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Psi Chronicles #1
Freakling
In twelve-year-old Taemon’s city, everyone has a power called psi—the ability to move and manipulate objects with their minds. When Taemon loses his psi in a traumatic accident, he must hide his lack of power by any means possible. But a humiliating incident at a sports tournament exposes his disability, and Taemon is exiled to the powerless colony.
The "dud farm" is not what Taemon expected, though: people are kind and open, and they actually seem to enjoy using their hands to work and play and even comfort their children. Taemon adjusts to his new life quickly, making friends and finding unconditional acceptance.
But gradually he discovers that for all its openness, there are mysteries at the colony, too—dangerous secrets that would give unchecked power to psi wielders if discovered.
When Taemon unwittingly leaks one of these secrets, will he have the courage to repair the damage—even if it means returning to the city and facing the very people who exiled him?
The "dud farm" is not what Taemon expected, though: people are kind and open, and they actually seem to enjoy using their hands to work and play and even comfort their children. Taemon adjusts to his new life quickly, making friends and finding unconditional acceptance.
But gradually he discovers that for all its openness, there are mysteries at the colony, too—dangerous secrets that would give unchecked power to psi wielders if discovered.
When Taemon unwittingly leaks one of these secrets, will he have the courage to repair the damage—even if it means returning to the city and facing the very people who exiled him?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2012
About the author
Lana Krumwiede
11 books90 followersIn third grade, Lana wrote in her autobiography that she wanted to be a mother, a writer, and the church organist. Two out of three ain't bad! Her work has appeared in Highlights, High Five, Spider, Babybug, The Friend, and Chicken Soup for the Child's Soul. Freakling is her first novel.
Lana has tried psi many times, particularly when it comes to household chores, but she could never make it work. She does have a few mildly supernatural abilities, which include untying knots, peeling oranges, and winning at board games. Her perfect day would include reading, writing, swimming, cooking, telling jokes, spending time with family, and pie.
And maybe a board game or two.
Lana has tried psi many times, particularly when it comes to household chores, but she could never make it work. She does have a few mildly supernatural abilities, which include untying knots, peeling oranges, and winning at board games. Her perfect day would include reading, writing, swimming, cooking, telling jokes, spending time with family, and pie.
And maybe a board game or two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
December 6, 2016
Rating your own book is like voting for yourself. You feel silly if you do it, but stupid if you don't.
May 9, 2017
Taemon is a young boy who has psychic power known as Psi. When his brother Yens tries to kill him, Taemon fights back only to lose his psi power. When the whole city finds out that he is powerless, Taemon is exiled to the powerless colony to be with the regular humans. Can Taemon survive and have the strength and courage to protect his new home? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good Science Fiction Fantasy YA adventure that is the first of a trilogy. There is tons of action and more in it. I look forward to continuing the trilogy in the future. If you like these types of stories, be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This was a pretty good Science Fiction Fantasy YA adventure that is the first of a trilogy. There is tons of action and more in it. I look forward to continuing the trilogy in the future. If you like these types of stories, be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
July 19, 2013
This dystopian Middle Grade book would have been an easy 3-stars were it not for a few big things.
+ the weak hero
I did not like Taemon. I could tolerate his lack of self-confidence, but his refusal to listen to his common sense pushed my limit. When you live in a society where psychic power is everything and you lose your own, common sense dictates that you should avoid everything that would pull attention to you. That means no participating in sport events where psychic power is the way you play the sport, especially when nobody forced you to participate, and no going to school where you’re being tested on the active use of your psychic power, especially when you could have easily been homeschooled. Where was the parenting?
The biggest thing of all, no doing anything your evil older brother says or going anywhere alone with him, especially when you can detect his evil intent from a mile and a galaxy away. Taemon wasn’t stupid; he was astute. But he made so many bad decisions that I found it hard to believe the kid was still alive by the end of Part 1 of the book. The kid was lucky that the villains were not more wicked.
However, what really grated on my nerves was his Guilt Complex. Not only was it annoying, it presented the character as a Jesus type of hero. Dafuq? I knew from the blurb that Taemon was going to be the Chosen One, but not in a Jesus-y way. Fortunately, this crap arose only intermittently. Any more frequently and I would have wanted to gouge someone’s eyes out.
+ the anti-intellectualism bent
The idea that knowledge was dangerous and thus should be kept secret because of the great possibility humanity would use it for evil (see chapter 14) was unchallenged, and I didn’t like it. Nevermind the equally great possibility that humanity could use the knowledge for the greater good because cynicism, which made little sense given how easy the villagers confessed the secret to Taemon, an outsider. Readers know Taemon is a good person (Jesus!) but from the villagers’ POV he could have been a spy for all they know, considering when they were made aware of his sibling status to one of the villains.
I hated how the good guys were incompetent in their handling of the “forbidden knowledge.” They ended up costing a lot of savable lives. The book was yet another dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction with an anti-intellectualism bent. And the fact that the setting was in a religious context, I did not care to explore what the bent could mean and go farther on the path of critical thinking because I was sure it would make me more annoyed and mad. Admittedly, there’s a chance that subversive goals are at work but I seriously doubt it.
+ the forgettable characters
Characters were flat and forgettable, especially during Part 2 when the cast expanded to include non-psychic villagers who among them I only remembered a spunky girl. I remembered Amma because she had traits of a kickass heroine and more right to be the main character than Taemon did. Other than her, I did not remember any other character introduced after Part 1. The characters I did remember, I had nothing but complaints.
Taemon’s family were halfway to being window dressing to the point that the author should have just went ahead and made Taemon a complete cliché by making him an orphan with a mysterious past. The book dismissed his mother and father after Part 1, never to be heard from again, and became another case of the Disappearing Parent Syndrome.
As for Taemon’s brother, the dude was outright evil: power-hungry, narcissistic, and jealous. There was little explanation for why Yens became evil other than bad parenting (read: no parenting) and Uncle Fierre who spoiled him. Okay, so maybe that is all the explanation needed but the character felt like he was just born evil rather than a case of bad nurturing in the sense that someone needed to be evil aside from the evil mastermind. In sum, what little can be called family dynamics were so awkwardly done that, to reiterate, the book would have better off making Taemon an orphan with a mysterious past.
I did appreciate that Taemon was given a break in the form of a best friend, Moke. For all the characterization of Taemon as a special snowflake, less than average Moke was more interesting. If Amma had first place in having the most rights to be the main character, Moke had second place, which is why it really sucked what happened to him at the end. So much for that break.
As for the main villain, Elder Naseph was your typical corrupted priest who wanted the world as his oyster because being high priest is not enough. All the characters were either good or evil. Character development was the book’s weakest point.
In Conclusion
I rate Freakling 2-stars for it was okay. A thing I did like was like the religion and how it was based on nature with Mother Nature as the divine power, the True Son as her Jesus, and how psychic power was the privilege bestowed on her chosen people. However, I wish more creative liberties were taken because the religion felt like a clone of Christianity.
In regard to the plot, Part 1 was too long which made for a slow beginning, and frustrating because of the hero. Part 2 was meh, and with no sign of character growth on the hero I skimmed. Part 3 was where good action happened but I ceased to care back in Part 2. Overall, in another writer’s hand, the book could have been way better.
+ the weak hero
I did not like Taemon. I could tolerate his lack of self-confidence, but his refusal to listen to his common sense pushed my limit. When you live in a society where psychic power is everything and you lose your own, common sense dictates that you should avoid everything that would pull attention to you. That means no participating in sport events where psychic power is the way you play the sport, especially when nobody forced you to participate, and no going to school where you’re being tested on the active use of your psychic power, especially when you could have easily been homeschooled. Where was the parenting?
The biggest thing of all, no doing anything your evil older brother says or going anywhere alone with him, especially when you can detect his evil intent from a mile and a galaxy away. Taemon wasn’t stupid; he was astute. But he made so many bad decisions that I found it hard to believe the kid was still alive by the end of Part 1 of the book. The kid was lucky that the villains were not more wicked.
However, what really grated on my nerves was his Guilt Complex. Not only was it annoying, it presented the character as a Jesus type of hero. Dafuq? I knew from the blurb that Taemon was going to be the Chosen One, but not in a Jesus-y way. Fortunately, this crap arose only intermittently. Any more frequently and I would have wanted to gouge someone’s eyes out.
+ the anti-intellectualism bent
The idea that knowledge was dangerous and thus should be kept secret because of the great possibility humanity would use it for evil (see chapter 14) was unchallenged, and I didn’t like it. Nevermind the equally great possibility that humanity could use the knowledge for the greater good because cynicism, which made little sense given how easy the villagers confessed the secret to Taemon, an outsider. Readers know Taemon is a good person (Jesus!) but from the villagers’ POV he could have been a spy for all they know, considering when they were made aware of his sibling status to one of the villains.
I hated how the good guys were incompetent in their handling of the “forbidden knowledge.” They ended up costing a lot of savable lives. The book was yet another dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction with an anti-intellectualism bent. And the fact that the setting was in a religious context, I did not care to explore what the bent could mean and go farther on the path of critical thinking because I was sure it would make me more annoyed and mad. Admittedly, there’s a chance that subversive goals are at work but I seriously doubt it.
+ the forgettable characters
Characters were flat and forgettable, especially during Part 2 when the cast expanded to include non-psychic villagers who among them I only remembered a spunky girl. I remembered Amma because she had traits of a kickass heroine and more right to be the main character than Taemon did. Other than her, I did not remember any other character introduced after Part 1. The characters I did remember, I had nothing but complaints.
Taemon’s family were halfway to being window dressing to the point that the author should have just went ahead and made Taemon a complete cliché by making him an orphan with a mysterious past. The book dismissed his mother and father after Part 1, never to be heard from again, and became another case of the Disappearing Parent Syndrome.
As for Taemon’s brother, the dude was outright evil: power-hungry, narcissistic, and jealous. There was little explanation for why Yens became evil other than bad parenting (read: no parenting) and Uncle Fierre who spoiled him. Okay, so maybe that is all the explanation needed but the character felt like he was just born evil rather than a case of bad nurturing in the sense that someone needed to be evil aside from the evil mastermind. In sum, what little can be called family dynamics were so awkwardly done that, to reiterate, the book would have better off making Taemon an orphan with a mysterious past.
I did appreciate that Taemon was given a break in the form of a best friend, Moke. For all the characterization of Taemon as a special snowflake, less than average Moke was more interesting. If Amma had first place in having the most rights to be the main character, Moke had second place, which is why it really sucked what happened to him at the end. So much for that break.
As for the main villain, Elder Naseph was your typical corrupted priest who wanted the world as his oyster because being high priest is not enough. All the characters were either good or evil. Character development was the book’s weakest point.
In Conclusion
I rate Freakling 2-stars for it was okay. A thing I did like was like the religion and how it was based on nature with Mother Nature as the divine power, the True Son as her Jesus, and how psychic power was the privilege bestowed on her chosen people. However, I wish more creative liberties were taken because the religion felt like a clone of Christianity.
In regard to the plot, Part 1 was too long which made for a slow beginning, and frustrating because of the hero. Part 2 was meh, and with no sign of character growth on the hero I skimmed. Part 3 was where good action happened but I ceased to care back in Part 2. Overall, in another writer’s hand, the book could have been way better.
June 13, 2017
This was a very entertaining book. It is set in a dystopian world where there is a community of people who have “psi” which is an ability to move things using just their minds. There is also a community of people without this ability who are considered “powerless.” The main character Taemon lives in the psi community. There is conflict between Taemon and his brother Yens who is doing all he can to be proven to be “True Son” of the psi community. I don’t want to give away too much so I will stop here but it was a fun book to read and I plan to read the next couple books in the series.
May 5, 2012
I just finished Freakling and I thought it was a fabulous story. The book is debuting in October, but I received an advanced copy from a teacher at my school who went to a book convention in Chicago. I was ecstatic to read a book that has yet to be published but little did I know that the plot and characters would be so multi-dimensional and intriguing that I hardly put it down. The main character, Taemon, is a boy with great intellect and deep thoughts. I applaud Lana Krumwiede for her descriptions that gave the reader insight into Taemon's thoughts and motives for his many actions and decisions in the story. The plot was easy to follow but allowed the reader oppertunities to really dig deeper into Taemon's life and mind. Overall, I enjoyed Freakling and I reccomend it for both sci- fi fans and dystopian novel readers alike. The ending was perfectly constructed for there to be a sequel and I read online that in 2013 that it will be published. I'm excited to see where Taemon's adventures take him in the next story!
June 16, 2018
Another MG one, but I was really surprised when I read that this one was MG. There was violence, death, threats of violence and even a hint of a threat of sexual violence. I get that the main character is 13 so I guess that makes it more MG then, but, since it is labelled as MG some really young readers could read it. But maybe kids these days are more used to things. Still, I would say this one is more for younger YA readers. Cos no, there is not that much violence. YA has more, but I still feel like it was a bit to dark for MG. I mean an 8 year old could read this and they just kill a kid like that and torture people so...maybe I am the only one that feels like this. It was just such a change from the other MG I just listened to.
Speech over. 11 up absolutely. Not under that. But older YA would find it too simple so yes it lies there in the shadow land of upper MG, lowerYA
Is this a fantasy world? Is it our world? No idea. I do like when things are clearer cos I always wonder. Is it dystopia? Sci-fi? Interesting mix at least. A world where a group of fanatics (yes I will call them that) left and made a mountain (why no one come over the sea and takes a look I have no idea), and then they live there using psi powers they got. Which to me seems to exhausting. They can do NOTHING by hand. Not eat, not going to the toilet I assume. NO lifting. Nothing. I wonder how they make babies, I guess they can touch then...or? Cos the kid keeps saying that no one touch each other. You do not want to know what I am thinking now. Touch is a sense. Why take away that completely?
Anyway, this kid Taemon loses his powers and is sent away. I liked him, though he really should just have killed his psycho brother. That does make it MG, he was so damn nice.
There is an evil guy who is evil and Taemon will obvi save the world.
Interesting world and a nice story, even if, I mean come on people, touch is a sense!
Narrator Nick Poedl
I liked his voice and omg the voice for Tae's sociopath of a brother, yes he sounded evil!
Speech over. 11 up absolutely. Not under that. But older YA would find it too simple so yes it lies there in the shadow land of upper MG, lowerYA
Is this a fantasy world? Is it our world? No idea. I do like when things are clearer cos I always wonder. Is it dystopia? Sci-fi? Interesting mix at least. A world where a group of fanatics (yes I will call them that) left and made a mountain (why no one come over the sea and takes a look I have no idea), and then they live there using psi powers they got. Which to me seems to exhausting. They can do NOTHING by hand. Not eat, not going to the toilet I assume. NO lifting. Nothing. I wonder how they make babies, I guess they can touch then...or? Cos the kid keeps saying that no one touch each other. You do not want to know what I am thinking now. Touch is a sense. Why take away that completely?
Anyway, this kid Taemon loses his powers and is sent away. I liked him, though he really should just have killed his psycho brother. That does make it MG, he was so damn nice.
There is an evil guy who is evil and Taemon will obvi save the world.
Interesting world and a nice story, even if, I mean come on people, touch is a sense!
Narrator Nick Poedl
I liked his voice and omg the voice for Tae's sociopath of a brother, yes he sounded evil!
April 6, 2018
First of all, this book started off slow and I didnt think I would enjoy it...AT ALL. However, making connections and looking deeper into the text made it more into like a mystery book, which I enjoyed. Doing "a home things" when reading this book made me change my opinion in the book. But there were still sometimes where the book was sooo detailed that it made it terrible.
Honestly, when in social studies class and reading TKM in the past, this made me connect slavery with this book. Generally because of how black people during slavery were treated different and were known as different because of their abilities and color of skin. This was the same with "Freakling". Taemon (the main character) had this mind ability known as "psi", but he loses it along the way in the book. When you aren't born with psi or loose your psi, you move to the Colony and have to work for the people WITH psi. If you think about it, this is similar to the way of slavery, but with different concepts and ideas. Seeing how one COMPLETELY different concepts come together make me really feel like this book is supposed to resemble slavery in a way.
Overall, "Freakling" was very slow in the beginning, but when coming across action and mystery and seeing what Taemon was going to do, it truly made me enjoy the book more. Pretty good book if you are into the books that make you "connect the dots"!!
Honestly, when in social studies class and reading TKM in the past, this made me connect slavery with this book. Generally because of how black people during slavery were treated different and were known as different because of their abilities and color of skin. This was the same with "Freakling". Taemon (the main character) had this mind ability known as "psi", but he loses it along the way in the book. When you aren't born with psi or loose your psi, you move to the Colony and have to work for the people WITH psi. If you think about it, this is similar to the way of slavery, but with different concepts and ideas. Seeing how one COMPLETELY different concepts come together make me really feel like this book is supposed to resemble slavery in a way.
Overall, "Freakling" was very slow in the beginning, but when coming across action and mystery and seeing what Taemon was going to do, it truly made me enjoy the book more. Pretty good book if you are into the books that make you "connect the dots"!!
Read
July 12, 2017A future society that uses forms of psychokinesis and has forgotten how to even zip a zipper unless through the power of the mind. The narrator was excellent. I enjoyed this book, it is great for teaching morals, good vs evil and a bit of science, but it is also a fun and gently mysterious story of a young boy who was hurt in an "accident" and how he overcomes his disability. I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of the series as it comes out.
September 18, 2017
Full review to come!
October 11, 2013
I would like to say that I think that by the end of this book, the author just got tired of writing and decided to end it abruptly with a plot twist that was never even mentioned as a possibility before. Oh, and all the bad guys were killed in a freak accident. Sorry if that spoiled it for anyone. If not for the ending, the book would have been ok, slightly above meh, and if the ending had been superb, then it could have been pretty good. There was only one thing that the author could have done at the ending that would make it that bad and she did it. The entire book there is foreshadowing and even a few flash-forwards which, if they had been used, would have made the book so much better, but instead, the author decides to do what I would consider the equivalent of the world exploding, just to end the book. I even would have been satisfied with a Stuart Little ending, a cliff hanger with no sequel compared to what the author decided to do. If you still decide to read it, good luck to you, just do not expect too much from the end. For those of you who care, it has nothing inappropriate. There is a slight relationship, but it never really advances beyond the friendship stage, and I cannot remember any bad language. There is an insane brother who attempts to murder his sibling, but, again if I remember correctly, there is nothing that shocked me into considering putting the book away. There are better books out there, but if you really want to read a junk book, this book is clean.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2012
Let me clarify...I really liked this book for a ten or eleven year old. I would even give it to an older reluctant reader. Despite an interesting premise, the writing is just too simple for the book to go much higher. And, it needs to, because the themes it addresses--pride, loyalty, deception, self-sacrifice and death--are ones that can require a bit of emotional maturity. My eleven year old read this in an afternoon and we had a great discussion about power, knowledge and making decisions for oneself or the good of others. Things I'm pretty sure the author intended and I liked. I also appreciated that the author explained psi as more than the power of telekinesis, but stipulated that in order to use it, one had to understand how something worked. A gentle introduction to the mechanics of magic that made the story more believable and more interesting. Great choice for readers who are too young to understand the machinations of Artemis Fowl.
June 25, 2014
I gobbled this thing up in one single night. I was expecting a cheap spoof of the The Hunger Games, but I was delighted to find that I was wrong. Freakling is a thing of its own!!! I love the idea of having psi (I'm guessing the P is silent) and moving stuff with your mind. I'm so glad this is a series! This book deserves to be praised heavily.
Alternate Rating: B
Alternate Rating: B
May 30, 2017
I'm giving this a 3 1/2 star rating, and added the next book in this series to my "to be read" list. I coincidentally read it the same weekend that I read The Darkest Minds and that might have been a little too much psychic ability YA for a single weekend, but this came out as the stronger book. The audience for this book is younger than YA, but pretty close.
Fantasy and sci-fi books really come down to three things for me: Characters, plot and universe.
I really liked the characters of Taemon, his friend who was his psi ball partner (can't remember the name - I listened to this on audiobook), and also Amma. I haven't decided yet whether I like the character of his brother, as he is dark and twisty, but we don't know yet whether there is a decent reason for it or just you know, evil. I don't care for Taemon's parents, as they really let Taemon down. His dad tried to help by inventing a manual bass drum, but didn't really step up to protect him. Hell, his mom forbade him from feeding himself. Selfish much, mom. I recently read The Glass Castle and let's just say I really appreciate that my parents aren't self-absorbed nincompoops like the parents in this book and that memoir. Yes, that one is a memoir, how horrifying. I get that "parents are mean" is a YA book theme, so fine, but damn. I liked Taemon's resilience and willingness to keep trying and striving, despite all of his setbacks, and to keep making friends along the way. In a couple years, I might try to get my son to read this book just so he can learn from Taemon's example.
The universe was interesting, but not really complete. It didn't make a whole lot of sense why Taemon's parents tried to hide his loss of psi in such a cruel and ham-handed way, but I liked the way that they described the universe and the cluelessness of people who have come to rely on psi to do everything from cooking and feeding to driving to laundry to probably wiping their own butt. Which reminded me of my favorite line from the Lego Movie, in which Captain Metalbeard tells the others "Wiping yer bum with a hook is hard, this is impossible!" Do these people have media and know what is going on in and outside of the city? That wasn't really clear. If they don't, then the ending must have been really baffling. If they do, they never mentioned it.
The plot was decent, but let me down. Taemon's journey outside the city into the land of the non-psi people was interesting, and gave a wonderful contrast, but I don't know that the logic of all of that was well explained. It reminded me of the third Divergent book in which the author gutted her own premise when she went outside the walls of New Chicago and found that everyone out there was pretty much the same type of "special" as our heroes, or something like that. What? Who are these people and how do they fit into the plot of everything else going on in the city? We did not find out. Why did they bother introducing Daemon to a family with 5 kids to live with if he was just going to move in with the tinker as soon as he decided where to apprentice? No idea. What is Amma's family doing there? I'm not sure.
I liked it because it was interesting and I like Taemon, but not sure if I can forgive the weird plot twists enough to make it through the trilogy. I'll try to pick up the second one and find out though.
Fantasy and sci-fi books really come down to three things for me: Characters, plot and universe.
I really liked the characters of Taemon, his friend who was his psi ball partner (can't remember the name - I listened to this on audiobook), and also Amma. I haven't decided yet whether I like the character of his brother, as he is dark and twisty, but we don't know yet whether there is a decent reason for it or just you know, evil. I don't care for Taemon's parents, as they really let Taemon down. His dad tried to help by inventing a manual bass drum, but didn't really step up to protect him. Hell, his mom forbade him from feeding himself. Selfish much, mom. I recently read The Glass Castle and let's just say I really appreciate that my parents aren't self-absorbed nincompoops like the parents in this book and that memoir. Yes, that one is a memoir, how horrifying. I get that "parents are mean" is a YA book theme, so fine, but damn. I liked Taemon's resilience and willingness to keep trying and striving, despite all of his setbacks, and to keep making friends along the way. In a couple years, I might try to get my son to read this book just so he can learn from Taemon's example.
The universe was interesting, but not really complete. It didn't make a whole lot of sense why Taemon's parents tried to hide his loss of psi in such a cruel and ham-handed way, but I liked the way that they described the universe and the cluelessness of people who have come to rely on psi to do everything from cooking and feeding to driving to laundry to probably wiping their own butt. Which reminded me of my favorite line from the Lego Movie, in which Captain Metalbeard tells the others "Wiping yer bum with a hook is hard, this is impossible!" Do these people have media and know what is going on in and outside of the city? That wasn't really clear. If they don't, then the ending must have been really baffling. If they do, they never mentioned it.
The plot was decent, but let me down. Taemon's journey outside the city into the land of the non-psi people was interesting, and gave a wonderful contrast, but I don't know that the logic of all of that was well explained. It reminded me of the third Divergent book in which the author gutted her own premise when she went outside the walls of New Chicago and found that everyone out there was pretty much the same type of "special" as our heroes, or something like that. What? Who are these people and how do they fit into the plot of everything else going on in the city? We did not find out. Why did they bother introducing Daemon to a family with 5 kids to live with if he was just going to move in with the tinker as soon as he decided where to apprentice? No idea. What is Amma's family doing there? I'm not sure.
I liked it because it was interesting and I like Taemon, but not sure if I can forgive the weird plot twists enough to make it through the trilogy. I'll try to pick up the second one and find out though.
November 21, 2012
First Look: This looked pretty interesting. I actually had a similar idea revolving in my head for quite awhile (though it's now been put indefinitely on the back burner). Ultimately, the execution of this book was very different from my idea, which is perfectly alright with me. Also, it's kinda refreshing to read middle grade every so often--it gives me a break from angsty romance and love triangles everywhere.
Setting: I love, more than anything, the fact that this setting made me think quite a bit about something I'd never thought of before. These people had spent their entire lives doing thing with psi, with everything from eating to doing work to playing sports. (Using "psi" is basically doing things with mental powers, like telekinesis.) I had never before considered how much our daily lives revolve around doing things, physical things. I'm pressing down on my keyboard right now. Earlier I picked up my food with a fork in order to eat it. I put my contact lens on my finger and put it into my eye (yep, I'm a contact-wearing person now). We physically do things, all day, every day. So what if you, say, didn't have to touch your phone in order to press the buttons? What if you could control everything internally? And then, what happens when you lose that power, in a world that doesn't know how to live without it?
This aspect was fascinating. Had this book been longer, I'm sure Krumwiede would have delved into this even more, but she still did a great job exploring this idea.
Characters: I liked Taemon. He reacted realistically to the events of the story, and had plenty likable traits. He was smart and determined. There wasn't anything that made him stand out from the crowd, but he was still a fairly solid lead.
Some of the side characters--especially kids other than Taemon--were flat. I could find no distinguishing traits about them. Except for Moke, though. I liked him. Something's up with that kid--I want to know more! And Yens had some really weird and interesting stuff going on. I'm skeptical that any sixteen-year-old would actually want to kill their brother, but...okay. At least he didn't stray into I'm-evil-because-I'm-evil mode.
Plot: It was interesting, but...it went too fast, for me. Some of this probably came from the fact that it was a MG book, but still (or maybe that's just me, because when I was twelve I was reading 500-page monsters). There were some things that could have been expanded on, giving the plot more depth.
I'm also a bit skeptical on some of the plot elements. As in, would that society turn completely from a good place to a not-so-good place that fast? I'm not sure I believe it. Can a twelve-year-old outsmart a prison system put in place by trained adults? Not sure I believe that, either.
Uniqueness: This book mixes familiar dystopian aspects with fresh, different ones.
Writing: There were some typos, but my copy is an ARC, so that's to be expected. Unless they weren't corrected when the book went to actual printing. But I'll assume they were.
Otherwise, the writing did a good job telling the story. I don't have anything more to say about it.
Likes: Nothing not already mentioned above.
Not-so-great: First thing: There are some weird biblical references here. I'm not sure whether this is a good or bad thing. I can't decide if some of these references are unintentional, of if they were meant to be there. First, there's the thing about the True Son, which is an obvious Christ-figure reference, not to mention a very interesting word choice. The "True Son" (okay, the kid who they thought was the True Son) tore down the temple. Um....
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three
days." (John 2:19)
And now I'm left wondering if the actual True Son is going to build it up again. Also, there's some stuff about a prophet leading people to a new land, etc.
Second thing: In the powerless colony, there is a family that safeguards a secret library. In this library, there is a book titled Understanding the Atom. The parents of the family make a comment that goes something like this (this is by no means an exact quote, but it's the general message): "If you knew what an atom was, and how to use it, you could destroy the world. That is why we must keep this knowledge secret." This is obviously referring to the atomic bomb, and how a person could potentially use this power to destory the world. I'm not going to sit here debating the ethics of dropping bombs on Japan during WWII, but in short, I believe it was necessary. There are 11-17 million reasons for this. (And no, I'm not just tossing out numbers.) Also, the idea of hiding knowledge has never sat well with me.
Third thing: I don't really agree with the choice Taemon made at the end, to This doesn't sit well with me, either.
Overall: This is an interesting dystopian read with a likable main character. It presents some really cool and fairly well-executed concepts. I love the idea of psi and the culture that goes with it. This is a middle grade book, so it's aimed at 10-14 year olds, but then again, I'm sixteen and enjoyed it. The only thing that gives me pause is the subtext. There's some serious stuff going on beneath the surface of this book, and some of it doesn't sit well with me. Taemon's story is just the tip of the iceberg, here. I feel like younger readers won't see the subtext, but I did. It'll be interesting to see where the series goes.
Setting: I love, more than anything, the fact that this setting made me think quite a bit about something I'd never thought of before. These people had spent their entire lives doing thing with psi, with everything from eating to doing work to playing sports. (Using "psi" is basically doing things with mental powers, like telekinesis.) I had never before considered how much our daily lives revolve around doing things, physical things. I'm pressing down on my keyboard right now. Earlier I picked up my food with a fork in order to eat it. I put my contact lens on my finger and put it into my eye (yep, I'm a contact-wearing person now). We physically do things, all day, every day. So what if you, say, didn't have to touch your phone in order to press the buttons? What if you could control everything internally? And then, what happens when you lose that power, in a world that doesn't know how to live without it?
This aspect was fascinating. Had this book been longer, I'm sure Krumwiede would have delved into this even more, but she still did a great job exploring this idea.
Characters: I liked Taemon. He reacted realistically to the events of the story, and had plenty likable traits. He was smart and determined. There wasn't anything that made him stand out from the crowd, but he was still a fairly solid lead.
Some of the side characters--especially kids other than Taemon--were flat. I could find no distinguishing traits about them. Except for Moke, though. I liked him. Something's up with that kid--I want to know more! And Yens had some really weird and interesting stuff going on. I'm skeptical that any sixteen-year-old would actually want to kill their brother, but...okay. At least he didn't stray into I'm-evil-because-I'm-evil mode.
Plot: It was interesting, but...it went too fast, for me. Some of this probably came from the fact that it was a MG book, but still (or maybe that's just me, because when I was twelve I was reading 500-page monsters). There were some things that could have been expanded on, giving the plot more depth.
I'm also a bit skeptical on some of the plot elements. As in, would that society turn completely from a good place to a not-so-good place that fast? I'm not sure I believe it. Can a twelve-year-old outsmart a prison system put in place by trained adults? Not sure I believe that, either.
Uniqueness: This book mixes familiar dystopian aspects with fresh, different ones.
Writing: There were some typos, but my copy is an ARC, so that's to be expected. Unless they weren't corrected when the book went to actual printing. But I'll assume they were.
Otherwise, the writing did a good job telling the story. I don't have anything more to say about it.
Likes: Nothing not already mentioned above.
Not-so-great: First thing: There are some weird biblical references here. I'm not sure whether this is a good or bad thing. I can't decide if some of these references are unintentional, of if they were meant to be there. First, there's the thing about the True Son, which is an obvious Christ-figure reference, not to mention a very interesting word choice. The "True Son" (okay, the kid who they thought was the True Son) tore down the temple. Um....
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three
days." (John 2:19)
And now I'm left wondering if the actual True Son is going to build it up again. Also, there's some stuff about a prophet leading people to a new land, etc.
Second thing: In the powerless colony, there is a family that safeguards a secret library. In this library, there is a book titled Understanding the Atom. The parents of the family make a comment that goes something like this (this is by no means an exact quote, but it's the general message): "If you knew what an atom was, and how to use it, you could destroy the world. That is why we must keep this knowledge secret." This is obviously referring to the atomic bomb, and how a person could potentially use this power to destory the world. I'm not going to sit here debating the ethics of dropping bombs on Japan during WWII, but in short, I believe it was necessary. There are 11-17 million reasons for this. (And no, I'm not just tossing out numbers.) Also, the idea of hiding knowledge has never sat well with me.
Third thing: I don't really agree with the choice Taemon made at the end, to This doesn't sit well with me, either.
Overall: This is an interesting dystopian read with a likable main character. It presents some really cool and fairly well-executed concepts. I love the idea of psi and the culture that goes with it. This is a middle grade book, so it's aimed at 10-14 year olds, but then again, I'm sixteen and enjoyed it. The only thing that gives me pause is the subtext. There's some serious stuff going on beneath the surface of this book, and some of it doesn't sit well with me. Taemon's story is just the tip of the iceberg, here. I feel like younger readers won't see the subtext, but I did. It'll be interesting to see where the series goes.
November 7, 2019
This book was an extremely fast read, in part because this dystopian fantasy was written for a young adult audience, but also because it is an entirely compelling story. Set in Deliverance, a city where everyone has telekinetic powers and use them to do everything, this is the story of Taemon, a boy who doesn't quite fit in. And in a society as tightly regulated as Deliverance, anything that doesn't fit in is potentially dangerous. Taemon tries to blend in, but his ambitious older brother becomes suspicious, and Taemon eventually must make a difficult choice. But that choice has consequences and soon enough Taemon is exhiled to the Powerless Colony, where those without telekinetic powers are forced to live. But things are changing in Deliverance, and just as Taemon is beginning to come to terms with life in the Colony, he finds himself struggling to prevent a war.
The concepts of psychic powers, as portrayed here, and the details of this society built around their uses, is highly imaginative and original. So much so, that I really can't think of any other stories to compare it to, which makes this story fun to read as we learn about this entirely new world and the people that live in it. And while it might have been written for younger readers, even adults are sure to find it entirely satisfying.
The concepts of psychic powers, as portrayed here, and the details of this society built around their uses, is highly imaginative and original. So much so, that I really can't think of any other stories to compare it to, which makes this story fun to read as we learn about this entirely new world and the people that live in it. And while it might have been written for younger readers, even adults are sure to find it entirely satisfying.
February 17, 2020
This is an interesting take on psychic abilities. Some have them, some don’t and they lived in colonies based on that. Knowledge has been carefully segregated too, to prevent powerful people from missing it.
The plot is fine, though predictable. My main issue was with the characters. Yens was just sort of randomly evil. Sibling rivalry wasn’t enough motive for me, frankly. And the parents - I mean, what was up with them? I wish more had come of Da resisting the temple. And how in the world did they not see what Yens was? How he treated his brother? I have a hard time believing that any parent could be quite that oblivious.
It’s always hard to pinpoint what makes some MG/YA more appropriate for their intended age group and what makes some of it amazing even from a grown-up perspective. This one feels like it’s solidly one for the younger folks - maybe because those who’ve read less wouldn’t find it as predictable? Maybe because kids won’t question the complete stupidity of the parent characters?
The plot is fine, though predictable. My main issue was with the characters. Yens was just sort of randomly evil. Sibling rivalry wasn’t enough motive for me, frankly. And the parents - I mean, what was up with them? I wish more had come of Da resisting the temple. And how in the world did they not see what Yens was? How he treated his brother? I have a hard time believing that any parent could be quite that oblivious.
It’s always hard to pinpoint what makes some MG/YA more appropriate for their intended age group and what makes some of it amazing even from a grown-up perspective. This one feels like it’s solidly one for the younger folks - maybe because those who’ve read less wouldn’t find it as predictable? Maybe because kids won’t question the complete stupidity of the parent characters?
February 25, 2020
This book has such a unique concept that I love. The idea of psi and what a psi wielding city would look like is so interesting and makes me not want to put the book down. On top of that, the plotline is amazing with Taemon fighting against his brother Yens and saving the entire city from the war was incredibly well developed. I also love the relationship between Amma and Taemon and how that developed throughout the book and I love the character of Challis because she really adds so much to the story. Overall this book is so good, and the concept is so creative, there is nothing more I could ask for.
November 30, 2018
In this book I really enjoyed it because being in a world were being different is dangerous you really have understand were Taemon comes from you cant be yourself or people will try to kill you because they want a society were they want wise and smart and talented people to make their world look better than what it really is. If someone doesn't like the way you act or the way you look they label you as a freakling and that spoke to me because that happens in real life.
July 23, 2018
interesting premise. I was surprised at the ending. Even more so when I come here and see it labeled #1 in a series. I'm intrigued how she continued the plot - I'll have to check out the others.
November 8, 2012
Actual review is 4.5 out of 5
The premise of 'Freakling' is what drew me in. Young boy, just starting his teenage years, lives in a city where everybody has the same power - that's a pretty good twist. The power to move things with your mind - psi - is also intriguing in how Krumwiede applies it to the book; not only does it serve as a useful tool for action, but it also has a more symbolic purpose as well. Is it possible for somebody to "lose their identity" when everybody has the same identity (i.e. psi). Very interesting premise.
Writing characters that use their minds to move things seems no easy task to me, but Krumwiede does a good job of making it visual. She has built a very dystopic, interesting world full of people who have become self-gratifying and almost prideful in their power. As soon as the story starts, their is tension, especially between Taemon and his older brother, Yens. Yens is possibly the True Son, the one who has been prophesied about to help bring balance, and he is a die hard psi worshiper. He has no use for Taemon and his weak ways. As a MG novel, Krumwiede does a great job pulling the reader in and having them be able to relate to the characters. As the book progresses, more characters are introduced: the town leader who wants control, the girl that is a friend but possibly something more, the best friend, the quirky neighbor who might not be what they seem. All of these characters are served well in the book and are given a unique voice by the author.
I also love the names in the book. They are very personal and help to bring you into the story. For example, Taemon calls his parents "mam" and "da"; just that subtle use really helps with setting the stage and drawing you into the world. There is something personal, deep about it. Authentic.
As the story progresses and we follow Taemon at home, through school, and the conflict that ensues, the pacing is good and the conflict builds and doesn't seem forced. And the book is not just all action. As with any good MG book, Krumwiede desires to get the reader to think. I love the contrast between the so-called "easy" life of those who have psi, and the perceived "duds" in the non-psi colony. Those with psi have been taught to believe they are better than the those without. The thought being how can someone without psi have a happy, productive life with they actually have to "do" something. Taemon, and reader, grow through the story to a better understanding of what is fundamentally important.
While I really liked the ending, and felt it held true to the story, I felt it was rushed and ended too fast (which might actually be a good thing, because I wanted it to keep going). I wanted it to have a little more closure, a little more time to take a step back and digest everything that had just happened, instead of being more like a cliffhanger. I don't know if that's what the author's intents were, that's just how it felt to me (and the only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars). But otherwise, the ending was very satisfying and, honestly, I did not see it coming (which is always good):-)
A very strong, debut novel with an interesting premise and great world. Even though the premise seems to trend more toward boy readers, I say the psi-centric premise and the relationships in the book make it a great read for boys and girls and will give them a lot to think about.
The premise of 'Freakling' is what drew me in. Young boy, just starting his teenage years, lives in a city where everybody has the same power - that's a pretty good twist. The power to move things with your mind - psi - is also intriguing in how Krumwiede applies it to the book; not only does it serve as a useful tool for action, but it also has a more symbolic purpose as well. Is it possible for somebody to "lose their identity" when everybody has the same identity (i.e. psi). Very interesting premise.
Writing characters that use their minds to move things seems no easy task to me, but Krumwiede does a good job of making it visual. She has built a very dystopic, interesting world full of people who have become self-gratifying and almost prideful in their power. As soon as the story starts, their is tension, especially between Taemon and his older brother, Yens. Yens is possibly the True Son, the one who has been prophesied about to help bring balance, and he is a die hard psi worshiper. He has no use for Taemon and his weak ways. As a MG novel, Krumwiede does a great job pulling the reader in and having them be able to relate to the characters. As the book progresses, more characters are introduced: the town leader who wants control, the girl that is a friend but possibly something more, the best friend, the quirky neighbor who might not be what they seem. All of these characters are served well in the book and are given a unique voice by the author.
I also love the names in the book. They are very personal and help to bring you into the story. For example, Taemon calls his parents "mam" and "da"; just that subtle use really helps with setting the stage and drawing you into the world. There is something personal, deep about it. Authentic.
As the story progresses and we follow Taemon at home, through school, and the conflict that ensues, the pacing is good and the conflict builds and doesn't seem forced. And the book is not just all action. As with any good MG book, Krumwiede desires to get the reader to think. I love the contrast between the so-called "easy" life of those who have psi, and the perceived "duds" in the non-psi colony. Those with psi have been taught to believe they are better than the those without. The thought being how can someone without psi have a happy, productive life with they actually have to "do" something. Taemon, and reader, grow through the story to a better understanding of what is fundamentally important.
While I really liked the ending, and felt it held true to the story, I felt it was rushed and ended too fast (which might actually be a good thing, because I wanted it to keep going). I wanted it to have a little more closure, a little more time to take a step back and digest everything that had just happened, instead of being more like a cliffhanger. I don't know if that's what the author's intents were, that's just how it felt to me (and the only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars). But otherwise, the ending was very satisfying and, honestly, I did not see it coming (which is always good):-)
A very strong, debut novel with an interesting premise and great world. Even though the premise seems to trend more toward boy readers, I say the psi-centric premise and the relationships in the book make it a great read for boys and girls and will give them a lot to think about.
November 30, 2012
In the future, Deliverance is a haven for those with psi (or telekinesis). Those without psi are forced to live in an outer community for those without powers.
At the beginning of the book, Taemon has psi, but he also has the ability to see into the workings of things. This ability makes him different and places him in trouble. If the leaders of their community were to find out, he could be placed in an asylum or banished. It doesn’t come to that, however, because after a failed attempt on his brother’s life, he loses his psi powers. He and his parents try to hide his lack of powers, but they can only succeed for so long before the truth is known, and he is exiled from Deliverance forever.
Freakling is very much like many other Dystopian thrillers. It can be likened to Lois Lowry’s books, Divergent, Wither, Pretties, and many, many others. It is not a bad book per say. It’s just not all that memorable. There was nothing wildly different in it’s view of the future. Like always, there’s a culture that seems perfect until you start asking questions. It took the same old path and used a basic cardboard cutout for the world. I would have liked it if everything was fleshed out a little more. That would have certainly helped it feel more original, at least. The book was very short. It could have really done with another fifty or one hundred pages.
Also, the main character was a little dull. He was a bit too goody-two-shoes for my taste. Pretty much anyone else in the book would have been a more interesting lead. Moke? The father? Amma? All more interesting. Of course, I would have liked his brother as a main character, but I know a sociopath “hero” wouldn’t work in a Young Adult novel. Still, it’s kind of fun to imagine.
On the whole, Freakling wasn’t a bad book. It’s a quick read and can stand on it’s own. I would recommend it to those not already well versed in the dystopian fiction. If you’ve read Divergent, The Giver, or Hunger Games, this book is sort of redundant.
At the beginning of the book, Taemon has psi, but he also has the ability to see into the workings of things. This ability makes him different and places him in trouble. If the leaders of their community were to find out, he could be placed in an asylum or banished. It doesn’t come to that, however, because after a failed attempt on his brother’s life, he loses his psi powers. He and his parents try to hide his lack of powers, but they can only succeed for so long before the truth is known, and he is exiled from Deliverance forever.
Freakling is very much like many other Dystopian thrillers. It can be likened to Lois Lowry’s books, Divergent, Wither, Pretties, and many, many others. It is not a bad book per say. It’s just not all that memorable. There was nothing wildly different in it’s view of the future. Like always, there’s a culture that seems perfect until you start asking questions. It took the same old path and used a basic cardboard cutout for the world. I would have liked it if everything was fleshed out a little more. That would have certainly helped it feel more original, at least. The book was very short. It could have really done with another fifty or one hundred pages.
Also, the main character was a little dull. He was a bit too goody-two-shoes for my taste. Pretty much anyone else in the book would have been a more interesting lead. Moke? The father? Amma? All more interesting. Of course, I would have liked his brother as a main character, but I know a sociopath “hero” wouldn’t work in a Young Adult novel. Still, it’s kind of fun to imagine.
On the whole, Freakling wasn’t a bad book. It’s a quick read and can stand on it’s own. I would recommend it to those not already well versed in the dystopian fiction. If you’ve read Divergent, The Giver, or Hunger Games, this book is sort of redundant.
July 1, 2021
I don’t like to use those typical reviewer words, but this book was riveting. Horrifyingly beautiful.
A boy growing up with a murderous brother who many believe to be their savior discovers he has powers no one else nearby knows about. He is sent through many trials and his entire like changes in just a few months. He discovers great evil at work and realizes that he has the power to stop it through a great battle of will, teamwork, and passion.
Also included in this first book of the PSI Chronicles are precisely crafted characters, a thrilling original plot (although some parts mildly resembled Star Wars at times), and not-overdone attention to detail. Examples of hard ethical and unethical choices were scattered all throughout this book, giving it wonderful morals (although it did include occasionally graphic demonstrations of evil).
I felt very much a part of Krumwiede’s world and cannot wait to continue to venture into her futuristic creation.
A boy growing up with a murderous brother who many believe to be their savior discovers he has powers no one else nearby knows about. He is sent through many trials and his entire like changes in just a few months. He discovers great evil at work and realizes that he has the power to stop it through a great battle of will, teamwork, and passion.
Also included in this first book of the PSI Chronicles are precisely crafted characters, a thrilling original plot (although some parts mildly resembled Star Wars at times), and not-overdone attention to detail. Examples of hard ethical and unethical choices were scattered all throughout this book, giving it wonderful morals (although it did include occasionally graphic demonstrations of evil).
I felt very much a part of Krumwiede’s world and cannot wait to continue to venture into her futuristic creation.
May 28, 2013
You know that book that at first it's,Meh, then you are suddenly 230 pages and you just HAD to chuck it at a wall? That is what Freakling fits in. I didn't hate the book, I loved Taemon, he was very curious, it did lead to trouble though. No,what made me throw the book at my wall was Yens and Elder Naseph. I say good ridance for both of them being gone! The book is good, but it is just the villans in the book will make you want to hurl the book at a wall. I loved it. The plot ran very fast,dates went by quickly, it never was to the least annoying,unlike Yens. I give it an A! I want Book 2 now and I hope I don't chuck THAT one at my wall. I'm gonna pray to Heart of the Earth that I don't. ;-)
June 12, 2017
I was bored nearly the entire time with few exceptions that occurred briefly in the middle of the novel when Challis's character comes into play. The power "psi" seems impractical especially in the way the community uses it in day-to-day life. The people with psi use mind control for every situation and are reprimanded if they use their hands resulting in most people not knowing how to use their hands. It doesn't make sense to me. Some things make more sense to do with your hands than your mind. I couldn't emotionally attach to any of the characters so even when tragedy struck I didn't feel anything or care. All that being said...sci/fi and fantasy are not my preferred genres to read in general.
December 13, 2016
This is actually my second time reading this book. I didn't realize that she had made it into a trilogy, so I decided to read this one again before reading the others. I quite enjoyed the story. It was different than other books in it's genre (didn't just feel like the same old story) and I liked the main character and how the book ended. It's definitely written for a younger reader, but I still had fun with it.
October 4, 2017
This was a free audio book from audio file through their audio book sync summer reading program. This was a pretty good book, but the main character was such an idiot that I got sick of him by the end of the book. I was also not aware that this was a series so I was hoping for more of a finished story. I liked the world building though, that part I really enjoyed.
December 30, 2012
Very well done. What I liked best is that I couldn't put my finger on it genre-wise. It is a sci-fi dystopia but also had elements of the fantastical and some steampunky things going on. Great characterization and world-building. Loved it.
August 5, 2012
A nice dystopian for younger readers, the plot was compelling enough for a ten or eleven-year-old, and the world one young readers will enjoy thinking about when the story is over. Although it was at times predictable and the characters a little flat, it was an enjoyable read overall.
August 26, 2013
Booktalked this one on the recommendation of my colleagues. It was so popular with the kids I had to read it myself. Finished just in time for the sequel's fall release. Perfect example of sci-fi for elementary and middle schoolers.
December 22, 2016
My middle school book club kids loved it! And it's a great young teen dystopian. It's just not my kind of book. I wasn't in to dystopians that much to begin with, and I'm especially tired of them now. But kids these days can't seem to get enough! Like I said, the 5th-7th graders I know loved it!
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