Circus Mirandus

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,

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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.

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Micah and his Grandpa Ephraim have always gotten along well, and Micah loves his grandfather's stories about the magical Circus Mirandus, knowing the impossible to be true because his grandpa would never lie to him. But now Grandpa Ephraim is terribly sick, and calls in a favor from the Man Who

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Bends Light - a performer at Circus Mirandus. Micah is determined that he will save Grandpa Ephraim's life and he won't have to move to Arizona with his terribly rigid great-aunt Gertrudis. But can the magic of the circus truly save his grandfather from death?

I feel like I'm not quite doing the story justice, as there are more characters, great descriptions, and a touching story that I read in only two days. Cassie Beasley is a first-time published author and she shows a lot of talent. It does remind me at times of The Night Circus in the sort-of fantasy feel in the real world and the way in which she evoked the feel of a truly magical circus. But the story also stands on its own, and I felt for Micah as he navigated the loss he knows is coming, and made a new friend in Jenny the smart girl from school.

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Circus Mirandus, a debut novel by Cassie Beasley, is a wonderful middle grade read. Like many other ‘magic’ books, it laments the loss by adults of the ability to believe in magic and Circus Mirandus, the circus, tries to find those kids whose belief is so great that they are worth

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cultivatingCircusMirandus.

Micah Tuttle’s grandfather, Ephraim, is not well. Micah’s mean great-aunt Gertrudis (Ephraim’s sister) has come from Arizona to take care of Micah and Ephraim (Micah’s parents had died in a car accident and he was living with Ephraim). As the book begins “Four small words. That was all it took to set things in motion.” The four words summoned the Lightbender from Circus Mirandus who Ephraim had met decades ago, when he as a young boy, went to the Circus and became fascinated by the magic.

However, the wish that Ephraim wanted was vastly different than Micah’s who supposed that the Lightbender would cure his grandfather. When Ephraim finds out through the Lightbender’s parrot Chintzy, that the circus is coming, he tells Micah to go and experience the wonder. Micah takes along his unbelieving friend, Jenny Mendoza, who finally begins to understand.

The characters in Circus Mirdandus are interesting, including the Lightbender, the Head (who leads the circus), and Chintzy who will definitely make you laugh. The friendship that grows between the very staid Jenny and the believing Micah is tender. The love that exists between grandfather and grandson is touching. However, it isn’t too mushy to turn children away from the story.

If you want a fun middle grade read, maybe as an alternative to a darker Harry Potter, Circus Mirandus is a smart choice.

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Facing the his grandfather's failing health, Micah holds on to hope and believes in the stories his grandfather has told about the Circus Mirandus, The power of this belief enables Micah to live the reality that others deny and to make miracles happen.

This novel is about whether you believe life can be magical.

Micah has been raised by his Grandpa Ephraim who is now dying. Grandpa’s sister comes to be with him while he dies and to take care of Micah, but she is a very mean woman. Grandpa needs a miracle and the Light Bender from the Circus

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Mirandus owes him one. He writes a letter and the messenger magically delivers the messages back and forth. Micah believes the miracle is to cure his grandfather, but even the reader realized that curing a dying man is impossible, it’s just wishful thinking.

Micah has heard stories about the Circus Mirandus his entire life from Grandpa Ephraim--it’s a circus only for children; it cannot be seen by adults. When the Circus gets Grandpa’s message, it comes to town, so Micah and his best friend have to find it. His best friend is a realist and doesn’t believe in magic, so taking her may be a mistake. After meeting the Light Bender, Micah thinks he understands the truth. It’s not until Grandpa Ephraim and the Light Bender fill in the blanks about life before Micah that he can finally face reality and see what his future will be after Grandpa dies.

This novel is about believing, about friendship, and about courage. It’s well worth your time to read.

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This book was amazing. I loved the way it makes magic seems so real and I was enamored by the storyline. I also loved that the characters, even the magic ones, had lots of depth. No one in this tale was perfect, making the story seem so real. A lot of books that contain magic make magic seem like a

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perfect craft, but I loved that the magic within this book had limits.I would love to read this book out loud in my class someday and l hope that it reminds my students that magical things are possible,

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Loved this book! It reminded me of the adult book, The Night Circus. A great book for kids of all ages who still believe in magic.

Four small words. That was all it took to set things in motion. - Chapter 1 A great opening sentence to a magical story. Grandpa Ephraim has been telling Micah stories about Circus Mirandus his whole life. Micah is amazed by the stories and is so excited when he finally gets the chance to see the

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Circus for himself. Circus Mirandus isn't like a regular circus, it is full of real magic and endless possibilities. But if you don't believe, you will never be able to experience it. The illustrations are whimsical and fun, and so is the story. There is an underlying note of sadness, but it is mixed with wonder and magic. The point of view goes back and forth from Grandpa Emphraim (as a child) to Micah as they each experience the magic of Circus Mirandus.

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A very well written story that weaves magic, reality, love, and loyalty together. Loved this one.

I read this book to my class of 4th graders and they absolutely loved it. Many checked out the same book at the library to read along with me. The story was well-written an moved at a fast pace. The fantasy elements were easy to visualize based on the authors description. I cannot wait to read more

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by this author and already own her second book.

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Micah lives with Grandpa Ephraim, who has fallen ill. Unfortunately, Aunt Gertrudis comes to stay with them and she doesn’t like Micah to spend very much time with his grandfather. Now Micah is worried, so much so that he forgets about a big project that's due at school. His partner, Jenny,

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isn’t too happy, but when he almost breaks down about his grandfather they have a serious talk and she decides to come over and help him get the project ready. Little does Jenny know they’re also going to be visiting the Circus Mirandus. Micah has been hearing about it from his grandfather since he was little and he has wanted to see the Man Who Bends Light and all the marvelous performers. He remembers the unique token his grandfather used for admittance and knows that the circus doesn’t come to everyone. But the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle and now is the time for one. Magic and imagination work together to help show Jenny and Micah the way. Will they be able to see the fantastical sights before them? Will the Lightbender be able to help Micah’s grandfather? Do the knots Micah learned to make at a young age have the ability to change his life? Let your mind drift away with the music and you will find out!

I had heard a lot of great things about Circus Mirandus before I started reading it. I liked the fact that Micah is so close to his grandfather. I felt bad for him because of the way Aunt Gertrudis was treating him, and it was great seeing the friendship between Micah and Jenny develop. I think it was something they both needed. I was happy to see that Circus Mirandus is a magical circus with performers that are people. Learning about the knots that Micah and Grandpa Ephraim made me want to make some. I like that it is all about a place that can inspire hope in children and maybe even take away some of the sadness of their everyday lives. This was a good book and I recommend it to kids in third grade and up (though there is one violent scene in the book, it is handled in a way that the reader sees how terrible a certain character is). It's definitely for those who believe that anything is possible!

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If you believe in magic [and, thanks to Grandpa Ephraim, Micah Tuttle does], perhaps you will find yourself entering Circus Mirandus [as Micah’s grandfather once did]. When Ephraim was Micah’s age, he found Circus Mirandus and the Lightbender made him a promise.

Circus Mirandus may seek

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children who believe in magic, but Micah has a special reason for his mission to find the magical circus. Grandpa Ephraim is dying and Micah needs the Man Who Bends Light to honor his promise.

He’s going to ask the Lightbender to give his grandfather a miracle.

Written for middle grade readers, Micah is a typical middle grade student. Turmoil and angst fills Micah’s life. There’s schoolwork, the surprise [and difficulty] of making a new friend, the strain of having an unsympathetic aunt living in his home to care for his grandfather, and the very real possibility that his beloved grandfather may die.

The characters are believable, the enchanting plot has several unexpected twists, and the story draws the reader into the telling of the tale. It’s entertaining and, at the same time, heart-rending and miraculous. It’s also filled with magic and hope and love. For readers of all ages, it’s a gorgeous, not-to-be-missed story.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Penguin Young Readers/Puffin Books and NetGalley
#CircusMirandus #NetGalley

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I know I'm not the only one to make a connection to The Night Circus, and in my headcannon, Circus Mirandus is another iteration of that circus. I enjoyed this book very much, particularly the relationship between Micah and his grandfather, and the friendship that develops between Micah and Jenny.

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Their Mulder-and-Scully dynamic is great. I would have liked more background on the circus and the people in it, but I'm content to let my own imagination fill that in. Plus, Erin Morgenstern already wrote that book.

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This book was beautifully written over a very somber mood and storyline. I really despised Grandfather’s sister and Micah’s aunt throughout the entire story. I thought at the the end she would redeem herself and become a great guardian for Micah, but I was completely wrong. I saw the ending

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coming with Micah ending up with the circus, but it was still nice to see it come about. I still have to wonder about Micah’s grandmother and if she is still alive. Did she actually care about her husband? Did she ever really fly or was it just a magic trick? Such a nice quick read for anyone who wants to believe in magic.

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I was more than a little disappointed that all the women and girls were pedantic (if not altogether terrible) and generally unopen to the simple joys of magic. But the circus scenes were fun and the book had moments of the malice reminiscent of Roald Dahl novels, which I find delightful. The reader

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was pretty good, too.

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Unique premise, beautiful writing, emotional depth, strong and well-drawn boy and girl characters. A travelling circus where all the performers are magical, feels like the best kind of American fairytale. An amazing first novel.

This was such an AMAZING read.
Honestly, I didn't know what I was missing.

I remember seeing this when it first came out, it even made the school reading lists in my area, and while the title gave be pause, and the cover caught my eye, I never picked it up. Bad reader, BAD! Unbeknownst to me, there

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was a magical world inside with stories to be shared, adventures to be had, awful truths to be revealed, tears to be shed, and hearts to be mended. I almost broke down several times when Grandpa Ephraim and Micah were together. Each conversation, each revelation, I could feel what was coming, sense the pulling away, and the inevitable approaching, and yet, much like Micah, I HOPED, I crossed my fingers, I BELIEVED. The tragic histories we end up privy to are beyond measure, but also teach valuable lessons of humility, appreciation, the blessings of giving back, and the power of belief.

It's a wonderful read for the Middle Grade set and beyond, filled to the brim with promise, hope, mystery, and an underlying vein of love that will never die.


**copy received for review; opinions are my own

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