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hailey_miller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Circus at the End of the Sea is a beautiful book, whimsical, mystical, and magical. I absolutely fell in love with Maddy, Skeeter, Ophelia, Vanessa, and everyone involved in Il Circo della Strade. Five stars, no hesitation.
jl_hay21's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
3.0
bookishgrrrl's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable, solid middle grade debut. Themes of loneliness, self-reflection, and dealing with fear. Good for kids who enjoy lots of descriptive text as there is a lot of time spent world-building for such a short text.
nwatk004's review against another edition
4.0
You are never too old for magic! I am a sucker for magical realism, and for middle grade novels that focus on the subtle magic of friendship. I loved that we had some traditional magic i.e. mermaids and winged lions tied in with magical elements that were fresh and new i.e. talking graffiti and shapeshifting octopuses. Even though the orphan trope is one that can be overwrought and overdone, I feel like Maddy is intriguing enough to make us forgive the cliche.
emileereadsbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Kids for the gifted book I read with the library audio.
This book is worth reading just for the mimic octopus Ophelia. The way Snyder uses that character as a plot device is so genius and fun. She doesn't speak, but the way she shifts and changes and the descriptions of the colors she becomes added so much to how the emotions in this book leapt off the page. And the mimic octopus is a real creature! Also amidst all the magical angst and fun, there are historical facts about the setting of Venice Beach, California interwoven in the story that made it fun and makes you want to dig into that place more. This book is creativity and well written word pictures on display. If you love inventive writing, you will enjoy this one.
This book is worth reading just for the mimic octopus Ophelia. The way Snyder uses that character as a plot device is so genius and fun. She doesn't speak, but the way she shifts and changes and the descriptions of the colors she becomes added so much to how the emotions in this book leapt off the page. And the mimic octopus is a real creature! Also amidst all the magical angst and fun, there are historical facts about the setting of Venice Beach, California interwoven in the story that made it fun and makes you want to dig into that place more. This book is creativity and well written word pictures on display. If you love inventive writing, you will enjoy this one.
sirah's review
4.0
Of course I fell in love with the cover and the concept of this book. Twelve-year-old Maddy is an orphan who has always been able to see things that others cannot. This takes an interesting turn when she's being sent to a new group home and finds herself following some live murals to Venice Beach where she discovers a magical circus unlike anything she's ever dreamed of--so why does everything feel so familiar?
In many ways, this book is a tribute to Venice Beach. I have some mixed feelings about the morals of this story (you have to accept the whole circus in order to save it--even the unsavory and spooky parts), but I can't say I'm disappointed in the style or the characters. This book really isn't like anything else I've read, and the creativity and surprising delights make it quite the page turner.
In many ways, this book is a tribute to Venice Beach. I have some mixed feelings about the morals of this story (you have to accept the whole circus in order to save it--even the unsavory and spooky parts), but I can't say I'm disappointed in the style or the characters. This book really isn't like anything else I've read, and the creativity and surprising delights make it quite the page turner.
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