A common piece of advice given to new and old writers is to read widely in your genre. I write
picture books and middle grade stories so I most commonly read those. Last year the top middle
grade books I read were Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley, The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina
Cho and The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Mendez.

This month I will share my thoughts on Circus Mirandus, which I had wanted to read for some time
but had never gotten round to. When I finally did, it was worth the wait.
The story is about Micah Tuttle who tries to save his dying grandfather, Grandpa Ephraim, by finding
a mythical circus. The Lightbender who is part of the circus had in the past promised Micah’s
grandfather a miracle which we are led to believe might save him now. Micah and his friend Jenny
manage to locate the circus and the Lightbender but are forced to reckon with the limitations of
magic. 

I enjoyed the story which had suspense throughout because as readers we were always left
desperately wondering whether the Lightbender would make good on his promise and if it would
save Grandpa Ephraim’s life. I particularly connected with Micah because firstly he shares the same
name as my son ��. And secondly, he was vulnerable. I constantly worried for him especially in the
face of his having to deal with horrible great-aunt, Gertrudis Tuttle, his only other relative who
would become his guardian if he lost Grandpa Ephraim. I couldn’t put the book down right until the
end which has an unexpected and touching twist. I found deeply satisfying.

I learned a lot by reading this book and hope to use some of it in my own writing.