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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
There's something magical about the circus, but Circus Mirandus actually IS magic. Mirandus Head's traveling circus has it all: an Amazonian bird woman, an invisible tiger, and the Man Who Bends Light. When Ephraim visits the circus while his father is away at war, the Man Who Bends Light offers Ephraim a miracle. Micah has grown up on stories Grandpa Ephraim has told him about Circus Mirandus. When Grandpa Ephraim falls ill, he contacts the Lightbender to cash in that miracle.
This book is enchanting. I don't read a lot of middle grade books, but when I read the premise of Cassie Beasley's debut novel, I was excited for the chance to read it. I did get this book free in exchange for an honest review, and I honestly adored it. I can't wait to share this world with the kids in my life!
This book is enchanting. I don't read a lot of middle grade books, but when I read the premise of Cassie Beasley's debut novel, I was excited for the chance to read it. I did get this book free in exchange for an honest review, and I honestly adored it. I can't wait to share this world with the kids in my life!
I couldn't help but compare this to The Night Circus. This is very much a book about a magical circus for children. There were many moments I enjoyed, but overall I felt underwhelmed and wishing for more magic.
I liked it well enough, but not sure where the intense buzz I've been hearing is coming from. I guessed every major plot point (well, not the test at the end, but reasons behind it) and every major characterization point within the first 25 pages of the book, and spent the rest of the time just sort of waiting to see if I was right. I thought the "children are special, we need to incubate magic" theme was kind of trite, though maybe that's my cynical adult self talking. I had some problems with the idea that only "special" children are worth the effort of introducing magic. If anything I think they've got it backwards. Micah was always going to be believe in magic - it's the Jenny's of the world that need their eyes opened to wonder. I disliked the idea that to be denied wonder will break you forever and turn you into a horrible person, yet the vast majority of the population are going to be turned away at the gates, denied even the knowledge that such a thing could exist, never mind the chance to decide for themselves whether to accept it for the true magic it is. So I guess, would say that the interpretation of theme is not distinguished because it gets a little muddled there.
It drove me insane that I instantly knew what Grandpa Ephraim's miracle was going to be, and pretty much every adult character had ample opportunity to tell Micah that, and to thus reduce his mental anguish on a number of fronts, includnig leading him on that death could be cheated, and yet they didn't, largely, as far as I could tell, so that it could be a surprise at the end.
The one aspect I did think was distinguished was setting. Circus Mirandus was wonderfully depicted.
It drove me insane that I instantly knew what Grandpa Ephraim's miracle was going to be, and pretty much every adult character had ample opportunity to tell Micah that, and to thus reduce his mental anguish on a number of fronts, includnig leading him on that death could be cheated, and yet they didn't, largely, as far as I could tell, so that it could be a surprise at the end.
The one aspect I did think was distinguished was setting. Circus Mirandus was wonderfully depicted.