Scan barcode
A review by paperprivateer
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
5.0
I love books that capture the wonder of magic and imagination (Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is one of my favorite movies because it did that for me). I love books that remind me of being a kid. I loved books by Roald Dahl, adored Peter Pan, spent a considerable amount of time with a tollbooth, and wanted to be a queen of Narnia. As I’ve gotten older, it’s been more difficult to find books that capture that same level of wonder for me. This book did.
Honestly, I don’t think I have the words to describe the book. Sure, I can say it’s about a boy searching for a magical circus so his grandfather can get a miracle that will help save his life. But it’s more than that. This book is more than a nice book about a circus. It’s a book about believing in magic. It’s a book about losing someone you love. It’s a book about friendship, adventure, and being brave enough to believe. It’s a book about miracles. And you’ll have to read it to understand how fun it is because I just can’t convey it.
The characters are so fun. I love that even though Jenny can’t always see the circus and doesn’t quite understand why Micah is so insistent that Circus Mirandus is real, she still supports him in her own way. She’s still open enough to the idea that she’s willing to help. I even felt some sympathy for the aunt in the end. I’m always charmed when even the “bad guys” have sympathetic characteristics when you understand why they are the way they are. I would have liked some more character development, but because it has that mystical almost fairy-tale feel, I didn’t mind it as much as I would have in other stories. I love that Micah is a likeable character without having to break the rules or be “bad”, unlike many other characters in juvenile fiction. And I love Grandpa Ephraim, particularly the tender moment when they go to the movies.
This book is magical. If I hear any music, I’m going looking for a circus.
I also reviewed this book for The Children's Book and Media Review. My review for that is as follows:
When Micah’s grandfather gets sick, he writes a letter asking for a miracle that he had been promised when he was a little boy. Grandpa Ephraim always told Micah stories about the magical Circus Mirandus and how the Lightbender offered him a miracle. When it appears that Grandpa Ephraim might not live for much longer, Micah decides to seek out the circus himself to make sure that Grandpa Ephraim gets his miracle. With his doubting friend, Jenny, he finds the Lightbender and asks for the miracle that he wants: Grandpa Ephraim’s recover. Grandpa Ephraim had something else in mind, however. He knows he is dying. His miracle request is that Micah will have a happy life even after he dies.
Circus Mirandus is likely to remind readers of the wonder and magic in books by Roald Dahl and J.M. Barrie. This book is about fighting to believe in magic and good in the world, even when hard things happen. The book has its sad moments as Micah deals with the possibility of his grandfather dying and how that will change his life. Micah is a main character worthy of looking up to and emulating, as opposed to many male characters in popular books for young readers. Circus Mirandus captures the magic and excitement of childhood for younger readers and brings it back to readers who are a little older.
Honestly, I don’t think I have the words to describe the book. Sure, I can say it’s about a boy searching for a magical circus so his grandfather can get a miracle that will help save his life. But it’s more than that. This book is more than a nice book about a circus. It’s a book about believing in magic. It’s a book about losing someone you love. It’s a book about friendship, adventure, and being brave enough to believe. It’s a book about miracles. And you’ll have to read it to understand how fun it is because I just can’t convey it.
The characters are so fun. I love that even though Jenny can’t always see the circus and doesn’t quite understand why Micah is so insistent that Circus Mirandus is real, she still supports him in her own way. She’s still open enough to the idea that she’s willing to help. I even felt some sympathy for the aunt in the end. I’m always charmed when even the “bad guys” have sympathetic characteristics when you understand why they are the way they are. I would have liked some more character development, but because it has that mystical almost fairy-tale feel, I didn’t mind it as much as I would have in other stories. I love that Micah is a likeable character without having to break the rules or be “bad”, unlike many other characters in juvenile fiction. And I love Grandpa Ephraim, particularly the tender moment when they go to the movies.
This book is magical. If I hear any music, I’m going looking for a circus.
I also reviewed this book for The Children's Book and Media Review. My review for that is as follows:
When Micah’s grandfather gets sick, he writes a letter asking for a miracle that he had been promised when he was a little boy. Grandpa Ephraim always told Micah stories about the magical Circus Mirandus and how the Lightbender offered him a miracle. When it appears that Grandpa Ephraim might not live for much longer, Micah decides to seek out the circus himself to make sure that Grandpa Ephraim gets his miracle. With his doubting friend, Jenny, he finds the Lightbender and asks for the miracle that he wants: Grandpa Ephraim’s recover. Grandpa Ephraim had something else in mind, however. He knows he is dying. His miracle request is that Micah will have a happy life even after he dies.
Circus Mirandus is likely to remind readers of the wonder and magic in books by Roald Dahl and J.M. Barrie. This book is about fighting to believe in magic and good in the world, even when hard things happen. The book has its sad moments as Micah deals with the possibility of his grandfather dying and how that will change his life. Micah is a main character worthy of looking up to and emulating, as opposed to many male characters in popular books for young readers. Circus Mirandus captures the magic and excitement of childhood for younger readers and brings it back to readers who are a little older.