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199 pp.
| Bloomsbury |
August, 2008 |
TradeISBN 978-1-59990-185-5$15.99
(3)
4-6
Thirteen-year-old orphan Owen narrates his adventures working aboard a circus showboat in the 1850s. Solomon, a free black man, shows Owen the ropes, and Owen's developing understanding of slavery is portrayed with honesty. Vivid scenes capture the spectacular performances and romance of circus life, also hinting at a darker side--class distinctions between workers and performers, mistreatment of animals, and duping of spectators.