Book Review: Circus Mirandus

Circus Mirandus
Cassie Beasley
Dial Books, 2015
Source: purchased
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Micah Tuttle has grown up hearing his grandfather's stories about the magical Circus Mirandus, but now that Grandpa Ephraim is very sick, Micah is relying on those stories to get him through.  With his unbelieving Great Aunt Gertrudis trying her best to squash out any thoughts of magic and preparing to take Micah in when Ephraim passes, he just needs to find Circus Mirandus and The Lightbender to set everything right.  He has to.  He owes Grandpa Ephraim a miracle.  Micah is determined to make sure he gets it.

There were many parallels to Harry Potter, with Aunt Gertrudis stomping around, trying to ruin Micah and Grandpa's fun.  She reminded me of the Dursleys and their distaste for the magical world.  She keeps Micah from seeing Ephraim because she doesn't want to upset Ephraim, but she also wants to start ridding Micah of all the fantastical and magical stories of Circus Mirandus.  Also, Micah makes a friend at school, Jenny, who is very much like Hermione.  She's regimented and precise and very intelligent.  The difference is that she's so logical that she cannot accept that magic is real and has a reason for every part of Grandpa Ephraim's story.  Even when Jenny sees and hears a magical, talking bird, she explains it away because it must be very well trained.  She is a good friend to Micah, though.  An extremely good friend.

I loved Grandpa Ephraim and Micah's relationship.  He has raised Micah since his parents died in a car accident when Micah was very little.  They have an understanding that allows for honesty between the two of them, but Grandpa Ephraim's illness is breaking Micah.  He's rarely allowed to see his grandpa and Micah is having a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that his grandpa is sick enough that he might die, very soon.  This is why he is so determined to find The Lightbender and make him give Grandpa Ephraim the miracle promised to him years before.

I also liked the jumps between Grandpa Ephraim's childhood and the present.  The two stories and time frames melded together well and helped add to the magic.

Despite the parallels to Harry Potter, Circus Mirandus is very much its own story, with very distinct characters.  It's a story that asks you to believe in magic.  To always believe. I definitely recommend it for the times when you need to add that element back into your life.

My favorite quote from the book came towards the end, but it doesn't really give anything away, so I'll share it with you.  I love it and I'll leave you with it.

 "Because it was a ridiculous, amazing thing to do, and once in a while, it's good to be ridiculous and amazing."

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Sunday Status: Circus Mirandus

Sunday Status is a weekly (ish) post where I let you know what I'm reading.  I'll usually share a quote from the page I'm currently on and let you know how it's going. 


Well, I have definitely NOT been productive in the reading realm this week.  I had tests and responses that have kept me pretty busy since Wednesday.  Add in relatives visiting this weekend and I'm still not finished grading and it's 10:00 pm on a Sunday night.  

Therefore, I'm still reading Circus Mirandus because my time at school to read has been filled with student conferences and grading.  I hated grading during our reading time (see why here!), but it was the only way to keep myself afloat this past week.  Next week I'll do better!


Circus Mirandus 
Cassie Beasley
Dial Books, 2015
Source: purchased

"But, he hadn't though the Lightbender would be the sort of person who fidgeted (175)."

The Lightbender is a mysterious character so far and I'm eager to find out more about who he is and exactly what he does.

As I said last week, Circus Mirandus reminds a bit of Harry Potter, however the resemblance is fading somewhat.  I'm definitely interested in seeing where this story leads us because I think it will be different.  There's already some mystery tied up in Micah's family history and a little danger present.

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Double Sunday Status: The Hired Girl and Circus Mirandus

Sunday Status is a weekly (ish) post where I let you know what I'm reading.  I'll usually share a quote from the page I'm currently on and let you know how it's going. 

The Hired Girl
Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick Press, 2015
Source: e-galley from Netgalley

Tonight's quote is about 60 pages ago, but I found it last night and highlighted it because I liked it so much.

"...and I sometimes wonder if every living thing doesn't need kind words as much as sunshine and water (142)."

Set in 1911, Joan's father has taken the fourteen year old girl out of school and burned her books so that she will work harder on the farm for him.  Joan has other ideas, though, and runs away to become a hired girl in Baltimore.  She's pretty clueless about the world, but has good intentions, despite her many mistakes as a parlor maid in the Rosenbach's house.  Told in the form of a diary, Joan chronicles her struggles to better herself in a world she is just beginning to understand.

I'm enjoying this, although it is rather long.  The first 50-60 pages were tiresome, but I think they are also that way for Joan as she's stuck at home, wishing to be somewhere else and to have the opportunity to learn and read.  It's only when she strikes out on her own that it gets a little more interesting.  I do wish it would pick up even more, though.  I still have 200 pages to go!



Circus Mirandus 
Cassie Beasley
Dial Books, 2015
Source: purchased

Circus Mirandus reminds a bit of Harry Potter.  Young Micah has grown up with his grandpa, hearing tales of Circus Mirandus, but now his grandpa is very very sick.  His Great Aunt Gertrudis has come to stay and help out until....well until it's over.  She is very unlike her brother and believes all the stories about Circus Mirandus aren't good for either Micah or his grandpa and she is determined to limit their time together to help everyone out.  She reminds me of the Dursleys in Harry Potter, and the threat of having to go live with her hangs over Micah's head, as Harry had to keep returning to his aunt and uncle's house.

So far this is great!  I wish I could have spent more time reading it, but the last few days at school have been crazy and I'm thinking that things won't get too much better. :)  I like Micah and I like the magical elements that are just starting to come together into something solid at this point in the book.