Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of The Circus at the End of the Sea for me to preview.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

“The Circus at the End of the Sea” by Lori R. Snyder is a heartwarming, delightful and joy-of-a-book to read. It’s a middle grade fantasy book (ages 8-12 years old) about magic on Venice Beach, California.

Although I read MG books extensively because I write in that genre, I ordinarily wouldn’t pick up a fantasy book about magic. But the main character, Maddy, gains a cephalopod sidekick in the blue octopus with yellow spots named Ophelia. I instantly fell in love with this charming, protective and lovable sidekick who sits on Maddy’s shoulder.

Ophelia is fashioned after the real-life mimic octopus, who “mimics” real animals to escape predators. It can become sea snake, lionfish, or flatfish to name a few. (Search “mimic octopus on YouTube for some fascinating videos!) Ophelia is an octopus living in a magical world, so she can squirt magical ink and turn into words!

The protagonist, Maddy, has seen magic in the ordinary world her entire life. As an orphan shuttled around different group homes, she has learned to keep this ability secret. Until one day she is drawn to the end of a pier in Venice Beach during the beginning of a storm, and she discovers Il Circo delle Strade, the Circus at the End of the Sea.

There she discovers a magical circus which boasts a number of unique characters including a muse and guide named Vanessa that gives her magical leg warmers. She embraces her magical abilities and begins to find out the mystery of the silver bracelet she can’t remove and was given to her by the parents who abandoned her as a newborn. She even learns why she has a heart condition she needs medication for.

Besides Ophelia, her best cephalopod friend, she meets her best human friend Skeeter, who is also a skateboarder. He wants to become a part of the circus but is too young. He too is an orphan. Skeeter and Maddy bond over that and being able to see the magic all around them.

I wasn’t expecting spiritual philosophy in a fantasy children’s book, but there’s a good balance of seeing magic in the ordinary, to finding out your true nature and discovering real friendships.

There is never a dull moment in Circus at the End of the Sea, whether it’s quiet contemplative moments, or a race on a roller coaster through the clouds. There is also the Bridge of Sighs that Maddy must cross and face her fears in order to reach the Heart at the End of the World. Most of all, this book is about about possibilities, and that our destinies are what we make of them.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Kids for the gifted book I read with the library audio.

This book is worth reading just for the mimic octopus Ophelia. The way Snyder uses that character as a plot device is so genius and fun. She doesn't speak, but the way she shifts and changes and the descriptions of the colors she becomes added so much to how the emotions in this book leapt off the page. And the mimic octopus is a real creature! Also amidst all the magical angst and fun, there are historical facts about the setting of Venice Beach, California interwoven in the story that made it fun and makes you want to dig into that place more. This book is creativity and well written word pictures on display. If you love inventive writing, you will enjoy this one.

“She was no longer a girl who turned away from magic to go where she was told to go. No, she was a girl who had raced through the sky on a giant skateboard. She was a girl who had talked to a mermaid and a lion with wings. She was a girl with an octopus for a friend. She was fairly certain she would never be the other kind of girl again.”

Twelve-year-old Maddy Adriana has seen magic her entire life. Sent from group home to group home, it’s one of the few things she can count on to be consistent. She’s often ignored the pull of her heart towards things too perfect to be ordinary, but when that tug leads her to a magical street circus in Venice Beach, California, Maddy thinks she might have finally found a place where she could belong. Except not everything is as brilliant as it seems because the circus is in danger of closing forever if the ringmaster can’t be found. With Ophelia the mimic octopus by her side, Maddy must set off on a journey to find the ringmaster and bring him back to the circus before it’s too late. But when saving the circus means facing her deepest fears, will Maddy have the courage to follow her heart and fight for the place she dreams of calling home?

The Circus at the End of the Sea is phenomenally creative, heart-warming, and a perfect tribute to the imagination. I think I read the entire book with a smile on my face! Maddy is a fabulous protagonist, but a circus wouldn’t be complete without other acts—and the entire cast of characters is truly wonderful. I do have to say that Ophelia the mimic octopus completely stole the show for me. I mean, how awesome is an octopus who can turn into a spray-paint bottle for a skateboard race through the sky? But the wondrous nature of this story doesn’t stop there. As Maddy desperately fights to save the circus and untangles the mysterious threads of her past, themes of friendship, courage, and accepting change shine through. I could go on and on about this amazing book all day, but suffice it to say that The Circus at the End of the Sea should be a must-read for anyone who enjoys magical middle-grade adventures with lots and lots of hope and heart.

Content Warnings: Absentee parents, fire, heart condition, some action sequences, death

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Far more fanciful than a typical visit-to-the-circus, Maddy is “drawn” to supernatural and bizarre creatures who belong to a former secret circus in Venice Beach, California. Maddy grew up in group homes with no idea who her parents were, so she doesn’t know what to believe when she’s told the “people” and circus can only be seen by magical people. It explains some things, but raises more questions.

This book seems written as a hopeful animated movie. There are some scenes that are very well described, and even magical, but some went on too long. And others were possibly just not to my taste.

The overall theme is Maddy’s loneliness, and she is told that to find the Ringmaster of the circus—and save it—she must confront her greatest fear. She is delighted to make some good friends (her first friends) during the adventure, but then the focus turns to something else as if she is cured.

I found it confusing and disturbing that the night circus was menacing, with people appearing evil and hungry when smiling, then it’s quickly explained aways as costuming and fun. I didn't buy the quick change. It remained creepy.

When I finished reading this book, I had hoped to feel satisfied and a little triumphant, but instead, I felt vaguely sad.

SPOILER ALERT!
More than anything, Maddy wanted the love of a parental figure. But what she received was more responsibility that a 12 year old should ever have. True to life sometimes, yes, but sad.
END SPOILER!

I gave this book three stars with the hope that careful editing and a little re-writing will elevate the entire story to a magical one.

3/5 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this preview!

#TheCircusattheEndoftheSea #NetGalley

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Maddy has spent her whole life in foster care homes and group homes and she is on the way to a new home when she feels a tugging and gets off the bus. There she discovers a hidden circus in Venice Beach and she sets off on a journey to help restore the circus and hopefully discover more about who she is and where she came from. She meets a cast of interesting characters along the way and the author has an amazing imagination and a vivid and descriptive writing style...I could see this being an animated movie.

I live in Southern California and have been to Venice Beach a number of times so it was fun to be able to imagine where this was taking place. Now I would like to go back and visit the list of places the author mentioned at the end of the book.

As a note, I would consider this more upper MG than general MG due to the themes of the book and I think some of the elements of the night circus.

This book seems written as a hopeful animated movie. There are some scenes that are very well described, and even magical, but some went on too long. And others were possibly just not to my taste.

The overall theme is Maddy’s loneliness, and she is told that to find the Ringmaster of the circus—and save it—she must confront her greatest fear. She is delighted to make some good friends (her first friends) during the adventure, but then the focus turns to something else as if she is cured.

I found it confusing and disturbing that the night circus was menacing, with people appearing evil and hungry when smiling, then it’s quickly explained away as costuming and fun.

I ended up DNF'ing this one. Kids may enjoy it but it was not to my taste even though I read MG regularly

I absolutely adored this book. A beautiful lumps and all moral is delivered skillfully, wrapped up in a magical circus, Venice Beach, and a delightful mimic octopus. Because it’s rooted in our reality, this realistic magic tale may be easier for non-fantasy fans to get into, and will certainly spawn some important and fascinating conversations.
I can’t wait to handsell this!

Pure magic! This was a fun read that held my attention easily. I will be a favorite gift for younger members of the family and community this year!

You are never too old for magic! I am a sucker for magical realism, and for middle grade novels that focus on the subtle magic of friendship. I loved that we had some traditional magic i.e. mermaids and winged lions tied in with magical elements that were fresh and new i.e. talking graffiti and shapeshifting octopuses. Even though the orphan trope is one that can be overwrought and overdone, I feel like Maddy is intriguing enough to make us forgive the cliche.

Maddy longs to belong somewhere with someone. Add to that a new heart illness that gets her sent to another group home and Extra Attention. Ugh. Venice Beach is the beginning of Maddy’s story where all the magic she sees becomes the who she needs to be. Following her heart changes her and everything around her. This book is full of beautiful imagery and would make a wonderful read aloud. Perfect for ages 10+ ARC provided by NetGalley - Opinions are my own.

There are a lot of interesting ideas in this fast paced YA/middle grade fantasy novel. A strong emphasis on visual description sometimes slows the plot down, although the scenes described are rich and specific. I tend to agree with a previous reviewer who suggested the work might be a pitch for what would be a simply stellar animated film. Some of the connections to Venice and Venetian culture and history could have been made clearer, particularly given the age of the intended audience. This could be easily done in end notes materials providing additional information about things like the Bridge of Sighs and the Lion of Saint Mark. I'll be thinking about quite a few elements of this story for quite some time (hello, heart mice and Alter!)

I really loved The Circus at the End of the Sea. It was such a whimsical, endearing story. I think it is a great story for middle grade readers, because the author created a fantastic world with lovely characters. It weaves in life lessons that are good for all ages, but the story would especially draw younger students. I would recommend the story to students, not as part of curriculum, but just as one to engage them as readers!

A fantasy middle grade story about a lonely heart, Venice Beach, magic, and love (and the search for "Something Perfect").

http://fictionfood.com/entries/middle-grade-mg/circusattheendofthesea
https://www.instagram.com/p/COOkcYAsiTW/?igshid=1rurqhwprhmsq

Thank you Harper Collins and Net Galley for providing me with this advanced reader copy.

This is the story of a young girl named Maddy who was always aware that she was a little different. Maddy could see magic everywhere where others could not, but growing up in the foster care system, she knew that acknowledging the magic wasn't a good idea. She didn’t want people to know she was different. However, for Maddy, being different was hard to avoid lately. Over the past year, Maddy developed a heart condition that forced her to move to a new care facility for sick kids. Maddy hated the idea of getting “Extra Attention,” she liked to fly under the radar. On her way to the care facility in Venice Beach, CA, Maddy started to notice more magic than usual. The magic was calling her, drawing her to the pier and she followed it, slipping away from her group unnoticed. As a huge storm brews and a giant wave crashes onto the pier, Maddy finds herself at the gate of Il Circo delle Strade (The Circus of the Streets), with marquee lights glowing. As the story continues, Maddy uncovers her connection to the circus and the magic within, and learns to accept both the good and the bad that life can offer.

This is a beautifully written story. I was drawn into the setting and the characters immediately, it is very immersive. Highly recommend for young readers in your life or middle grade lovers, this is a memorable story for all ages.

Of course I fell in love with the cover and the concept of this book. Twelve-year-old Maddy is an orphan who has always been able to see things that others cannot. This takes an interesting turn when she's being sent to a new group home and finds herself following some live murals to Venice Beach where she discovers a magical circus unlike anything she's ever dreamed of--so why does everything feel so familiar?
In many ways, this book is a tribute to Venice Beach. I have some mixed feelings about the morals of this story (you have to accept the whole circus in order to save it--even the unsavory and spooky parts), but I can't say I'm disappointed in the style or the characters. This book really isn't like anything else I've read, and the creativity and surprising delights make it quite the page turner.

All the magical characters in The Circus at the End of the Sea are so different and engaging and the setting of Venice Beach makes the story entirely plausible. A great read for middle grade fantasy lovers.

Maddy is an orphan that has shuffled from group home to group home for her whole life. In the past year something has made her heart sick and so she is being moved to a new group home near Venice beach. On the way to the group home the bus stops and Maddy notices the magic around her. Maddy has always been able to see the magic but in order to fit in she hides that from the rest of the world. But this time the magic is calling to her stronger than ever. So Maddy decides to follow it and what she finds is a magical circus on the Venice boardwalk. The circus sends her on a journey of self-discovery full of adventures, friendship and wisdom.

Through a magical circus the readers are taken on a journey filled with magic, friendship, and eye-opening trials. This book is full of insightful nuggets of wisdom. I did find that it might be a little too deep for the age group of 9–12-year-olds, even though it’s protagonist is 12. I feel like this is a book that 12-15 years old readers would connect with and benefit from as this is very much an age of self-discovery and learning to accept oneself. The book really was an adventure and a fun fantastical world that takes place on a beach that is known for its eclectic atmosphere. And the author does a great job of incorporating actual murals, artwork, and places in Venice into the story.

This story is one of acceptance, courage, and friendship. It’s about discovering who you are, at your core. It’s a story that demonstrates how bravery and helping others doesn’t have an age. You are never too young to be brave and make a difference in the world. It’s also a story about mending a heart broken and scarred from disappointments and pain, and making it whole again. And most of all, it’ a story about accepting change. The author taught many important life lessons by interweaving them into an interesting and magical story.

This book is all magic! It’s fantastic! Mermaids. Shapeshifting mini octopuses born from the tears of a muse. Winged Lions. Talking graffiti. Murals and statues that come to life. This is a book I would have loved when I was a kid. It’s a book I love now.

Great and challenging vocabulary for this age group. I hope the author will add a section at the beginning of the book with some of the vocabulary words and definitions and the English translations to the short Italian phrases used. I loved the author’s note at the end of the last chapter telling us a little about the history of Venus Beach and letting us know what buildings and art are actually real and can be found there.

There was a great introduction and build up to the plot. You could strongly sense Maddie’ anticipation. It made me excited to see what was to come next.

Such a creative world the author built for us, Descriptive and delightful metaphors and similes makes the circus and its performers and creatures come alive to us. It has very imaginative creatures and characters. Little Orphelia, the mimic octopus, is the most wonderful friend ever. She was a surprisingly great and caring addition to the story.

I think my favorite scene was the graffiti scene. So original and creative. This was truly a wonderful and well written debut novel.

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #TheCircusAtTheEndOfTheSea