Learning the Ropes

March 1, 2015
Fifteen-year-old Mandy dreams of becoming a rope-climbing aerialist in the circus and flies off to Montreal to attend circus camp despite her father's fears. Mandy's grandfather was killed while working as a professional stuntman, so her dad worries constantly that Mandy could get hurt as she pursues her dream. When she arrives at camp, Mandy meets Genevieve, another aerialist but one who uses the more popular tissu, a colorful fabric climbing medium. At first Genevieve seems friendly but soon loses no opportunity to show off her superior talent. Mandy gets on better with Hana, a shy, homesick Korean girl struggling to learn English. As the first week passes, and the students learn difficult stretches and maneuvers, Genevieve behaves more like a spiteful schoolgirl than a professional, but she also keeps nailing her aerial routines while Mandy struggles. When a circus rope climber is killed nearby, the stakes and suspense increase. Part of the Limelight series from Canada, this is one of a growing number of novellas focused on teens trying to become professional entertainers, and the choice of the circus as its subject certainly pops the book out of the norm. Full of interesting and varied characters, the story stands up well, and the author describes the difficult aerial maneuvers vividly. A quick read with a fascinating focus. (Fiction. 11-14)

March 1, 2015

Gr 7-10-In Rock the Boat, 17-year-old Webb is a Canadian songwriter trying to land a record deal in Nashville. He runs into financial trouble when he places his trust in an unscrupulous record producer. When Webb buys lunch for a musician who turns out to be more than meets the eye, the young man's fortune begins to change. In Learning the Ropes, despite her father's misgivings, Mandy attends a camp that trains young people to be professional circus performers. She needs to stay focused on her rope climbing to beat the competition, but an accident resulting in the death of a local aerialist threatens Mandy's drive. Does she have the guts to pursue this dangerous profession, or should she follow her dad's advice and set her dream aside? Both of these novels will hook readers from the first chapter. Even though the ambitions of the main characters are specialized, Webb and Mandy are relatable to any young teen in pursuit of a dream. The specifics of the characters' interests-music and circus performance-are described in a way that is true to life and easy to grasp. VERDICT Suspenseful plots, fascinating details, and likable protagonists make these titles wonderful additions to hi-lo collections.-Alison O'Reilly Poage, Seminary of the Southwest Lib.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Grades 6-9 Fifteen-year-old Mandy Campbell is over the moon to be among the 25 teenagers from around the world selected to attend Montreal Circus College's Summer Circus Camp. This prestigious program is her best chance of one day becoming a performer with Cirque de la Lune, a fictionalized Cirque du Soleil. Upon her arrival, Mandy learns she is not the only aerialist among the campers. The pretty, ultrafeminine Genevieve is there to work on aerial fabrics, or tissu, while Mandy will be climbing the much cooler rope. A competitive and somewhat catty friendship forms between the two as they train together and develop crushes on the same boy. When a tragedy strikes the circus community, Mandy must confront new fears and scrutinize her circus dreams. This easy-reading entry in Orca's Limelights series maintains an internal focus while offering an interesting glimpse behind the scenes of the circus world. Though more circus would have been welcome, readers will get a taste of the hard work and danger that go into performing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)