The Girl Who Walked On Air: 'The Queen of Historical Fiction at her finest.' Guardian: 1

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As much as we've all wondered what it would be like to drop everything and run away with the circus, this book shows us that it's not all fun and games, and that there is a darker side to it which I never really thought about that much before reading this book. One negative thing that I would have to say about this book is that I don't think that it dealt with some sensitive issues, such as loss, that well as I don't think it showed the effect that these issues had on the characters. From the queen of historical fiction, The Girl Who Walked On Air by Emma Carroll is an enchanting historical adventure for ages 9-11.

Emma Carroll writes characters wonderfully, but what's even greater than the individuals are the dynamics that are created. The relationship between Louie and her father figure, Jasper, is touching; and the friendship she shares with Ned is fun and playful - both of which feel lifelike and natural. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... As I mentioned above, Louie is passionate and what she is most passionate about is her skill of tightrope walking. This enthusiasm only adds to the magic of The Girl Who Walked On Air.Our work today is below. Print out the worksheet and cut out all the squares on the right hand side of the sheet. Match each state – solid, liquid or gas – to a material and to its correct particle arrangement. Covered in hair from head to toe, Wild Boy is a "savage spectacle," performing every miserable night in a freak show. One evening, he witnesses a murder and gets framed for it. Assisted by acrobat Clarissa, he sets out to clear his name. This is a delicious romp of a story where circus life is described in all its seedy, Victorian glory. 4. Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Ocr tesseract 5.0.0-rc1-12-g88b4 Ocr_detected_lang en Ocr_detected_lang_conf 1.0000 Ocr_detected_script Latin Ocr_detected_script_conf 0.9400 Ocr_module_version 0.0.14 Ocr_parameters -l eng Old_pallet IA-NS-2000491 Openlibrary_edition However one of the highlights of this entertaining book is the growing friendship between Louie and Gabriel, the new arrival at the circus. This relationship is portrayed extremely well and provides some genuinely moving moments. Also Louie’s sadness at never having known her mother and her hope of one day discovering more about her past causes the reader to become more involved in the story. I am reluctant to give away too much of the plot as I think that this would spoil the excitement but suffice it to say I was gripped to the end wanting to know what happened. Emma Carroll manages to bring the various strands together in a very satisfying conclusion.

The Girl Who Walked On Air is a charming read - it'll keep you on your toes but leave you with a feel good feeling by the end of it. Coffee house Caffè Nero has announced the 16-strong shortlist for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, recognising the outstanding books of the past 12... Louie is an absolutely fantastic main character. I immediately warmed to her and was rooting for her to get what she wanted. Louie is determined to get what she wants and really fights to succeed. There are such strong secondary characters in this story as well. They’re all so well developed. There are even characters I delighted in disliking. It was Louie that stood out for me and her interactions with Gabriel, a performer from another circus.Dapo Adeola, Tracy Darnton, Joseph Coelho and Chitra Soundar are among the 19 authors and illustrators longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Child... The Girl Who Walked On Air is an entertaining read aimed at the middle grade audience, but easily enjoyed by any age range. The story is narrated by Louie, a young girl who has been brought up in a travelling circus. Surrounded by the theatrics of the circus, Louie has just one ambition and that's to be a showstopper, a show stopping tightrope walker. Her ambition proves difficult as she and her skills are constantly being put down however that doesn't deter Louie from achieving her dream.

Ms Carroll has written another fabulous historical adventure, covering many themes. We learn a little of the social history of the circus at that time, and the circus setting is perfectly described; it is easy to imagine the colour, noise and excitement of the big top. The themes of family and friendship run throughout the book as Louie learns of Gabriel's life and her mother's past. The addition of a real life historical character - Charles Blondin - is a clever device and although we never meet him directly, he does play a large part in the story, adding another layer to the plot. If you have not already read Emma Carroll’s first book, Frost Hollow Hall, please do, it is brilliant too. You might also appreciate The Daring Escape of Beatrice and Peabody by Kimblerly Newton Fusco.

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I realised at the end of the story that tightrope walking symbolises the true meaning of the story which is about being brave and trusting someone. Placing Louie in an historical setting allows the author to create truly life threatening situations for our heroine resulting in this being an exciting and at times very tense read. Especially for those people such as me who are afraid of heights! This is an engrossing and enjoyable book partly due to the story being so well plotted but also because it provides an emotional involvement through the insight into Louie’s own personal life problems and issues. Louie is an appealing character because although she clearly has failings her determination and her thoughtfulness make her someone the reader cares about. Despite her exotic and very different lifestyle her inner resolve and drive to succeed has parallels with today’s popular culture of seeking fame and the idea of wanting to be a star is probably one that will be familiar to young readers. The additional characters are interesting too. The different people working at the circus including Mr Chipchase, Jasper, Louie’s friend Ned and of course Mr. Wellbeloved, are all believable characters and add enjoyment to the story.

And the circus needs her too – Wellbeloved’s rival show is stealing their crowds. They need a Showstopper. Desperate, Mr Chipchase reluctantly lets Louie perform. She is a sensation, and gets an offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform . . . over Niagara Falls. But nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie’s bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus . . . This was my first reading experience of Emma Carroll's work and I'm glad to have discovered her books. The Girl Who Walked On Air is the wonderfully talented Emma Carroll's second novel for children, aimed around the middle grade reading age but... (and this is a big BUT), I truly believe that her books can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, especially those adults who love an imaginative plot and beautifully drawn characters like Louie Reynolds, our heroine for the story.

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Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark... A modern day true story of what happened when Stroud ran away with the circus. Her tales of hardship and bullying make for uncomfortable reading. Yet it's her respect for circus life and her passion for horses that really shines through. This is a celebration of a culture in decline. 7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern But Louie doesn’t give up on her dream. Even after someone she loves has a terrible accident, a new act joins the circus, and Mr Chipcase still won't listen. There’s another circus nearby – a circus that is bigger, better and looking for a showstopper.