That Time I Joined the Circus

Gr 9 Up—Lexi's dad just died, leaving her alone and penniless in New York City. His lawyer tells her where to find her mother: if Lexi hurries, she can still catch up with the circus her mom was traveling with. Unfortunately, when Lexi arrives in Florida, the circus is still there-but her mother is not. With no other leads and nowhere else to go, Lexi joins the circus crew and starts building a new family and a new life. She's getting over her past-but then her past appears right in front of her. This is a fairly predictable story of a girl dealing with grief and loss on several fronts, and escaping it all in an unlikely place. That's not to imply it is completely formulaic; it's engaging, with likable characters and a bit of humor. Lexi's all-encompassing musical knowledge is a constant part of her story while never becoming her story. Some elements drag a little bit and several of the teen characters sound closer to early 20s than 17, but these are minor concerns for a debut novel.—Brandy Danner, Perkins School for the Blind, MA