When the curtains are drawn back on the cabinet of wonders, every individual you meet is an original, the indelible mark of their uniqueness shaped in their
flesh. Molly and Faye are spirited teenagers—and conjoined twins. Saffron is the Wolf Girl, her female
form covered head to toe in fur. Alex/Alexandra is a seductive morphodite, her male/female parts irresistible to many.
To the rubes that pay good coin to see them, they are Freaks. To the other carnies—those who run the
Ferris Wheel, the Girl Show, and more—they are the Starlight Carnival Royale’s most lucrative source
of income, and sometimes, friends. To Shadrach the tattooed man of God who travels with them,
they are evidence of the divine. For Dugan—scholar, businessman, romantic, and dwarf—the cabinet of
wonders is more than just his business, it’s his family and the center of his universe, and he’ll do everything he can to keep it together...despite the rifts that are appearing after three years on the road.
Set in 1927, this marvelous tale confronts the spectacle of the Freak Show, steps through the curtains
and out the other side, taking the reader to a candid, complex and human space where they can know outsiders as intimates.
About the Author
 Born in Atlanta, Renee Dodd's childhood was divided between urban and rural Georgia. Renee, whose name is pronounced “Renny,” received an M.F.A. from the University of Houston, and teaches creative writing at Georgia College and State University. She is currently at work on a second novel.
Author's Website
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The Critics Praise:
“Dodd makes this strange world come alive. A capable
performer in her own right, she juggles multiple plot lines. It’s impossible not to be charmed
by this vividly drawn crew—their tough exteriors belie tender hearts.…A rare treat: a diverting
and insightful piece of quirky fiction.”
- Kirkus, Starred Review
“Dodd’s prose is graceful, smooth, and intelligent, and
her well-researched debut novel is sure to please many readers. Highly recommended.”
Library Journal, Starred Review
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