Gorry am I ever a sucker for circus books—and throw in a horse (or two), and I'm sold!

Joe Lang is descended from one of the finest circus families in the world—but his life comes crashing down around him when his lion tamer father dies and the new orphan is stranded in a boy's house in Pineville, Oregon. After a daring escape, Joe finds his way to a farmer and his family...and gets hired on. But for a boy with sawdust in his shoes, the only thing that'll make him happy is the circus.

This was a sheer delight to read. It took a minute to get into the language, writing style and somewhat episodic chapters, but once I did it was such an emotional roller coaster as Joe learned that gillies aka gullible non-circus folk are great people, and he finally gains a real family and finds real stability for the first time in his life.

The writing style is definitely not going to be for everyone. This was originally written in 1950, and it shows. There are also some words that were commonly used to describe types of people that would not be cool to use today (view spoiler), and there is also some racism on Joe's part, both in the characters and in the writing that emphasizes his blackness and difference.

However, despite that it was a really, really good read and a solid coming of age book.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This coming of age story evokes a time long past, but presents never ending truths. A family read-along worthy of any bookshelf in any home. A great gift for a young reader, or for a grandparent to share with a grand child.

I'll admit, when I was introduced to this book I didn't expect much. It's not the type of thing I normally read, and the cover looks old-fashioned and slightly western. Which might be true, but the story is timeless and well told! I'm so happy I read this and didn't go with my first impression!

Joe Lang was born and bred in the circus. At age fifteen he is ready to transition from being a child performer to being the star of his own bareback riding act. But when a mishap in the ring leaves him an orphan, a judge orders Joe to stay at a school for boys in Pineville, Oregon until custody can be sorted out. 

Desperate to make it back to the circus, Joe soon makes a run for it. A tangle with a barbed wire fence leaves him laid up, and a kindly farmer named Pop Dawson offers him bed and board. With his dreams crashing down around him, Joe learns the business of how to run a farm, acting like an elder brother to Henry, Ann, and Shelley and overcoming Mom Dawson's suspicions about his vagabond past. When a chance comes to rejoin his old life, Joe must decide whether the new roots he's put down are worth tearing up for a chance at fame in the big top.

Sawdust in His Shoes is a coming of age story that deals with themes of gratitude, responsibility, and belonging. Joe is a suspicious chap at the beginning with only scorn for the "gillies," the regular folks who are not part of the circus. His insistence on looking out for his own interests is challenged by the unexpected kindness of the Dawson family, and he learns to open up his secrets and his heart. In the end, Joe's ambitions come head to head with his sense of responsibility, and he must make the ultimate sacrifice, not knowing how events will play out.

This novel is an excellent children's story that can be read with enjoyment by teenagers and adults as well. I especially enjoyed the local color, with part of the story set in my hometown of Oregon City and surrounding locales such as Canby, Portland, and Eugene receiving frequent mention. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This classic for young adults has been reissued in paperback and e-book forms. The circus comes to Oregon but when it moves on, a fifteen year old lad is left without a home. Joe Lang had thought he had everything -- a family, friends, and a career as a spangles, or bareback horse rider. But the death of his father changes his world.
SAWDUST IN HIS SHOES refers to Joe's circus upbringing. He's never known any non-circus folks but one, a lady he disliked. How can he adapt to life in an industrial school? Joe's toughness marks him out, and friendless, he decides to escape. When he does, an Oregon farm family takes him in. Joe doesn't trust them, and not all of them trust him. He keeps his secrets. But the farm is in need of help. And they have something better than anything -- a Morgan mare named Satin. If Joe can just keep up his practicing, he might make it back to circus life after all.
If I had grown up in America I am sure I'd have seen this marvelous book in a library alongside THE BLACK STALLION and MY FRIEND FLICKA. As it is, I never heard of SAWDUST IN HIS SHOES, which was first published in 1950 and has delighted generations since. This was the first novel by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, who went on to win the Newbury Medal for her books for young readers.
The realistic tale is peppered with circus jargon, which is usually explained, but the translations are at the back. Joe's adventures are heartfelt, his fears, hopes, and dreams driving him, his determination and disappointment pouring off the pages. Young readers will learn a lot about human nature, kindness, trust, and the need to train hard to accomplish goals. I can recommend SAWDUST IN HIS SHOES to a whole new readership of young horse lovers, boys and girls alike.



http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=66515

This is the sort of book one reads for fun, regardless of your age. A book that will appeal to all ages.
On the surface it is an adventure story, about a boy born and raised in the circus way of life. Before he is legally an adult, he becomes orphaned. Although another man technically raised Joe, it has to be determined that he is a responsible guardian. As we all discover at some point in our lives, those making decisions about us seem to take a very long time.
Joe ends up in a bad situation and decides to take matters into his own hands.

Digging a bit deeper, this is a book about coming of age, discovering truths about oneself and one's values. It is about learning to trust and following your dreams. Joe knows where he belongs, and not just because of where he was born.

As a child I read (many times) Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis.
When I saw the description for this book, it brought back fond memories of that book.
After reading Sawdust, I highly recommend it to spark a love of literature in young readers.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I will be buying a print copy for my personal shelves. The rating is my honest opinion.

Joe Lang is a third generation of a circus family. By the time he is fifteen years old, Joe is a star bareback horse rider. When his father dies, he is forced to go to a vocational school. Unhappy, he runs away and is taken in by a farmer and his family. Joe doesn’t know what to think as he is mistrustful of non-circus people. Will Joe be able to be part of their family? Does Joe want to go back to the circus? Will he?

This is an excelling coming-of-age novel. It is engaging. Each of the characters are true to themselves and different. The action is funny and fast. It was heart moving for me as I read it. This novel is for any age to read!

A charming, old-school story, first released in the 1950s. While a lot of readers commented that they wanted to join the circus after reading SAWDUST IN HIS SHOES, the writing and characters made me want to go live on a bucolic farm in Oregon in the early 1900s. Glad I took a chance on this one.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book for free. It was very enjoyable although some of the circus jargon was difficult to wrap my head around. I think middle grade students would appreciate the novel as well, especially if they find the glossary in the back first. It was a heartwarming tale of personal growth and self discovery while also teaching the importance of treating others with compassion.

At one time or another, haven’t we all wanted to run away to join the circus. Joe’s journey back to the circus in the book, Sawdust in His Shoes, will rekindle those feelings. I read that this was called one of the ten books every child should read. I had not read when I was young, so I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about. I will also admit I was skeptical since I often do not agree with those kinds of lists. Not this time! Now that I have read it, I must agree that Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw should be read by everyone young and older.

It is a timeless classic that renews faith in the genuine goodness of others and the ability of the human spirit to triumph. Joe Lang and Pop along with Mom, Henry, Ann, Shelley and Mo are unforgettable.

If you haven’t read it, it should go on your to-be-read-this-year-list. If you read it as a child, you will be thrilled to know that it is going to be reprinted in June 2018. Highly recommend that when you buy your own copy that you also get one for a child or grandchildren at the same time. Read it together!

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

"Sawdust in His Shoes" is an absolute treasure that follows all the quintessential elements of a coming-of-age story. Eloise Jarvis McGraw reassures readers that the tradition of relating stories of: family, loss, struggle, and triumph is still vibrantly alive. "Sawdust in His Shoes" has a vibrant feel akin to "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls where McGraw narrates how sometimes life isn't just about finding our place in this world, but rather, about searching for those to share the journey of life with.

Absolutely recommend!