Synopses & Reviews
If this is a dream, why does she seem so real? andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; 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. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; 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....
Review
Nominated for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award
A Kirkus Best Teen Book of 2012
"Broken but resilient, Portia is a sympathetic heroine whose simple, unadorned need for love and acceptance will be immediately recognizable to any young reader."
—Bulletin
"This will appeal to readers looking for something a bit different than most YA fare."
—Booklist
"Through skillful description, the dreariness of the Home and the fantastical nature of the carnival world comes vividly to life."
—Horn Book
"This predominantly third-person narration is richly textured with psychological tension, complex characterization, a vivid setting, and a suspenseful plot . . . one will be spellbound by this intriguing reading experience."
—SLJ
* "Infused with nostalgia and affection, this celebration of the deliberately constructed self will hold readers in its spell from beginning to end."
—Kirkus, starred review
Synopsis
Set in a turn-of-the-century carnival, this new work from the author of "Blood and Chocolate" tells the story of a normal boy whose parents perform with other "abnormalities of nature." Determined to make a life for himself outside the freak show, Abel Dandy finds fortune and romance in the most unexpected places.
Synopsis
If this is a dream, why does she seem so real?
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....
Synopsis
A striking historical fiction YA debut about a wayward girl amid the freaks and sideshows of a late-1930s traveling circus.
Synopsis
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step inside Moscos Traveling Wonder Show, a menagerie of human curiosities and misfits guaranteed to astound and amaze! But perhaps the strangest act of Moscos display is Portia Remini, a normal among the freaks, on the run from McGreavys Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would always find Portia, that she could never leave. Free at last, Portia begins a new life on the bally, seeking answers about her fathers disappearance. Will she find him before Mister finds her? Its a story for the ages, and like everyone who enters the Wonder Show, Portia will never be the same.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Annette Curtis Klauseandlt;/bandgt; 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.