Review: Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond

Posted November 11, 2014 by Lisa Mandina in Review / 61 Comments

First, thanks to Amazon Children’s Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-galley of this title.  The book actually was published at the beginning of October, but I did get an e-galley of it right after that I believe.  I was very interested in it for several reasons. First, I really enjoyed the other book that I had read by this author, Blackwood.  Second, there was a time when I was younger that I really wanted to be trapeze artist, so a story about a girl who was a high wire walker in a circus was definitely interesting sounding.  And of course, with American Horror Story being set in a kind of circus/freak show this season, it has really been something that is on my mind lately.  And can I say, that I enjoyed this book a lot!!  It was a really great story I thought.

The main character is Jules.  She is 16 years old and her family has always been a part of a circus, but kind of in a small setting on their own.  She and her father are wire walkers, while her mother does tricks with horses.  The reason they have worked on smaller shows is because of an old feud between their family and the Flying Garcias.  This feud dates back to the time when Jules’ grandmother, who she calls Nan, was a circus performer in the same show as the Garcias.  There is a new “big” show called the Cirque American that has asked her family to join.  But because the Garcias are a big part of the show, her father tells the man in charge, Thurston, no.  Jules decides that’s ridiculous, and she wants to be a part of something bigger than the show that they will probably not be able to keep going much longer.  And so she sets up an ultimatum by running away and demanding her father make a deal and take their family to the circus. 

When they get there, they get a cold reception from all the other performers.  You see, Jules’ grandmother was blamed for several accidents that happened back then, to the point where she was chased out of the show.  Upon arriving, Jules goes exploring, and wanders into a tent where she sees a cute boy practicing on the trapeze.  And then she realizes that this boy is one of the Garcias, so she leaves quickly.  At the big welcome party the owner throws from them, this boy is the first to ask Jules to dance.  And she finds that he may not be as bad as the rest.  That he may be willing to give her and her family a chance.  His sister also seems to be intrigued by Jules’ cousin Sam.  But it is their brother Novio that picks a fight with Sam that first night.  And when they get home after the fight, it seems their trailer has been ransacked.  Soon other things keep happening, symbols of bad luck appear as Jules is doing her act, almost causing accidents.  Remy, the first Garcia she met, has found a board, what would be called a murder board on a detective show.  And on it there are pictures of the items that seem to be showing up causing the bad luck.  And there are lots of clues. 

I won’t say who, but one character that you will love will have a disaster happen during one of their acts because of these bad luck tokens.  And now Jules and Remy really must figure out who is behind this before anyone else gets hurt.  But they must also figure out if there can truly be feelings between them when they come from families with such bad blood between them.  They are basically a Romeo and Juliet story, down to their names even.

I loved this story. I feel like the love wasn’t insta-love, but there was the instant attraction, and that’s okay.  I think the relationships between the people in the story were portrayed pretty realistically.  I love all the stuff about the circus that was in the story.  And the disaster I mentioned?  Well, if I hadn’t been at work on break when I read that part, I would have been in tears.  Instead I had to hold them in and go back to work, still wondering who was behind the sabotage, and how in the world Remy and Jules would solve the mystery.  Not to mention, what magic might her grandmother have.  And was it really all Nan’s fault what happened in the past, with Remy’s grandfather.

Another great story from Gwenda Bond.  Now I must get ahold of The Woken Gods soon, because I’m sure I’ll love it as well.  Also she has another book coming out next year that will be one of my WOW posts coming up in the next few weeks.

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61 responses to “Review: Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond

  1. Kel

    I picked this up because I loved Blackwood, too. Unfortunately, neither the romance nor the mystery worked for me. But I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

  2. Well, this is definitely interesting! I love the cover of this book too and who doesn't love a book about the circus? GREAT review, Lisa. I would love it if you could check out my blog? I haven't been receiving ANY comments lately and i am afraid it has something to do with my comment section not working properly.
    I WOULD LOVE if you check it out and take the time to comment and let me know if it works
    Your reader,
    Soma R.
    http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/

  3. I'm so excited about this one, I have it in my Kindle library cause it was an auto-buy for me, since I love Gwenda Bond! So happy to hear you loved it and that the insta attraction worked and didn't really feel like instalove, Linda!

  4. I haven't seen the new American Horror Story yet but I've been on the look out for more circus themed literature ever since I read 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern. There's always something interesting going on behind the scenes at a circus so I'm interested in reading this!

  5. It's great that the love story in the book was portrayed realistically. I'm getting pretty tired of the insta-love trope! I was on the fence about reading this one, but after reading your review I think I will have to add it to my to-read pile. Thanks for the review!

    • It's definitely not a great idea for the insta-love, even though I think teenagers really do feel like it is love that soon. So it will be somewhat realistic. But most of the time the books don't then show that the "love" doesn't last. Glad you're going to add it to your TBR pile!

  6. I have read about this book, but have passed it over more than once. Now, after reading your review, I will have to go back and really check it out. It sounds like a book, I would totally enjoy. I loved your review. It has made me want to go and read the book. Thank you! 🙂

  7. I enjoy the circus and the way you write the review and tell a tale of love, diaster and hard feels not to say love and a mystery sure make you want to go get the book and read it. It was a pleasure to read a review that makes you want to read the book and to know the out come Lecasa4@aol.com

  8. Everyone is fascinated by the circus, at least I am. I haven't read too many books with a circus setting! I enjoyed your review, made me want to read this even more. I will put this on my TBR list and read it.

    Judy Cox

    • I don't know if I wanted to do the trapeze, or just wear the beautiful outfits they wore. But I remember wanting to be one and live with a circus family. Thanks for stopping by!

    • When I was a kid and we used to go to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus every year, I think I used to fantasize about being a trapeze artist and traveling as part of a circus. Silly I know. 🙂

  9. This book sounds pretty good, I can't believe I've never heard of it before. I love books that are set in circus type places because I feel like I'm getting an 'inside view' of the circus life. Awesome review and this book is going on my growing to-read list, thanks!

    • I feel like this author isn't as well known because she doesn't have as many high profile series. But I have enjoyed the books by her that I have read so far. And I know what you mean about a growing TBR list! Thanks for stopping by!

  10. I don't know which area I am supposed to comment on, so I am doing both the gratitude page and this page. I read the review because I thought I could add this book to my classroom library, but it is of a higher reading level than my 2nd graders are at. (Even my gifted one would struggle with this book.) If I go back up in grades I would buy this book for middle school. A book about circus performers is not currently in my library and I might just buy the book for myself.

    • You've come to the right place to comment. 🙂 This is definitely a middle grades and higher level book. Not for 2nd graders. But you might enjoy it for yourself. I did. Thanks for visiting!

    • Very cool! I was never good at gymnastics, I did dance when I was little. But i still wanted to be a trapeze artist. Thanks for visiting and I hope you get a chance to read this some day.

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