- Michael Ames
- Sep 28, 2018
Jules Maroni feels like she was born on the high wire. She dreams of doing her pirouettes on high wires around the country, but she needs a venue bigger than her family’s sideshow circus. When her family receives an offer to join Cirque American, Jules believes this is her chance. However, her family resists the offer. The Flying Garcias are part of the circus and there is bad blood between the families. Eventually the Maroni’s join the circus, but strange things begin to happen. When objects of bad luck start appearing and threatening the safety of the Maroni’s, Jules is determined to find out who is behind the sabotage. Surprisingly, the only person Jules has to help her solve the mystery is Remy Garcia--a boy her father has forbidden her to see.
Girl on a Wire is a little bit of Romeo and Juliet meets The Greatest Showman with a little Nancy Drew thrown in for good measure. Mystery, intrigue, and circus life--a little something for everyone. This is a light mystery that stays remarkably clean for teen fiction. This is a good pick for mystery lovers and especially for anyone who dreams of running away to join the circus.
Recommended ages--12 and up
- Michael Ames
- Sep 20, 2018
I love retellings--fairy tales, classics, alternate histories--I’m drawn to all of them. Some are more satisfying than others, but I always appreciate retellings when the original story is recognizable, but the author gives it a creative spin. Olivia Twist met my expectations and, although it doesn’t have the poetic language of Dickens, it is a fun imagining of ‘what happened after.’
When Oliver Twist is found and rescued by his (her) uncle, a new life begins. She can finally stop masquerading as a boy and enter London Society as Olivia Brownlow. Although her life is now one of comfort, Olivia feels compelled to help the children living on London’s streets. She continues sneaking to the slums dressed as a boy and tries to share what she can with the orphans. Olivia’s life gets even more complicated when she meets Jack MacCarron, a stranger who brings up even more of her past.
Even with some anachronisms and a lot of artistic license, Olivia Twist is an entertaining story both for lovers of Dickens and for those new to this story.
Recommended ages--12 and up
- Michael Ames
- Sep 20, 2018
In June of 1832, Charlotte Doyle boards the ship Seahawk on a voyage from Liverpool, England to Rhode Island. Things on the ship are strange from the beginning. The other families Charlotte was supposed to travel with have decided not to come. Members of the crew warn her to find a different boat and relations between the captain and the crew seem strained. Eventually, thirteen-year-old Charlotte finds herself caught in the middle of a conflict between a cruel captain and a mutinous crew.
This exciting tale of conflict on the high seas will capture the attention of middle grade readers. The story includes fast-paced action as well as detailed descriptions of life on a ship in the 1800s. Patterned after classics like Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe, Avi’s book puts a new spin on an old tale that will keep readers hooked.
Recommended ages--10 and up