kailamarie's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
We all have family stories. Stories about what parents or grandparents did when they were kids. How they met Mark Twain, or how they taught violin to Prince Charles. Or they might have been in the olympics, or joined the circus.
The author had a family story about a great uncle who worked for some former circus lady who kept ostriches, and she figured it was just that, a story, until she started looking into it, and found so much that was true she knew she had to write a story about this amazing woman, and the ostrich.
And this story is about Suzy, who learns how to ride an ostrich, even though that is not what is expected of her in the 1920s in the midwest. Told in the first person, and with a lot of fun comments about what she learns about ostriches, this is a great historical fiction novel for middle schoolers.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The author had a family story about a great uncle who worked for some former circus lady who kept ostriches, and she figured it was just that, a story, until she started looking into it, and found so much that was true she knew she had to write a story about this amazing woman, and the ostrich.
And this story is about Suzy, who learns how to ride an ostrich, even though that is not what is expected of her in the 1920s in the midwest. Told in the first person, and with a lot of fun comments about what she learns about ostriches, this is a great historical fiction novel for middle schoolers.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
caitz's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
karis_rogerson's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
An interesting historical fiction middle grade. I enjoyed this story about Suzy Bowles and her super-strong grip and how she rode an ostrich. I really liked the ending.
johnw613's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Who doesn’t dream of running off to join the circus? This story about a plucky Michigan farm girl who sets her sights on riding an ostrich and teaching it to jump is based on a true story and will warm the heart.
erine's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I picked this up because of the Michigan setting, author, and illustrator.
The story began and I actually had a minute where I thought to myself, "meh, it's another plucky young farmgirl with big dreams" and felt that while it was probably fine, there would not be much new to get from this story. But there are ostriches, and Suzy continued to tenaciously hold on to her dreams, and I found myself drawn into this charmingly quirky character's life. Her steady determination is rendered visually through David Small's illustrations.
By the end I found myself deeply invested, and very pleased by the final ride into the sunset, such as it was. I flipped the page and was delightfully surprised by a very satisfying Epilogue.
AND THEN.
Any author can win my heart with backmatter, but this was some of the best after-story content I have ever encountered. I could not even handle a small bit of that information; I found myself tearing up and ridiculously, stupidly thrilled.
To sum up, Suzy wormed her way into my heart and made me enjoy a story I was willing to dismiss as just "fine." And then the AUTHOR wormed her way into my heart and it was all over for me. I think everyone should read this.
The story began and I actually had a minute where I thought to myself, "meh, it's another plucky young farmgirl with big dreams" and felt that while it was probably fine, there would not be much new to get from this story. But there are ostriches, and Suzy continued to tenaciously hold on to her dreams, and I found myself drawn into this charmingly quirky character's life. Her steady determination is rendered visually through David Small's illustrations.
By the end I found myself deeply invested, and very pleased by the final ride into the sunset, such as it was. I flipped the page and was delightfully surprised by a very satisfying Epilogue.
AND THEN.
Any author can win my heart with backmatter, but this was some of the best after-story content I have ever encountered.
Spoiler
THE AUTHOR'S GREAT GREAT UNCLE ACTUALLY KNEW AN OSTRICH-OWNING FORMER CIRCUS STAR FROM MENDON, MICHIGAN. AND THERE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS. AND DAVID SMALL *LIVES* IN THE FORMER CIRCUS STAR'S OLD HOUSE. AND SHE BASED THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN JOCKEY ON REAL STORIES, TOO. AND THEN TO WRAP IT ALL UP SHE RECOMMENDED ONE OF MY FAVORITE NONFICTION SERIES EVER, Ostriches by Rachel Poliquin. Please feel free to imagine my voice steadily increasing in pitch and my hands getting increasingly emphatic throughout that entire shouty rant.To sum up, Suzy wormed her way into my heart and made me enjoy a story I was willing to dismiss as just "fine." And then the AUTHOR wormed her way into my heart and it was all over for me. I think everyone should read this.
emileereadsbooks's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Kids for the gifted book that I read in partnership with the audio from the library.
There are those stories that get told in our families and we all take them with a grain of salt. Well the author looked into one of her family stories about a great uncle of hers who worked with some ostriches for a former circus lady and it turned out to be true. So she crafted this beguiling fictionalized version of that story.
Suzy lives in a big family in a small town just like the generations of her family before her. But she doesn't want to be stuck in this speck of a town for all her days. She envisions more than this mundane existence. So when her much bandied about "lazy" uncle shows up in town and sneaks away to get out of farm chores she follows him. It turns out he is working for Madame Marantette, the infamous legendary circus performer, to help train one of her ostriches. Suzy ingratiates herself to her uncle and the Madame and becomes embroiled in their scheme that might just help her punch her ticket out of this town.
This story is funny with lessons about how chasing your dreams takes hard work, bravery, and some grit. It also has some interesting scenes where readers get to watch how Suzy contends with the role that manners and decorum plays into how we are perceived and the opportunities we get. Layers of entertainment and education can be found within this tale.
There are those stories that get told in our families and we all take them with a grain of salt. Well the author looked into one of her family stories about a great uncle of hers who worked with some ostriches for a former circus lady and it turned out to be true. So she crafted this beguiling fictionalized version of that story.
Suzy lives in a big family in a small town just like the generations of her family before her. But she doesn't want to be stuck in this speck of a town for all her days. She envisions more than this mundane existence. So when her much bandied about "lazy" uncle shows up in town and sneaks away to get out of farm chores she follows him. It turns out he is working for Madame Marantette, the infamous legendary circus performer, to help train one of her ostriches. Suzy ingratiates herself to her uncle and the Madame and becomes embroiled in their scheme that might just help her punch her ticket out of this town.
This story is funny with lessons about how chasing your dreams takes hard work, bravery, and some grit. It also has some interesting scenes where readers get to watch how Suzy contends with the role that manners and decorum plays into how we are perceived and the opportunities we get. Layers of entertainment and education can be found within this tale.
mrskatiefitz's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
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