The Freak Observer

  • Interest Level: Grade 9 - Grade 12
  • Reading Level: Grade 7

The Freak Observer is rich in family drama, theoretical physics, and an unusual, tough young woman—Loa Lindgren. For eight years, Loa Sollilja’s world ran like one of those mechanical models of the solar system, with her baby sister, Asta, as the sun. Asta suffered from a genetic disorder that left her a permanent infant, and caring for her was Loa’s life. Everything spun neatly and regularly as the whole family orbited around Asta. But now Asta’s dead, and 16-year-old Loa’s clockwork galaxy has collapsed. As Loa spins off on her own, her mind ambushes her with vivid nightmares and sadistic flashbacks―a textbook case of PTSD. But there are no textbook fixes for Loa’s short-circuiting brain. She must find her own way to pry her world from the clutches of death. The Freak Observer is a startling debut about death, life, astrophysics, and finding beauty in chaos.

Format Your Price Add
978-1-4677-6815-3
$23.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on library bound hardcovers and all eBook and eBook with Audio editions when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Grade 9 - Grade 12
Reading Level Grade 7
Genre Young Adult
Copyright 2010
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Lab ®
Language English
Number of Pages 208
Publication Date 2014-08-01
Reading Counts! Level 5.4
Text Type Fiction
BISACS YAF058060, YAF011000, YAF058140
Dewey [Fic]
Dimensions 5.25 x 7.5
Lexile 720
ATOS Reading Level 5.0
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 138163
Accelerated Reader® Points 7.0
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Awards, and Reviewed

Author: Blythe Woolston

Blythe Woolston is a reader. Right now, she makes her living indexing scholarly books. She has also worked as a writing teacher, library clerk, and production coordinator for a computer book publisher. Writing books is a new way for her to love reading.

Awards

  • William C. Morris YA Debut Award, Winner, 2011
  • PEN Center USA Literary Award Finalist, Commended, 2011
  • ABC New Voices Pick, Winner, 2010
  • ILA Children's and Young Adult's Book Award Honorable Mention, Commended, 2010

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

“A keenly observant narrator noticing life’s small details, Loa holds nothing back, which is both riveting and heartbreaking. An auspicious debut for both the author and Carolrhoda’s new Lab imprint.” —Kirkus Reviews