I featured this book on my Booktube channel. You can access the review here: https://youtu.be/DQn6CDT1h4c

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

4/5 - Really liked it.

I've been craving a beautiful, magical story and "Circus Mirandus" delivered! This book is packed full of enchanting moments that bring the reader straight into the magical world of the elusive circus which operates on magic and belief in the miraculous. The characters are vibrant and fascinating; deep and well-written. I found myself completely invested in young Micah Tuttle's quest to save his dying grandfather and in the journey of magic and friendship that he encounters along the way. The story does not shy away from topics such as grief and loss, and speaks beautifully to the importance of friendship, love, and magic.

This was such a wonderful book. The story follows Micah and his Grandpa Ephraim. The story is all about magic and how life is so much better when we have a belief that anything is possible. Even though Micah's grumpy Great-Aunt Gertrudis does not believe in the Circus Mirandus, Grandpa Ephraim has instilled in Micah the love of this magical circus. When Grandpa Ephraim takes a turn for the worse, Micah is faced with finding the circus because Granpa Ephraim was promised a miracle by the Man Who Bends Light. He and his friend Jenny go on an adventure to find the magical circus even though Jenny has a hard time believing. The story has a great message as well as being very enjoyable. 4 stars. Would definitely recommend it to young readers. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC.

The setting is innovative, but the characters left this reader underwhelmed. Most were flat, and some took actions that furthered the plot but contradicted the character attributes that had been established. Character-driven readers will be disappointed at the lack of character development and growth. Those seeking the wonder and excitement of Hogwarts in the Circus Mirandus will be drawn to this title but may leave disappointed.

Circus Mirandus is a book about a young boy named Micah, his failing grandfather and primary caregiver Grandpa Ephriam, and his new and loyal friend Jenny, and a circus…a magical circus. The gentle entertaining of these characters around a search for a magical circus and all of its unique characters drives the plot into wonderful and imaginative places. The circus is mysterious and quirky, but it is the characters in this book that make it shine with a richness that held my attention and my daughter's as we read it aloud during the most stressful parts of our pandemic experience. The story feels safe and sound while at the same time it is adventurous and suspenseful. It was the perfect book for the perfect moment for us. We plan on enjoying the next book in the series together. I will be recommending (and have recommended it) to the kids in my classes and in my community. It was fantastic. For more praise of this fantastic story, see the Redeemed Reader's review of it.

This was such a cute read. I absolutely loved the atmosphere, and the relationships. The story dealt with grief in a beautiful way. I recommend this book to any soul, young or old.

You know that if there is a circus in town, I'll be there and if there is a circus book to be read, then it will be in my pile. Imagine my delight when I discovered this amazingly wonderful book, Circus Mirandus, that is filled from cover to cover with wonder, awe and magic.

Micah's grandfather has told him tales about Circus Mirandus all of his life. Part of the telling is that eventually the Circus will provide a much needed miracle. When the need and time for that miracle arrives, Micah, a pet parrot and his very pragmatic friend set off on their adventure. Part magical, part realism and all of the beauty of true fantasy that younger readers love so much, the author has provided a perfect balance between the fatastical and the miraculas where love and magic blends and balances together perfectly through this tale. Meant for "middle grades," I have no idea what that really means since this very mature adult loved the book, a good starting age might be around nine years old. There is a tad bit of darkness in parts of the book but what is a good book without both light and dark? If you don't select any other book for your tween this year, make sure that the one you do get is Circus Mirandus.

Impractical Magic

Lots of younger middle grade magic books are very serious and earnest about magic and how it "works". It's all very practical and the stories involve explaining the source of magic and how it's powered and what the rules are and so on. This is not that sort of book. This book is full of wonder and the unexplained, and the fun and joy of imagination and possibility.

Sure, there's a plot. We have Micah, an appealing, loyal, resourceful and reasonably genuine kid. We have a competent and supportive and super-resourceful gal pal. (I have no problem with having lots of Hermione Grangers appearing in lots of books.) We have a kind and wise grandfather and a mean relative with a backstory. And we have the Circus Mirandus. Add a promised "miracle" as the macguffin that keeps all the wheels turning and you have everything you need for a magical adventure.

This book avoids two big problems. We don't go overboard with poetic oversell of magicky wonder. And we don't overstuff the Circus with so much creative and showy excess that it all gets to be too much. All of the ingredients are balanced and in proper proportions. The book moves along briskly and does just enough to keep us turning the pages.

The result is upbeat, gentle, (though ripping in parts), and full of goodness and wonderment. Fine by me.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

What an imaginative and fun adventure! Middle-grade readers (and their adults) who love magic will enjoy this story.

The story is well-paced, the characters are delightful and quirky (or in the case of Aunt Gertrudis, wonderfully, horribly drawn), This coming-of-age tale is just full of hope, love, and adventure.

I started reading this one but didn't hold my interest. I though the concept was good but I wish I could have connected with the characters more.

Kids in grades four to six will love this fantasy about a magical circus--and so did many adults, I'm sure. I enjoyed author Cassie Beasley's tale about Micah, who seeks help for his grandfather, who is living out his last days. He needs assistance from the Light Bender, a performer in Circus Mirandus, along with other members of the circus. This is a fun story, with brave, young characters and lots of action. Highly recommended.

This book was so good. Great for that Middle Grade coming of age person!

Micha has been living with his Grandpa Ephraim since he was 4 years old due to the death of his parents. His grandpa has been telling him stories of this wonderful Circus. Charming and well written, Micha is thrust into this world trying to find a miracle that was promised to his grandpa when he was a young boy.

I really enjoyed the characters and world of Circus Mirandus! It was a fun, quick read, and a sweet story about finding your place in unexpected places. While it wasn't as atmospheric as the Night Circus, I can definitely understand why people compare the two.

Loved this book. Poor Micah has been raised by his Grandpa and now that he is sick and dying, Micah's Aunt won't let him even in to see him. When Grandpa was young, he used to visit the Circus Mirandus and he made a special wish and now Micah is determined to help make that wish come true.

This was a fun book. It is great for young readers who love magic and an enchanted Circus. The Circus Mirandus is a place that keeps magic alive in kids. You can only enter with a magic ticket and believe if magic. Micah Tuttle's grandfather is dying and they need the miracle his grandfather was offered when little by the Lightbender in Circus Mirandus. Micah will go on an adventure to find the Lightbender in an effort to help his grandfather.

I recommend this book to younger readers especially if you believe in Magic!

“Circus Mirandus” is amazing, magical, powerful, charming and so wonderful! Do you ever have moments when you read a book and believe that the magic mentioned could be actually real? I actually felt like if I believed strong enough, the Circus would appear to me as well! It is one of those stories that made me laugh and made me cry.

The story is unique and unlike anything I had read before. It is one of those books where you don’t know how the story would turn out because it is so different. The author paced it well where Micah and Jenny are always learning something new about the circus or about Micah’s family history. The illustrations also compliment the book very nicely.

Moreover, the characters in the circus are quirky, eccentric and odd, but cute in their own manner. Micah is the perfect main character. Your heart goes out to him from page one and you just want everything to work out for him. Also, I disliked Jenny in the beginning because of how annoying she was. But she slowly grew on me, and I ended up liking her as well. The Lightbender is a mysterious character and I am curious to know more about him. On a side note, I loved Rosebud and wished I had seen more of her.

My only criticism is with Aunt Gertrudis. I hoped that she would become a better person towards the end. Even though I know why she would be angry at Ephraim, I didn’t understand why she held such a hatred towards him all these years. The author wrote her in a despicable way, and you really love to hate her till the end. But, I didn’t understand how she could suddenly hate someone without giving them a benefit of the doubt. Also, Victoria’s character is left open-ended and we don’t get any closure about her. Perhaps she will be mentioned in the 2nd book of the series.

Apart from that, I loved everything about “Circus Mirandus” !

Special thanks to Penguin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

This is a fun & magical middle-grade novel. I think ages 9-11 would enjoy it. It's a healthy dose of magic, youth & family. It's a cute & imaginative read.

Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader.

If you ignore the circus aspect of this tale and just focus on the characters this a great book. Grandpa Ephraim is an endearing man, and it makes me heart ache with missing my own grandpa, and in somewhere this tale helped me remember him.

*who's cutting onions*

I have a soft spot for orphans who create their own families and Micha and his grandpa were quite the pair and I loved them, Aunt Gertrudis annoyed me to no end, but I gather that was the intent with her character.

outside of the rich and inviting characters the plot and the settings did pale in comparison, and I think more attention should have been paid to them, but I think in a second book those problems can easily be fixed.

This was a delightful read and I enjoyed that slightly bumpy ride.

I didn't like the pacing of this one, it had such a slow pace. I had trouble getting through this. It took me so long because it was hard for me to want to pick this up.

Sweet, imaginative, and transporting...I loved it.

This was a delightful, magical tale that is kid appropriate but boast enough smarts and humor that it can be appreciated by an adult audience.

Micah and the rest of this wonderful cast of characters are just real enough to be relatable, and just magical enough to be aspirational.

Cassie Beasley has created a world where a touch of magic intersects with our own reality, demonstrating the power of the ordinary. Even a bootlace can be extraordinary, much like any “ordinary” boy or girl.

This book was just the lift that I needed right now. Five very enthusiastic stars. I can’t wait to read the sequel.