This just wasn’t the style of writing for me.

When I first read this book almost 10 years ago, it made a huge impact on me. 10 years later and I still love reading about Bob Goff's life and his mission to live life loving those around him. Sure, does Bob Goff go about this in very wild and huge ways - yes! That does not mean that you or I are expected to do the exact same things. It just shows how someone who has the wealth to do it, is using that wealth to love those around them to the best of their ability. Bob Goff is definitely an auto-buy author for me!

I loved how this circus-themed novel combatted the typically romanticized view of circuses with the reality of how circuses both exploited and empowered (at the expense of others) those within the industry. I also liked the integration of historical facts, without basing the fictional circus troupe on any real life people. While the actual story is entertaining, I didn't find it as great as the overarching critique of circuses.

This is a childhood favorite of mine and the reread of it showed that it stood the test of time! I love the way death and grief is tackled in this childrens/middle grade. It showcases a variety of reactions to death while also enduring typical coming-of-age experiences.