Secrets of the Cirque Medrano

March 1, 2008
Gr 5-8-Newly orphaned Brigitte Dubrinsky leaves Warsaw to help her aunt and uncle in their Parisian café. From the first, the 14-year-old detests the drudgery of food preparation and the nastiness of their Russian assistant Henri as much as she adores the performers at the local Cirque Medrano. Picasso, a frequent café visitor, finds them equally fascinating, and Brigitte's story frames Picasso's "Family of Saltimbanques". Brigitte acquires a true taste for Montmartre's diversity when she discovers that Henri might be a revolutionary attempting to sway Picasso to his cause. At heart, Brigitte's story is one of politics, culture, and art. While the dialogue and characterization are only serviceable, those who enjoy fiction built up with history and biography will be interested in this window into Picasso's famous painting. Although somewhat revisionist and undoubtedly sanitized, the story evokes the riotous, layered culture of Montmartre in the early 20th century. The details of Russian intelligence agents in Paris add suspense, as does a page-turning escape scene on the rooftop of the Russian embassy. While this book has a niche audience, those readers will be satisfied with this novel of a rarely depicted era in European history."Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT"

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