual characters and settings to great effect—each time her protagonist tries to do the responsible thing, she puts him in truly bizarre (and fascinating) situations. Her characters are vividly yet sympathically drawn. This is an extraordinary tale intricate enough to interest adult readers. A delight. Age 14 and up.
