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warrior_lily 's review for:
Circus Mirandus
by Cassie Beasley
This book was never racy or flashy. It didn't flare in places and sputter out in others. It was more like the perfect campfire that's been burning for an hour or so. A little on the low side, a brilliant orange color, and the perfect time to roast marshmallows. This was a perfect marshmallow book.
And because of this quality, I can see it being a "Librarian" favorite before it will truly be absorbed by the kids for whom it was written. It was a great story, a different story, and one that just needs to play out at its own pace. Some kids are not going to be on-board with that, and I can only hope that I will manage to get it into the right hands.
This book is indeed a version of Burton's Big Fish. A grandpa tells his grandchild, Micah, stories of a magical circus and the wonders he found their as a child. Only, nobody believes grandpa but Micah. He trusts his grandpa--and guardian/father figure--to tell the truth. What's putting a whole damper on this story is that grandpa is dying. What's making his dying even worse is that Great Aunt Gertrudice is taking care of him. Talk about your horrible aunts; I think she takes the win. Holy crap, I hated her. She shouldn't be allowed near kids. Or any people. So when Micah finally makes a friend in class, when all else seems darker-than-black-hole hopeless, he takes a chance on the magic his grandpa told him about... and we have our adventure. Because this magic involves miracles, and Micah sure needs one.
The characters in the circus were wonderful. I particularly liked Chincy the parrot, and Rosebud with her potions. The Lightbender, our main fellow, has an interesting personality that really makes you think he's hiding a heck of a lot. We've only scratched the surface with him. And Micah's friend Jenny, and her firm belief in reason and reality, is a great contrast to the magic. Of course, she wears down eventually. The little detail of the knot tying, and how it comes full-circle, was a sweet touch. And despite the finding of magic, the story felt very rooted in the here-and-now.
It represents the imperfect family. Plenty of middle grade fiction kind of glances over this option of life. Sure, there are books with dead parents -- Micah's are too -- but to have such a dismal home-life without hope of going away to Hogwarts, that's not touched on too much. Micah's aunt makes his life pretty miserable, and she's all he has. Once grandpa is gone, she's moving him away from his school, he new friends, and he'll basically get the "living under the stairs" treatment. And this goes beyond Aunt Gerty. The backstory with Micah's grandmother cements it ever further. His grandfather is the sweetest guy; so putting Victoria's story into the mix really kind of hurt. She darkens the scenery just like Gerty does. I could see it coming, but really hoped it wouldn't. Even though it's magic, there's a small underlying message of illusions. You can see what you want, but that doesn't make it true. And illusions may make things better for a little while, but reality is always underneath. Kind of deep for a kids book.
Which brings me back to it being an adult favorite before it can be a kids favorite. I will push it during book talks and hope the wonderful cover will attract interested readers. I heard about this book over word-of-mouth on GoodReads, so perhaps that will transition to the kids.
Great book.
And because of this quality, I can see it being a "Librarian" favorite before it will truly be absorbed by the kids for whom it was written. It was a great story, a different story, and one that just needs to play out at its own pace. Some kids are not going to be on-board with that, and I can only hope that I will manage to get it into the right hands.
This book is indeed a version of Burton's Big Fish. A grandpa tells his grandchild, Micah, stories of a magical circus and the wonders he found their as a child. Only, nobody believes grandpa but Micah. He trusts his grandpa--and guardian/father figure--to tell the truth. What's putting a whole damper on this story is that grandpa is dying. What's making his dying even worse is that Great Aunt Gertrudice is taking care of him. Talk about your horrible aunts; I think she takes the win. Holy crap, I hated her. She shouldn't be allowed near kids. Or any people. So when Micah finally makes a friend in class, when all else seems darker-than-black-hole hopeless, he takes a chance on the magic his grandpa told him about... and we have our adventure. Because this magic involves miracles, and Micah sure needs one.
The characters in the circus were wonderful. I particularly liked Chincy the parrot, and Rosebud with her potions. The Lightbender, our main fellow, has an interesting personality that really makes you think he's hiding a heck of a lot. We've only scratched the surface with him. And Micah's friend Jenny, and her firm belief in reason and reality, is a great contrast to the magic. Of course, she wears down eventually. The little detail of the knot tying, and how it comes full-circle, was a sweet touch. And despite the finding of magic, the story felt very rooted in the here-and-now.
It represents the imperfect family. Plenty of middle grade fiction kind of glances over this option of life. Sure, there are books with dead parents -- Micah's are too -- but to have such a dismal home-life without hope of going away to Hogwarts, that's not touched on too much. Micah's aunt makes his life pretty miserable, and she's all he has. Once grandpa is gone, she's moving him away from his school, he new friends, and he'll basically get the "living under the stairs" treatment. And this goes beyond Aunt Gerty. The backstory with Micah's grandmother cements it ever further. His grandfather is the sweetest guy; so putting Victoria's story into the mix really kind of hurt. She darkens the scenery just like Gerty does. I could see it coming, but really hoped it wouldn't. Even though it's magic, there's a small underlying message of illusions. You can see what you want, but that doesn't make it true. And illusions may make things better for a little while, but reality is always underneath. Kind of deep for a kids book.
Which brings me back to it being an adult favorite before it can be a kids favorite. I will push it during book talks and hope the wonderful cover will attract interested readers. I heard about this book over word-of-mouth on GoodReads, so perhaps that will transition to the kids.
Great book.