A sweet coming of age story about a gal with a desire for adventure. She is able to find just that when the circus comes to town. This is definitely a book that I would place in the library collection of the elementary school in which I am the librarian.

Rounded up from 3 1/2 stars. This is a fun read-aloud or chapter book for preteen readers about determination and spunk. It felt a little long-winded at times but has a likeable heroine and fun story.

Twelve-year-old Suzy taught me a thing or two about dreaming big, outgrowing our boundaries and reaching for something more without letting go. In this story, we meet Suzy and her family as they live the farming life in Michigan long ago. While everyone else is satisfied with living at home for all of their days, Suzy is not. She has a dream for something bigger: to see the world. Itching to find a way to make it happen, she starts working with her Uncle on Madame Marantette’s farm, a former celebrity with a world-renowned circus. Completely unexpected, but also completely meant to be, Suzy learns to ride an ostrich to help Madame Marantette earn a world record. And it turns out that this is exactly what Suzy needs to discover her dreams and grab onto them with her vice-like grip. Suzy is a small girl with a big mind of her own, taking risks and demonstrating the kind of grit we all need to stay true to ourselves.

I didn't get a chance to finish this before it expired but I liked the part that I read. I'm excited to get a copy from the bookstore or the library so that I can finish it.

In the 1920s, twelve-year-old Suzy has big dreams that reach far beyond her family's Michigan farm, but most of her relatives aren't too keen on entertaining them. When her uncle returns home after some time away, however, he introduces her to former circus performer Madame Marantette. The next thing Suzy knows, she is caught up in the world of ostrich riding, risking her parents' disapproval and her own physical safety in order to pursue a talent that might yet send her out into the wider world.
This novel reminds me of Newbery winners of decades past. The writing is top-notch, the characters are well-drawn, and the story is memorable. Bird has written a protagonist with a unique, strong voice that really drives the story, and the bits of local color and historical references also help give young readers a full image of Suzy's life and time period. The book has a truly timeless feel to it that is missing from many newly published middle grade books.

I have not read this book aloud, but I found myself really wanting to do so as I was reading it silently. It has all the makings of a real crowd-pleaser: first-person narration that sounds like a real kid talking, lots of heart and humor, beautifully written dialogue and some really great action scenes involving the ostrich. If I read this again, I will do so in audio format so I can appreciate the language even more. The illustrations by David Small also add an extra layer of charm to the story. His style is perfectly suited to the mood of the book and really complements the author's writing style quite well. The cover caught my eye before I even realized who the author was, and the interior artwork is similarly engaging.

It was so refreshing to read Long Road to the Circus and not be bogged down by politics and other agendas. This is what children's literature ought to be: well-written, fun, inspiring, and kid-friendly. I hope this won't be the last middle grade novel from Betsy Bird.

Perfect for kids who will understand having an obsessive special interest that most people do not share. In this case, ostriches. Also, you get some magic and the background of life in Michigan on a farm. I think its an unusually great book.

When I was a kid my favorite books were Robert McCloskey's Homer Price books in which the young boy, Homer Price, "somehow gets involved in a series of outrageous incidents, such as tending an inexplicably unstoppable doughnut-making machine in his uncle's diner, or caring for mystery plants that turn out to be a giant form of allergy-inducing ragweed." (Source, Wikipedia.) Betsy Bird's Long Road to the Circus reminded me a lot of Homer Price.

Suzy Bowles is a twelve-year-old girl in rural Michigan who desires to see the world but is stuck in Burr Oak. The world comes to her, however, when first her uncle moves back to the farm but tends to skip out on the chores for mysterious reasons. Suzy follows her uncle to discover that he's working for the legendary Madame Marantette and her flock of ostriches.

Suzy becomes almost obsessed with the birds and takes a special liking to one named Guacho. Madame Marantette allows Suzy to help her uncle take care of the birds, but she has to do both her chores and her uncle's chores on the family farm as well. But to take care of Guacho and the other ostriches is worth it.

There is a lot of fun here, mostly due to the fact that we have ostriches as a main character. I mean ... ostriches! Big, awkward looking birds that our protagonist will ride like horses and about which we will learn a good deal.

There's a sweet growth of character in Suzy, thanks to her interest in Guacho and the ostriches, and she (and our young readers) learn that the way to achieve a goal is through hard work and determination. But wisely, the lessons aren't too overt, but the savvy young readers will pick up on it.

As fun as this is, learning that this is based on a true story really makes it all that much more intriguing - a true story based on Betsy Bird's own family history.

Artist David Small illustrates the book and it's possible that it's these illustrations that have me reflect on Robert McClosky's Homer Price books - they have a similar blend of realism and whimsy. These are pictures that young readers can (and probably will) spend a lot of time looking at. It's a really nice blend of story and art.

If there's one downside to the book, it's that the story is just a tad too long. I did get bored for a bit somewhere between half and two thirds of the way through and I thought maybe it was being stretched a little too hard to be 'novel length.' Still, it will likely be a favorite for many readers.

Looking for a good book? Long Road to the Circus by Betsy Bird with art by David Small is a nice middle grade/YA book, complete with lessons learned and ... ostriches.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Part of what makes this story successful is that it doesn't try to hard to present complete information. Most of the family are not characters. For the large list of names we meet, only a few are fleshed out. Most people are only briefly present. This allows the plot to focus almost completely on Suzy's experience with the ostriches. It's almost more of a vignette than a complete book. The plot is simple. And while the story lacks the heart or even the message of Charlotte's Web they share a sensibility.

Twelve-year-old rebel meets ostrich – what more needs to be said? Suzy B. and her family are farmers, with the normal chore-sharing of the milieu, when her uncle (of a mysterious past) returns home to live with them on the farm. After following her uncle to learn why he’s shirking his morning chores, Suzy gets to meet a retired circus performer and her ostrich, which the circus performer wants trained to be paired with a horse to pull a parade carriage. This seemingly impossible task is right up Suzy’s alley, or so she thinks, and the tale leads us through mysterious biographies, family issues, and injuries, as might be expected when a force of nature like Suzy are involved. This entertaining story packs some hidden messages about determination, working through frustration, and learning that not everyone’s story is what was thought. A fun read for all ages.

When Suzy's deadbeat uncle starts shirking his chores to try his hand at training ostriches, Suzy is fairly certain this might be her ticket out of her dead end life in a small town farming community. Unfortunately, Gaucho, the ostrich in question, has a very small brain and very fast legs. It will take every ounce of determination, hope, and poise she can grasp for Suzy to make the impact she needs.

This book was truly charming from start to finish. Suzy is a clever and down-to-earth gal despite her circus-related dreams, and I loved puzzling through the many social relationships with her so that she could she could discover what she really wanted. The real biographical facts tucked in the book were many and fascinating. Most of all, I enjoyed the style. I'm glad this was not a wee picture book, as I loved spending a few hours in Suzy's mind.

What a sweet, fun book. I love the old fashioned nature of it…and the simple innocence of the story itself. Suzy yearns for something different, yet at the same time, she appreciates the value of tradition, even if she longs to break from it. Along comes her uncle, known to be one to shirk work, and Suzy decides to follow him one day on a mysterious meandering walk. She discovers his secret; he “breaks”ostriches for the fabled circus celebrity who lives close by.

Fun, historical fiction that just might be true, Suzy exhibits a true sense of wonder mixed with appreciation for life.

Suzy, 12, longs to escape from the farm. Discovering her neighbor was once a circus performer, Suzy vows to learn ostrich riding. Back matter about the woman upon whom the book was based. Spot illustrations by award-winning artist David Small enhance this delightful historical fiction novel.

It features a twelve-year-old farm girl in Michigan who wants to see the world. She wants more in life than having a future being a wife of a farmer. When her uncle arrives with his family, he mysteriously disappears in the mornings and Suzy follows him. Soon she becomes involved with a former circus celebrity and her ostrich farm. She also has to deal with her brother, who she doesn't get along with but eventually figures out their relationship. Eventually, this adventure changes her world!

This is a fun read for elementary school students. I think it encourages students to dream for the future even if it seems impossible. Great topics for discussion are circuses, sibling rivalry, animal training. Honesty, and trust.

I would recommend this book for a school library or a classroom bookshelf.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Kids for the gifted book that I read in partnership with the audio from the library.

There are those stories that get told in our families and we all take them with a grain of salt. Well the author looked into one of her family stories about a great uncle of hers who worked with some ostriches for a former circus lady and it turned out to be true. So she crafted this beguiling fictionalized version of that story. 

Suzy lives in a big family in a small town just like the generations of her family before her. But she doesn't want to be stuck in this speck of a town for all her days. She envisions more than this mundane existence. So when her much bandied about "lazy" uncle shows up in town and sneaks away to get out of farm chores she follows him. It turns out he is working for Madame Marantette, the infamous legendary circus performer, to help train one of her ostriches. Suzy ingratiates herself to her uncle and the Madame and becomes embroiled in their scheme that might just help her punch her ticket out of this town. 

This story is funny with lessons about how chasing your dreams takes hard work, bravery, and some grit. It also has some interesting scenes where readers get to watch how Suzy contends with the role that manners and decorum plays into how we are perceived and the opportunities we get. Layers of entertainment and education can be found within this tale.

Suzy can be as ornery as her ostrich, but she is a refreshingly honest and big hearted heroine with honest and big dreams. This an old school story with a modern sensibility and an occasional bit of bite. I've followed Betsy Bird's reviews and opinions ever since she was a fresh voice as Youth Media Specialist at the New York Public Library, and so it was a special delight to read her lovely guide to how to be the heroine of your own adventure. Suzy and Toby Tyler were made for each other. (I appreciate having had the opportunity to read this as an ARC without obligation or a review requirement.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the review copy of Long Road to the Circus by Betsy Bird. I was intrigued by the premise of a young girl meeting a retired circus performer who teaches her how to ride an ostrich. I was even more intrigued to find out how based in reality this historical fiction middle grade novel actually is!

Suzy has big dreams for her life that don’t include staying on her family farm for the rest of her life. When she meets Madame Marantette, she sees ostrich riding as a means to all her dreams coming true.

Suzy is a wonderful main character, and the book’s narration is humorous and engaging. The illustrations by David Smalls add a lot to the novel as well. This was a fun read.

What a fun historical story. Not sure 10 year olds would understand this but maybe as a read to by an adult. One will learn a lot about ostriches, family farm life, holding onto your dreams and wishes. Suzy was a great character.

Long Road to the Circus
by Betsy Bird
This is quite a book! A feisty young girl wants out of her boring town and will do just about anything to do it. When her lazy but travelled uncle comes back she decided to enlist his help. He had worked for a woman that raised ostriches and the young gal was determined to ride them! She has a strong grip and stronger determination!
Great art work scattered throughout! A fun story kids will enjoy.

The ostrich is not your standard cuddly lovey. Betsy Bird’s Long Road to the Circus introduces young readers to twelve year-old determined but bored Suzy Bowles, aiming to find a way out of Burr Oak, Michigan, and a feisty ostrich, Gaucho. A wayward uncle and a former circus queen enter Suzy’s mundane life and readers are in for a hilarious, rollicking ride with Suzy and her new ride, Gaucho. Betsy Bird’s tale, based on a true family story, shows young readers that hard work, determination and ‘true grit” are what it takes to make dreams come true. Caldecott Medalist David Small’s illustrations add intricate details and facial expressions that spark great emotion and humor. Young readers will definitely want to give Long Road to the Circus and Gaucho’s long, fleshy neck a big ol’ hug!

You never know when a gift becomes an asset and not only family legend to dust off and chuckle about. Grip and tenacity are at the heart of Suzy, at least at the surface. Betsy Bird and David Small take us to a small town in Michigan with big history- a history that they’re not willing to own. We meet a family with a pile of dreams and disconnect. And an ostrich. Those who love to follow Betsy Bird and David Small are in for a treat. Fur everyone else, this is an even bigger treat. Rich prose and elegant illustrations await. Enjoy!