The Circus at the End of the Sea

Parentless, brown-skinned, black-haired Maddy Adriana, 12, has been shuttled from one group home to another nearly all her life. Perpetually known as “the weird new kid,” Maddy sees magic in the world, always feeling a tug to follow it. En route to a new group home for sick children on Venice Beach, Calif., Maddy spies an uncanny cat and feels a pull so strong she pursues it through a mysterious white fog, arriving at a magical seaside circus. In the aftermath of the Ringmaster’s sudden disappearance, however, acts have grown stale. Maddy, urged by her newfound friend—blonde, pale Vanessa the Muse—embarks on a mission to recover the Ringmaster. Along the way, she encounters wondrous, sometimes frightening experiences: murals and statues brought to life, a roller coaster race through the clouds, and a dangerous bridge, where she confronts an intense manifestation of all her fears and sorrows. Inspired by actual landmarks detailed in an author’s note, Snyder crafts a bittersweet, boundlessly imaginative story that emphasizes the bright and dark sides of life. Classic motifs help this enticing debut conjure its own special blend of magic. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Oct.)