The Freak Observer

“Woolston draws a realistic picture of a family in trouble while focusing firmly on her deeply cerebral protagonist. Readers will be won by the vivid characterization of Loa and her strong narrative voice.” —The Horn Book Guide

“Sixteen-year-old Loa Lindgren witnesses a gruesome car accident that takes the life of her best friend, Esther. The event leaves Loa with a debilitating case of post-traumatic stress disorder. A mysterious figure known as the Bony Guy—death incarnate—terrifies her through vivid hallucinations and haunts her dreams at night. When Loa’s cherished baby sister Asta dies from medical complications, her already-broken family unravels even more. Loa meets Corey, a confident and peculiar schoolmate, who persuades her to join the debate team. But as their strange friendship blossoms, Corey abruptly leaves for Europe. Without friends or family to help, Loa begins to cope with her condition through, of all things, theoretical astrophysics. Loa’s mom enrolls at a university and the once-private and rural family find themselves connecting to each other and learning what it means to move on.” —The ALAN Review

“Loa’s voice is the story’s strength. She’s wry, observant, and honest in her narration. . . . This melancholic contemporary novel has many stellar moments that will appeal to issue-driven novel readers, but will need to be handsold through booktalking to reach a wider teen audience.” —VOYA

“A unique, disturbing, creative story.” —School Library Journal

“A strong narrative voice and a wave of tragedies define this character-driven first novel. . . . The bold cover photo of a human heart suggests the dark and sometimes graphic nature of the story. Those readers drawn inside will be won by the vivid characterization and fresh style.” —The Horn Book Magazine

“Loa is strong, but overburdened and isolated; laced with bleak humor, her deadened, searching narration carries this dark and highly promising first novel.” —Publishers Weekly

“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

“Woolston’s talent for dialogue and her unique approach to scenes makes what sounds standard about this story feel fresh and vital. . . . A strong debut about learning to see yourself apart from the reflection you cast off.”
—Booklist