book data
116 ratings, 3.39 average rating, 24 reviews
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published
2006
by Margaret K. McElderry
binding
Hardcover, 336 pages
isbn
068987037X
(isbn13: 9780689870378)
description
Abel Dandy feels all alone, a normal teenager who lives in Faeryland, where his parents perform with other "human oddities." His extended fa...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 182)
Read in March, 2008
I could not get into this at all. I thought from the back cover that maybe it was going to interrupt the idea that people with disabilities are fuck-ups. But it actually served to re-centralize non-disabled normality/perspective because the non-disabled main character, a 14 year old boy named Abel, leaves the "freak show" community his parents are part of and that he grew up around, in order to stop being the "odd one out" and ignored because he *isn't* a freak. Couple that w...more
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Read in February, 2006
I'm trying to remember the last time I saw "loins" (and/or references to sexual organs and physical possibilities relating to them) this often in a YA ("recommended for readers 14 and up", it says) novel.
Right. That would be never. This book is smuttier than a, erm, circus full of, um, smutty things. We have a horny seventeen year old hero, an equally horny ghost, some bawdy freaks and other carnival folk (and lots of musing on their sexual physiology and what they...more
Right. That would be never. This book is smuttier than a, erm, circus full of, um, smutty things. We have a horny seventeen year old hero, an equally horny ghost, some bawdy freaks and other carnival folk (and lots of musing on their sexual physiology and what they...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of Klause and the macabre
I'm going to start this out by saying the cover is beautiful and by one of my favourite artists.
That said, I agree with most of the reviewers of this book in that it does talk about the boy and his out of control sexual desires quite a bit. It doesn't make the book any less appropriate for an older teen audience (14+) but it does get a little tedious. We know how a boy his age would react to an enticing topless dance. We don't need to hear about it every time he has a dream, honestly. I did ...more
That said, I agree with most of the reviewers of this book in that it does talk about the boy and his out of control sexual desires quite a bit. It doesn't make the book any less appropriate for an older teen audience (14+) but it does get a little tedious. We know how a boy his age would react to an enticing topless dance. We don't need to hear about it every time he has a dream, honestly. I did ...more
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Read in December, 2008
I liked the concept of the book ("normal" kid growing up in a late-1800's/early-1900's era freak show, clearly inspired by the film Freaks and Coney Island in its heyday), but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd expected to. It feels overly sexual for YA novel, and, quite honestly, the mysterious woman subplot mostly just annoyed me. The heartwarming ending helped redeem it a bit, but...eh.
I think I need to read some freak show/carnival histories next.
I think I need to read some freak show/carnival histories next.
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Read in January, 2005
Klause reworks the mummy legend of ancient love that burns across the ages against the backdrop of an 1890's traveling carnival. There's plenty of humor, especially at the beginning of the book as Abel, the perfectly normal teller of the tale, describes his nuclear and extended "freak" family. Like any good YA novel, it's a coming of age story as Abel hits the road, joins up with a circus, then another freak show, and even lives for while in a brothel. Along the way, Abel meets those w...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Mature YA/ Adult
This is a very unusual book. This story takes place in the late 1800s and really has everything...romance, adventure, mystery and of course fantastic characters. Abel is a teenager living with his parents - Dad doesn't have legs and Mother doesn't have arms. They live and work at Faeryland - a type of sideshow museum/freakshow. Abel decides he is not wanted/needed and runs away - only to end up working at another type of Freakshow. Great story how Abel is able to help the people and the chi...more
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OK...I guess I don't get out much, but "aching loins" and heaving bosoms in a young adult book? Was curious about this one because it seemed to be an adventure/coming of age novel set in the late 1800's. A young man has grown up in the midst of a group of circus performers who are labeled as freaks and feels he does not belong because of his normalcy. You do feel a connection with the characters and root for them in their bid for escape from an abusive circus owner but all in all I jus...more
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Read in April, 2008
Not nearly as engrossing or sexy as Klause's Blood and Chocolate , but it has some entertaining aspects. I like the idea of exploring the lives of human freaks in shows and circuses of the 1890's, but Klause throws in a rather ridiculous and unnecessary supernatural subplot involving an ancient Egyptian mummy who comes to life as a hot teenage fantasy. The characters of the freaks, on the other hand, are interesting and movingly human. I wish she'd focused on them and felt free to step...more
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I very much enjoyed the audio version of this book. I'm not sure I would've liked it as well just reading it -- the different sideshow characters' voices really came alive and I found myself taking on the voices throughout the day.
Also, an unfortunate subplot could be tuned out while I drove--another bonus to the audio!
Also, an unfortunate subplot could be tuned out while I drove--another bonus to the audio!
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Read in October, 2008
this book"Freaks: Alive, on the Inside" is about a boy who goes through life with circus people and has dated a dog/girl and he has a hard social life because he lives with circus type people and people would make fun of him and he does know what to do because he feels as if his circus friends might get offended
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Read in November, 2008
This is an interesting read. A little tedious with the "coming of age" discussion with the boy, but the rest of it was good.
I think the author made a successful attempt at making these fictional freaks appear real.
Great characters and unusual.
You can leave home, but home never leaves you....
I think the author made a successful attempt at making these fictional freaks appear real.
Great characters and unusual.
You can leave home, but home never leaves you....
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Read in March, 2008
Actually, it's a book on CD and it's been a blast to listen to. The narrator is very good and the story is chilling, compelling and sometimes really funny. I imagine reading it would be fun, but listening to it makes it come to life.
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Read in March, 2006
Fun romp through 19th-century US via a circus boy who wants to be normal and then finds normal isn't all it's cracked up to be. Distinguished by energy, compassion, and some mild but unusual attention to race.
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Read in July, 2007
Entertaining, colorful characters with some actual depth beyond their physical being. Got a little tedious with the main character and his constant woody... alright already, he's horny. Move along!
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this was a long book to read. It had an interesting concept but seemed to be pushing to a goal. I felt like the author had an idea and just wanted to get to it at first.
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Read in September, 2008
Pretty good, well written, it was fun to read. But seriously in need of a good twist. It went as predicted, which was no fun.
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Read in August, 2008
Still trying to figure out what I think about this one. I am pretty sure that the author is my secret twin, though.
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It's a very intresting take on circus people in the early days of touring. It's pretty good and a fast read.
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recommends it for:
people who like weird love stories
it was very well written and had very good descriptions of the charaters but was a little depressing
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Read in October, 2007
I love the "story" of the novel, but the overall draw is diminished by a not-believable male character.
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