Circus Mirandus
By: Cassie Beasley
Rating: 5 of 5
“Circus Mirandus” by Cassie Beasley was a fantastic and magical debut novel. I wasn’t sure what to expect when picking it up but it took me to the same place “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach” did when I was a child.
Micah Tuttle is the grandson of Ephraim Tuttle. Micah has spent all of his ten years hearing his Grandpa Ephraim’s wonderful and magical stories of Circus Mirandus and thought that that was exactly what they were: stories. Grandpa Ephraim is now very ill, indeed, and reveals to Micah that the stories were all true. Not only that, but that when Ephraim visited the Circus many years ago, the Lightbender promised him a miracle and that he has called for that miracle to be honored.
Micah and his friend, Jenny Mendoza, battle to get his Grandpa his miracle. They have some wonderful adventures and become good friends along the way. I loved the point and counter-point of these two characters – one who believes in magic and one who believes in science.
As I mentioned, it reminds me of some of Roald Dahl’s works. These books were read aloud to my class when I was eight years old. I think that “Circus Mirandus” is a wonderful book for parents to read to their like aged children – chapter by chapter each night at bedtime. I always let my children stay up a half hour past bedtime as long as they spent it reading or being read to – really created a love of reading in all of them.
An older child, or a precious younger child would be able to read the book by themselves. However, I would make myself available to young children for their questions as there are some serious subjects dealt with in this story (illness, abandonment, cruelty) that a parent would probably want to explain to their child.
This is a story that would lend itself fantastically to becoming a film. The author has given the story depth and color with her wonderful descriptions throughout. I could “see” the Amazonian Bird Woman, the Lightbender, the Menagerie, Rosebud, and everyone else.
Additionally, I am sincerely hoping that this book is the first in a series. There are questions unanswered. There are adventures to be had. There are places to be seen and people to meet. I certainly hope to see Micah, Jenny, and the Man Who Bends Light (and maybe even Chintzy – who am I kidding, definitely Chintzy) again in the future.
I absolutely loved the book. I was given an Advance Reading Copy which did not contain the final illustrations, so I can’t speak for those. I so enjoyed the book, I will purchase copies for my grandchildren of the final copy. I’m sure that the illustrations will add greatly to an already fantastic book. It is a book that I recommend for both boys and girls of all ages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher.
“Circus Mirandus” by Cassie Beasley was a fantastic and magical debut novel. I wasn’t sure what to expect when picking it up but it took me to the same place “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach” did when I was a child.