Circus Mirandus

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley is a middle-grade fantasy/magical realism novel about a young boy named Micah Tuttle who is struggling to come to terms with the impending death of his grandfather, Ephraim. Micah learns from Ephraim that Circus Mirandus, a fantastical traveling circus that Micah thought was a fictional story, is actually real. As Ephraim nears death, Micah and his friend Jenny go to Circus Mirandus to find the Lightbender, who owes Ephraim a miracle. Circus Mirandus won several awards after its publication in 2015. It is a New York Times Bestseller and a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice. It received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly, was part of Scholastic's “50 Best Books for Summer,” and was a Kiki Magazine Summer Book Club Pick.

This guide references the 2015 e-book version of Circus Mirandus.

Content Warning: Circus Mirandus explores the illness and death of a loved one.

Plot Summary

Ephraim is dying, which is devastating for his grandson, Micah, who has lived with him since the sudden death of his parents. Because Ephraim is sick, Ephraim's sister, Gertrudis, who is grouchy and mean, comes to stay with them.