Freeks

Gr 9 Up—Tired of living in a strange and paranormal world, all Mara wants is an escape from the carnival sideshow she's known most of her life. She thinks she might have it in a boy named Gabe whom she meets at a party when she arrives in town. Unfortunately, there is a gut feeling among many in the sideshow that something sinister is lurking. After her friends and fellow carnies are attacked by a mysterious beast, Mara must embrace the part of her identity she's tried to hide, make use of her otherworldly abilities, and save those she cares about. Hocking has crafted an interesting cast of quirky characters and a unique spin on a carnival freak show setting. The variety of supernatural creatures, from the familiar werewolf to a different take on necromancers, will delight fans of paranormal romance. The protagonist's struggle with her identity provides needed grounding in a story that largely requires readers to suspend disbelief. Some awkward pacing and heavy-handed foreshadowing make major plot points predictable far before their reveal. The climax and the conclusion, though, are ultimately quite satisfying.