The Circus at the End of the Sea

September 15, 2021
Does a young girl have the power to save the magical circus of Venice Beach? Maddy Adriana has always felt the pull of something magical, but now at 12 she knows not to tell anyone about these feelings. On the way to a new group home for sick kids who need Extra Attention, Maddy follows a tug of magic that leads her to discover Il Circo delle Strade, a wondrous circus fading away due to the absence of their beloved Ringmaster. Encouraged by the Muse of Venice, Maddy and her new octopus companion embark on a quest to find the Ringmaster and revitalize the circus. Maddy's adventures in Venice Beach, akin to those of Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in Oz, are a string of surreal episodes populated with bizarre and unusual characters. There are also intriguing existential adventures into body parts, although the writing sometimes veers into rhapsodies of schmaltz. Echoes of the cult classic film Xanadu can be found in this love letter to Venice Beach, supported by the author's note detailing the actual public art landmarks featured in the story. The work is action-packed, if a bit heavy-handed with its heartfelt message of accepting both the light and dark and happy and sad parts of the world and the self. Maddy has brown skin and wavy black hair. Amusement-park thrills somewhat chilled by sentimental storytelling. (Fantasy. 9-13)

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October 11, 2021
Parentless, brown-skinned, black-haired Maddy Adriana, 12, has been shuttled from one group home to another nearly all her life. Perpetually known as “the weird new kid,” Maddy sees magic in the world, always feeling a tug to follow it. En route to a new group home for sick children on Venice Beach, Calif., Maddy spies an uncanny cat and feels a pull so strong she pursues it through a mysterious white fog, arriving at a magical seaside circus. In the aftermath of the Ringmaster’s sudden disappearance, however, acts have grown stale. Maddy, urged by her newfound friend—blonde, pale Vanessa the Muse—embarks on a mission to recover the Ringmaster. Along the way, she encounters wondrous, sometimes frightening experiences: murals and statues brought to life, a roller coaster race through the clouds, and a dangerous bridge, where she confronts an intense manifestation of all her fears and sorrows. Inspired by actual landmarks detailed in an author’s note, Snyder crafts a bittersweet, boundlessly imaginative story that emphasizes the bright and dark sides of life. Classic motifs help this enticing debut conjure its own special blend of magic. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary.

November 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 Since being abandoned as a baby, Maddy hasn't known who she really is. She has a knack, however, for spotting magic in the wild, which she keeps to herself. After a particularly strong magical moment draws Maddy to the end of a Venice Beach pier, she happens upon the marvelous Il Circo Delle Strade, a street circus visible only to eyes that seek enchantment. The show has been floundering ever since the esteemed ringmaster disappeared, and as Maddy throws herself into this magical world, she, with help from some unconventional new friends (a muse, mermaid, and mimic octopus), sets out to find the ringmaster--and herself. Snyder's debut is a truly weird and wonderful ride, full of breathtaking imagery and inventive settings. While the sentiment occasionally feels a bit overwhelming, and the lessons a touch too explicit, there is an earnest, uplifting tone that sustains the story. A love letter to a unique neighborhood, and a tender reminder to embrace both the light and the dark in life and in oneself.

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December 1, 2021

Gr 5 Up-Madeline Adriana has always felt drawn to magic, and she's able to perceive magical things that others cannot see. She has spent her life moving from one group home to another, never knowing her real parents. En route to yet another new home, Maddy feels herself led to a pier where she begins a journey through a magical but defunct circus intertwined with the bohemian community of Venice Beach, CA. The motley circus folk enlist Maddy's help to find the ringmaster and restore the show. The book is full of action and page-turning excitement. Maddy's quest keeps her on the move, and readers will be engaged by her hair-raising adventures. However, some of the scene descriptions are a bit lengthy, which breaks the flow of the story at times. There are also conceptual elements which may go over the heads of the target audience. The circus is never portrayed in the conventional sense as a contained show under a big top, so readers may find it difficult to envision a circus mingling with the community around it. Nevertheless, the book is a worthwhile read with positive messages included about perseverance, friendship, and following your own path. Maddy is described as having thick, wavy hair. VERDICT A worthy addition to middle grade fantasy collections.-Kelly Jahng, South Park Elem. Sch., IL

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