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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Man, that sure was a cute story that got me teary at the very end....
Easily one of my all time favorites. Hope, belief, family, friendship, trust, love, and magic -- all rolled in to one powerful debut novel. Read with tissues handy as there are a few "leaky eye" moments!
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Circus Mirandus is the first book in the Circus Mirandus series by Cassie Beasley. Originally published in 2016, this re-format and re-release coincides with the release of the second book in the series, The Bootlace Magician (1st Oct). Aimed at middle grade readers, it's a hefty 304 pages and is available in most formats.
Although this book is ostensibly written for the middle grades, it's a beautifully written human fantasy which worked perfectly well for my middle aged tastes. I really loved this one a lot. The everyman protagonist, Micah, is an intelligent, empathetic, kind boy, and a good friend. He has a very special relationship with his grandfather, with whom he lives. When Grandpa Ephraim becomes seriously ill, Aunt Gertrudis, descends on them to 'help out'. She isn't a bit like Grandpa Ephraim and doesn't seem to like much, including 10 year old boys named Micah.
This book is full of fantasy, whimsy, pathos, love, and longing. Along with the slightly angsty kids vs. adults plot twists are huge overarching timeless themes of what constitutes family, loyalty, love, and how people become who/what they are.
It's written in alternating backstory (Grandpa Ephraim's past history) and current (Micah's current life) timelines. They're clearly delineated and I had no problems keeping the timelines separate in my mind. The secondary characters are beautifully rendered and believably motivated. The dialogue flows naturally and well. I didn't find myself being yanked out of my suspension of disbelief one time during reading, which is saying something with a plot that turns around magical fish, a phoenix, and a never-ending invisible magical circus.
I read this in one sitting and turned around and re-read selected chapters again immediately after.
This would make a truly superlative bedtime read or classroom circle read. An amazing book; an author to watch for in future.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Circus Mirandus is the first book in the Circus Mirandus series by Cassie Beasley. Originally published in 2016, this re-format and re-release coincides with the release of the second book in the series, The Bootlace Magician (1st Oct). Aimed at middle grade readers, it's a hefty 304 pages and is available in most formats.
Although this book is ostensibly written for the middle grades, it's a beautifully written human fantasy which worked perfectly well for my middle aged tastes. I really loved this one a lot. The everyman protagonist, Micah, is an intelligent, empathetic, kind boy, and a good friend. He has a very special relationship with his grandfather, with whom he lives. When Grandpa Ephraim becomes seriously ill, Aunt Gertrudis, descends on them to 'help out'. She isn't a bit like Grandpa Ephraim and doesn't seem to like much, including 10 year old boys named Micah.
This book is full of fantasy, whimsy, pathos, love, and longing. Along with the slightly angsty kids vs. adults plot twists are huge overarching timeless themes of what constitutes family, loyalty, love, and how people become who/what they are.
It's written in alternating backstory (Grandpa Ephraim's past history) and current (Micah's current life) timelines. They're clearly delineated and I had no problems keeping the timelines separate in my mind. The secondary characters are beautifully rendered and believably motivated. The dialogue flows naturally and well. I didn't find myself being yanked out of my suspension of disbelief one time during reading, which is saying something with a plot that turns around magical fish, a phoenix, and a never-ending invisible magical circus.
I read this in one sitting and turned around and re-read selected chapters again immediately after.
This would make a truly superlative bedtime read or classroom circle read. An amazing book; an author to watch for in future.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley is a book that's been on my to read list forever. I was excited when I showed up on NetGalley, so that I could finally check it out. The circus is something that always mesmerizes me, and I was thrilled to check out this take on it. Micah's dying grandpa tells him about an amazing circus he attended as a kid. Now he wants Micah to have this experience to reconnect with the Man Who Bends Light. Micah sets out on a quest not knowing how he's ever going to find the circus and perhaps a cure for his grandpa with this man. The story is wonderfully told, and it tapped right into my imagination as I visualized the circus in my head! This is a story built on believing in magic and how that is something that can leave us and/or stay with us. I really liked how it was a quest grounded in commentary of how we choose to see the world.
Awesome read! This book is truly magical, but also has wonderful character development focused on Micah's grief and his struggle with his grandfather's failing health. This concept (magical happenings for those who believe) has been done before, but that doesn't mean that this book doesn't stand out in the crowd.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No