Freaks: Alive, on the Inside!

Abel Dandy feels all alone, a normal teenager who lives in Faeryland, where his parents perform with other "human oddities." His extended family includes dwarves, fat ladies, and Siamese twins, and his first kiss was with Phoebe the Dog-Faced Girl. Everyone has an act to perform, for in 1899 there are not many ways for these "freaks" to earn a living. But what can boring Abel do? Determined to seek adventure and find a girl without a beard to kiss, Abel runs away from home.

But Abel finds a harsh world outside of Faeryland. Nothing seems to go as planned and he is even more alone — except for a beautiful dancing girl who haunts his dreams and seems connected to his ancient Egyptian scarab ring. After misadventure and mishap (complicated by a little problem he thought he'd left behind), Abel stumbles upon a shabby traveling freak show run by the sinister Dr. Mink. It holds secrets that break his heart. Abel's grand adventure takes a dark and dangerous twist, but the dazzling girl of his dreams beckons him onward as does his own true soul.

Annette Curtis Klause has woven humor, adventure, history, and fantasy into this exhilarating epic. Step inside and see the show — if you dare. You will never be the same again!

Though Abel Dandy was born to circus performers and grew up in a troupe of odd and inexplicable people, he has never felt limited by his normalcy--until now. Realizing he'll never be more amazing than the talented oddities around him, Abel can only dream of living a life richer than his own.

But in his dreams a mysterious woman beckons him, calling him passionately by a name he doesn't know and speaking in a language he's never heard, but fully understands. Compelled by these visions and yearning to be more than ordinary, Abel embarks on a journey more frightening and wondrous than he ever imagined....

Deborah Taylor - Children's Literature

Seventeen-year-old Abel is the odd one out in his family and his family's business. He lives with his father who has no legs and his mother who has no arms in a village with others with physical oddities. He earns money from curiosity seekers. Abel is determined to have another life, so he runs away to join a circus of all things. When the "fur-faced" boy follows him, Abel is reluctant to let the boy fend on his own. Abel assumes responsibility for him while they work unusual jobs and fend off those who would kidnap the boy for their own nefarious purposes. There is an element of fantasy present, as a mysterious woman comes to Abel, first in his dreams and then in a more tangible form. Readers will fall in love with Abel and sympathize with his quest to be in a normal environment. It is amazing how quickly the seemingly "odd" characters feel normal, but that is the point, after all. They may be "freaks" on the outside but it soon becomes apparent to the reader and Abel that the love and affection they have for one another is what lives on the inside. 2006, Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, Ages 14 up.

Annette Curtis Klause was born in Bristol, England, and moved to the United States when she was a teenager. As a child she spouted such fanciful ideas that her peers thought she was an oddity. Having an imagination turned out to be valuable -- she grew up to become a storyteller. Annette currently lives in the Maryland suburbs with her husband and six cats. Three are from SiameseRescue.org, but none are actually Siamese twins -- although one is the fastest cat on three legs and another likes to balance on top of the scratching post like a circus cat. Annette still works full-time as a children's librarian. Bouncing around like a giant bunny during preschool story time is just another way of being paid to be odd, she says.