Freakling (Psi Chronicles) - Hardcover

Krumwiede, Lana

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763659371 ISBN 13: 9780763659370

Publisher: Candlewick, 2012

Synopsis

A thrilling, fast-paced dystopian novel about the dangers of unchecked power and the dilemmas facing a boy torn between two ways of life.

In twelve-year-old Taemon’s city, everyone has a power called psi — the ability to move and manipulate objects with their minds. When Taemon loses his psi in a traumatic accident, he must hide his lack of power by any means possible. But a humiliating incident at a sports tournament exposes his disability, and Taemon is exiled to the powerless colony. The "dud farm" is not what Taemon expected, though: people are kind and open, and they actually seem to enjoy using their hands to work and play and even comfort their children. Taemon adjusts to his new life quickly, making friends and finding unconditional acceptance. But gradually he discovers that for all its openness, there are mysteries at the colony, too — dangerous secrets that would give unchecked power to psi wielders if discovered. When Taemon unwittingly leaks one of these secrets, will he have the courage to repair the damage — even if it means returning to the city and facing the very people who exiled him?

About this title

About the Author:

Lana Krumwiede is a debut novelist with many short stories, articles, and poems to her credit. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 5-7-This dystopian novel packs a punch with an original premise and a fully developed future society. Taemon, 12, lives in a city where everyone can move objects with their minds, a power called psi. One day, while arguing with his brother, he hears a strange voice and is asked to make a difficult choice. His decision costs him his supernatural abilities. Taemon attempts to fake it for a while, but it's next to impossible. Without psi, he can't even feed himself, since using his hands would reveal his secret. It doesn't take long before he ends up exiled to a colony of "powerless" people. The colony isn't as backward as Taemon was raised to believe, though, and there he learns valuable lessons about the power he lost and the power still inside him. Meanwhile, his cruel older brother is being groomed as the True Son, a much-revered individual who, according to prophecy, will bring on the next Sacred Cycle. All of this leads to a gutsy conclusion. While the concept of psi and all of its intricacies is described well, at times the narrative feels repetitive, reminding readers that every action is accomplished using it. However, memorable characters; a smooth, suspenseful plotline; and a fascinating premise make this debut a worthy addition to the genre. Give it to kids who are a little too young for Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games (Scholastic, 2008).-Mandy Laferriere, Staley Middle School, Frisco, TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0763659371
• ISBN 13: 9780763659370
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320