Freaky Heart

Annalise was born with just half of a heart. She's battery-operated like a robot with a Frankenstein scar. This once captivated her peers but now it freaks them out.

Her useless heart is not only physically trying to kill her - but it is murdering her social life as well.

But when a life-changing accident at school sends her back to the hospital, her reputation is the least of her problems.

She must now face every one of her heart-breakers head-on, including facing her enemy and her first crush, and hardest of all, she is forced to now see herself as others see her.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR FREAKY HEART!

"Annalise is different from her middle school classmates. Having a pacemaker and undergoing multiple heart surgeries sets her apart, but she believes it does so in the worst way possible. The initial plot points of Freaky Heart underscore ongoing self-deprecation. Describing herself as a Frankenstein-like robot. To support this demeaning outlook, some classmates change tables in the cafeteria as she approaches, and most days, she finds two anonymous notes from fellow students in her locker. Although one expresses admiration, the brutal insult of the other resonates far more throughout most of the story. As author Lori M. Jones poignantly depicts, when a crush asks her to be his girlfriend, she backs away lest he sees her imperfections.

When she is hospitalized for another surgery, her outlook incrementally changes-a gradual transition that drives the rest of the narrative. Interacting with the mother of a child in the same ward and talking to her cardiologist about something other than illness markedly impacts how she sees herself. In light of the Annalise the reader is familiar with. They won't be able to anticipate what takes place next and will be eager to know what follows. Understanding the importance of defining positive selfhood is the overarching theme, movingly structured by Lori M. Jones, a writer with exceptional awareness and sensitivity. Freaky Heart is so full of life lessons that it should be mandated reading for middle schoolers and their parents, offering a way to convey what it means to be one-of-a-kind." - Readers' Favorites 5 Star Review

"Humor mixed with heartache follows one girl's journey to embrace what makes her special. Freaky Heart takes the reader on a journey they won't soon forget, resonating with readers of all ages, reminding us how precious life is. Inspirational, heartwarming, and triumphant. A character who won't be defined by her struggles finds the will to persevere." -Carolyn Menke, ELA Middle Grade Teacher & Author of Return To Me

"This book! It's magnificent! Annalise's voice is perfectly crafted with the nuance of a feisty pre-teen who lives in optimism, but whose point of view is tinged by self-aware cynicism stemming from having to face growing up faster than most. Jones artfully and plainly develops her character so that each of those parts of Annalise is as alive as you and me.

This book is perfect for your kids, for their friends, for your nieces and nephews and for you. While adults have hopefully matured beyond their middle school worlds, this book plays to the inner child as we recall our younger years with kindness and understanding we may not have been able to at that age. With grown-up wisdom and soft-heartedness that comes from understanding everyone and everything in the world is freaky in its own way, this book appeals to every reader of every age. Get it now. Rush over, buy it. That's it." - Kathleen Shoop, Best-selling Author and owner of Romancing Your Muse.

"Told with spot-on humor and a great deal of heart, Lori Jones's middle grade novel will speak to everyone who's ever felt like they didn't quite fit in (and that's all of us)." - Kim Pierson, Children's Librarian