High school, heartbreak, a miserable job, and a family as happy as sack full of wet cats--anyone can cope with that. But add hallucinations to the ...
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reviews
Sep 20, 2011
Nova
rated it: 
So far, as an English teacher, I could criticize so many things about this book. But if the author is reading this review out of curiousity...I will temper my criticism with praise first--I thought the physics problems at the beginning of each chapter were outstanding pieces of craft. I'm a big fan of compositional risk, and especially look for "what has not been done before" in a book. I've never seen physics problems as a way to introduce chapters in a realistic fiction book. The w
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Dec 13, 2011
Louisa
rated it: 
Sometimes with books like this, I can't bear to get through them. I read like ten pages at a time, I start another book--all in hopes of avoiding a seemingly inevitable outcome that results in the horrible wasting away of the teenage protagonist. And by books like this I mean books where the teenage protagonist just gets the shit kicked out of them--physically and emotionally--by life.
I guess I'm a bit of a coward like that.
However, in this book like that, Blythe Woolst More...
I guess I'm a bit of a coward like that.
However, in this book like that, Blythe Woolst More...
Dec 10, 2011
Julie
rated it: 
I don't summarize worth a dang, so if you need a summary, find it here. First up, this cover--this cover, people! On the whole, I think that these days middle grade and chapter books get the better covers--illustrations, significant objects, great color schemes--while YA has become a wasteland of severed heads, torsos, and wickedly photo-shopped faces. But Woolston's Morris Award Winning novel avoids that sad fate, and has a cover--and back cover--design that give the reader a huge, satisfying c
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Sep 26, 2011
Joanna
rated it:
Grades 9-12. Woolston's novel, winner of the 2011 YALSA William C. Morris Award for excellence in a previously unpublished author, is a stunningly moving, honest look at the life of teenage girls. Perhaps the single best feature of Woolston's work is its' seamless integration of different kinds of worldviews into one enriched outlook. The protagonist, Loa, faces the issue of mortality, the meaning of friendship, the application of Physics to real life, how poverty affects opportunity, and the fr
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Aug 25, 2011
Pamela
rated it:
Blyth Woolston was clever when she decided to write The Freak Observer (Carolrhoda Lab 2010) in first person. The reader feels like they are in Loa’s head with her. She has terrible nightmares and is dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. She had a sister that died from complications with Rett syndrome. There was a routine and rhythm to her life when her sister was alive. She had a routine and her father read to her sister every night and the house was calm. Suddenly everything has ch
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Jul 31, 2011
Chris
rated it:
"Death, life, astrophysics, and finding beauty in chaos," reads an apt line from the book trailer. I have to admit I'm still not entirely clear on just what the theoretical concept of a freak observer is, even though Loa, who is given it as a research topic for make-up credit in physics class, finds it a helpful metaphor as she copes with way more loss than any person should have to. In fact, if the sample school problems that introduce each chapter represented the events of those ch
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Apr 19, 2011
Cornmaven
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 15, 2011
Penny
rated it: 
I wanted to quit reading this book several times, but I was so anxious to find out if this poor young woman was ever going to get any help!! (I won't spoil it by telling you whether or not she did.) I wanted to scream at her parents, school counselors, teachers, and any other adult in her life. HEY! Can't you see this girl needs help?!!?
16-year-old Loa Lindgren is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Her 8-year-old sister, an invalid since infancy, has died, sending her More...
16-year-old Loa Lindgren is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Her 8-year-old sister, an invalid since infancy, has died, sending her More...
Mar 21, 2011
Lizz
rated it:
Gosh damn, the Morris award nominees were EFFING AMAZING this year. While I was all pissy that "Crossing the Tracks" did not win, I must (and not begrudgingly) admit this book deserves such accolades.
Told in a circular style that also includes a linear narrarative, this multi-layered account of Loa's struggle to come to terms with extreme loss, her traumatic reaction and the daily crap of teen life is engaging on multiple levels. Each chapter begins with a physics problem c More...
Told in a circular style that also includes a linear narrarative, this multi-layered account of Loa's struggle to come to terms with extreme loss, her traumatic reaction and the daily crap of teen life is engaging on multiple levels. Each chapter begins with a physics problem c More...
Jan 18, 2011
Caren
rated it:
About a quarter of the way through this book, I nearly gave up on it; it is just so relentlessly sad. It is, however, extremely well written and I found myself reading on in the way you can't turn your eyes from a horrific accident, but know you should. It is an edgy, intelligent story and I imagine it to be an engaging read for teens. At the very end, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for Loa, the 16-year-old protagonist. She is a mature, smart girl, but life just keeps throwing so much at he
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Nov 30, 2010
Emily
rated it:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book (and by surprised I mean, "Wow, I really like this book when I told myself I wouldn't"). The cover is extremely eye-catching and the title sets you up for a unique reading experience. The narrator, Loa, goes through a lot of turmoil (losing a sister, having a close friend move away, losing another friend, a home life devoid of love, getting diagnosed with PTSD) and normally a book with this kind of subject matter usually involves having a really
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Nov 21, 2010
Allison
rated it:
Loa, who has just lost a younger sister and a friend, navigates the worlds of high school and her family... all this interspersed with snippets of theoretical physics.
The narrator of this book had a very unique voice, which I liked. For example, in the library, she described the Dewey decimal system as "a ghetto for old books that couldn't just be put in the dumpster but weren't worth the trouble of assigning new numbers and moving to new shelves." She goes on to describe More...
The narrator of this book had a very unique voice, which I liked. For example, in the library, she described the Dewey decimal system as "a ghetto for old books that couldn't just be put in the dumpster but weren't worth the trouble of assigning new numbers and moving to new shelves." She goes on to describe More...
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Oct 11, 2010
Julia
rated it:
Loa has PTSD. She should. She lost a much loved sister & saw a friend killed in a car accident all within a year. Her family is no help. This then is a story about how Loa finds her own ways to cope with her problems. She distances herself from her pain by looking at it through the lens of physics principals. (The title of the book comes from one of these principles.)
To be honest, though I saw growth in Loa, I felt lost at the beginning of her journey & I still felt rather lost More...
To be honest, though I saw growth in Loa, I felt lost at the beginning of her journey & I still felt rather lost More...
Jun 29, 2010
Claire
rated it:
In this book Loa processes her life with us. She lives near a university town but way, way, way off in the back woods; lots and lots of time on the school bus.
The book kicks off with the sudden, violent death of her friend Esther who is hit by a stray log tossed like a toothpick when a logging truck jackknifes near the kids. This compounds the loss earlier that year of her sister Asta who died of a genetic anomaly. The family is still reeling from the loss which was followed closely by Da More...
The book kicks off with the sudden, violent death of her friend Esther who is hit by a stray log tossed like a toothpick when a logging truck jackknifes near the kids. This compounds the loss earlier that year of her sister Asta who died of a genetic anomaly. The family is still reeling from the loss which was followed closely by Da More...
Feb 05, 2012
Mark
rated it:
"I find it weird that nobody teaches us about dreams in school. You'd think it would come up at some point, like maybe in health class or something, but it doesn't. There was that inspirational speaker who tore a phone book in half and told us to dream big, but his message had nothing to do with our dream life while we sleep. He was all about goals and, I guess, dislike for phone books."
Loa's life has been filled with heartache and loss. Most recently, she was present for t More...
Loa's life has been filled with heartache and loss. Most recently, she was present for t More...
Jul 04, 2011
TheBookSmugglers
rated it:
Original review posted on The Book Smugglers HERE
The Freak Observer is the 2011 winner of the William C. Morris Award. This award is given by YALSA to a debut book published by a first-time author writing for young adults and I have decided to try and read all of this year’s nominees. So far, I’ve read Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (which didn’t work for me) and Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey (which I loved without reservations). The Freak Observer falls somewhere i More...
The Freak Observer is the 2011 winner of the William C. Morris Award. This award is given by YALSA to a debut book published by a first-time author writing for young adults and I have decided to try and read all of this year’s nominees. So far, I’ve read Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (which didn’t work for me) and Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey (which I loved without reservations). The Freak Observer falls somewhere i More...
Jun 26, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
I'm still not really sure what to say or make of this one. On the surface, it appears to be mainly concerned with Loa's mental state following the deaths of her sister and a friend. But there's an awful lot going on in this slim tome. Loa is definitely an interesting character. She's tough and smart, but ultimately still suffering from the death of her little sister, Asta, who had suffered from Rett's Syndrome. Loa had been her sister's caretaker for most of Asta's short life. At some poin
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Feb 16, 2011
Crowinator
rated it:
Okay, this won me over -- just when I got so fed up with the relentlessly sad life the narrator, Loa, is living (seriously, I just about lost it when the dog dies in the story), things start to improve for her; yes, it improves slowly, and it's only a little bit, a glimmer, but that's realistic and doesn't undercut all of the reasons for her PTSD and depression. Also, I love a non-linear, character-driven story, so the structure and the voice held me through the rough patches.
Still, More...
Still, More...
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Sep 15, 2011
Donna
rated it:
Carolrhoda Lab for the win yet again! Seriously, I've been on top of this inprint since they debuted with DRAW THE DARK and TRAITOR and they've yet to publish anything even remotely resembling a word turd. Their books are so rich and deep that you just get sucked right in and you don't even realize you were under water until you emerge breathless. THE FREAK OBSERVER is no exception.
Now this is literary YA that I can sink my teeth into. It's succinct but vibrant. Loa doesn't pity hersel More...
Now this is literary YA that I can sink my teeth into. It's succinct but vibrant. Loa doesn't pity hersel More...
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Mar 26, 2011
Allison
rated it:
This is unique little book. It's about a teenage girl named Loa, and her life immediately following the death of her little sister of Rhett's disease. Loa was Asta's primary caretaker until her death, and the loss of Asta plays a big part of the story, while the actual character of Asta is already gone.
Basically, Loa is trying to create order out of the chaos of her life and feelings. And there is a lot of chaos in her life, including everything from family financial woes, alcohol abuse, More...
Basically, Loa is trying to create order out of the chaos of her life and feelings. And there is a lot of chaos in her life, including everything from family financial woes, alcohol abuse, More...
Feb 01, 2011
Jan
rated it:
Woolston just won the latest YALSA Morris Award, which recognizes a debut novel written for young adults.
This is a very unusual book, both in construction and in voice. Loa has suffered many losses in her life. She has lost her younger sister to a terrible genetic disorder and a friend to an auto accident, and to make things worse, her friend Corey has betrayed her. Loa is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and experiences terrible nightmares and flashbacks. Her way More...
This is a very unusual book, both in construction and in voice. Loa has suffered many losses in her life. She has lost her younger sister to a terrible genetic disorder and a friend to an auto accident, and to make things worse, her friend Corey has betrayed her. Loa is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and experiences terrible nightmares and flashbacks. Her way More...
Feb 01, 2011
Desiree
rated it:
I'm going to get straight to the basics to explain why I rated this book 3 stars.
Characterization, for one, is very one dimensional. Loa is portrayed as a very intelligent, rational teenager in high school who is very interested in science and physics. This was interesting and unique, however, I feel that it's the only part of her character - aside from the panic attack in class that occurs midway through the story - that is believable and draws the reader in. She isolates herself from More...
Characterization, for one, is very one dimensional. Loa is portrayed as a very intelligent, rational teenager in high school who is very interested in science and physics. This was interesting and unique, however, I feel that it's the only part of her character - aside from the panic attack in class that occurs midway through the story - that is believable and draws the reader in. She isolates herself from More...
May 06, 2011
Laura
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 24, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
An interesting read for the disaffected teenager.
Loa is struggling with a number of challenges. Her dad's out of work, her mom's got a drug problem, she doesn't fit in at school and her baby sister, Asta, is dead. The only person Loa can lean on for support is her friend Corey who's got issues of his own and is soon shipped off to Europe by his mom.
Then her friend Ester is hit by a car and Loa spirals further into depression, trying to use her love of science to explai More...
Loa is struggling with a number of challenges. Her dad's out of work, her mom's got a drug problem, she doesn't fit in at school and her baby sister, Asta, is dead. The only person Loa can lean on for support is her friend Corey who's got issues of his own and is soon shipped off to Europe by his mom.
Then her friend Ester is hit by a car and Loa spirals further into depression, trying to use her love of science to explai More...
Aug 12, 2010
Diana
rated it:
Loa has lost a lot in her life -- her sister who was born with a genetic disorder, her best friend who was sent off to school in Europe, her lifelong friend Esther who was hit and killed on a road one night, and her dog but she remains strong and resilient though depressed. She is smart and hard working. Each chapter starts with something, usually a quote, Loa is thinking about, often related to physics. The setting is also effectively conveyed giving subtle hints through its reflection on Loa.
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Jan 26, 2012
Greg
rated it:
Looking at the cover one can't help but to be intrigued. This intrigue caught my attention and just as confusing as the cover is I thought that the novel at times was difficult to follow because of the transitions from past to present with intertwined dreams throughout the novel. That, and I was up all night reading so my thought process could have been impaired and effected my ability to comprehend. The protagonist, Lao, faces some difficult challenges which causes a character connection with t
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Sep 07, 2011
Claudia
rated it:
Wow -- Loa is such a different protagonist than I'm used to in YA lit...she's suffering from post-traumatic stress; she knows it; she tries everything she can to short-circuit it, including staying up all night, cleaning the bathroom floor with a toothbrush. Anything to keep from going to sleep, because "the problem with sleep is dreams." Her dreams ambush her and terrify her. Loa has lost her beloved sister and a friend, both within months of each other. She's used up the family's med
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Aug 08, 2010
Karen
rated it:
This book is sort of like the female version of Catcher in the Rye. Or maybe it would be what Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird might write as a senior in high school, if her best friend had died, and her world had fallen apart, giving her nightmares and PTSD. Can you tell I'm saying "literary classic" here? Because it really is a brilliant little book. I loved the scientific references, and the little bits from the classroom at the beginning of each chapter. It was so lovely to read an
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Oct 18, 2010
Chanelle
rated it:
A story with a very strong voice, a very fragile girl, and a family that make you kind of grateful for what you have.
I enjoyed the voice, which reminded me of Speak, and I did like being in Loa's head...until I became bored. Not bored of her, but bored of the story. Nothing was in order, so I was constantly confused. Was this before her friend died, or after?
There's also quite a lot of talk about death and people's coping mechanisms. It made for quite a depressing read.
My main More...
I enjoyed the voice, which reminded me of Speak, and I did like being in Loa's head...until I became bored. Not bored of her, but bored of the story. Nothing was in order, so I was constantly confused. Was this before her friend died, or after?
There's also quite a lot of talk about death and people's coping mechanisms. It made for quite a depressing read.
My main More...
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Jun 21, 2011
Whitney
rated it:
Winner of the 2011 William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens.
I enjoyed reading this book but I don't know why. I think it is important to bring subjects like PTSD to light, but the main character went through such horrible circumstances that it makes it seem like only people on the far end of the spectrum are allowed to feel that sort of pain. The narrative was nice but there wasn't a strong enough plot for me to feel fulfilled at the More...
I enjoyed reading this book but I don't know why. I think it is important to bring subjects like PTSD to light, but the main character went through such horrible circumstances that it makes it seem like only people on the far end of the spectrum are allowed to feel that sort of pain. The narrative was nice but there wasn't a strong enough plot for me to feel fulfilled at the More...
