Girl on a Wire

Cirque American

By: Gwenda Bond

Narrated by: Marisol Ramirez

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

A ballerina, twirling on a wire high above the crowd. Horses, prancing like salsa dancers. Trapeze artists, flying like somersaulting falcons. And magic crackling through the air. Welcome to the Cirque American!

Sixteen-year-old Jules Maroni’s dream is to follow in her father’s footsteps as a high-wire walker. When her family is offered a prestigious role in the new Cirque American, it seems that Jules and the Amazing Maronis will finally get the spotlight they deserve. But the presence of the Flying Garcias may derail her plans. For decades, the two rival families have avoided each other as sworn enemies.

Jules ignores the drama and focuses on the wire, skyrocketing to fame as the girl in a red tutu who dances across the wire at death-defying heights. But when she discovers a peacock feather - an infamous object of bad luck - planted on her costume, Jules nearly loses her footing. She has no choice but to seek help from the unlikeliest of people: Remy Garcia, son of the Garcia clan matriarch and the best trapeze artist in the Cirque.

As more mysterious talismans believed to possess unlucky magic appear, Jules and Remy unite to find the culprit. And if they don’t figure out what’s going on soon, Jules may be the first Maroni to do the unthinkable: fall.

©2014 Gwenda Bond (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Very good

I enjoyed this book very much. The story was packed well and the narrator was on point most of the time. Toward the end I struggled to stay involved, it seem a bit superfluous at times but all in all I enjoyed it. I would listen again.

Missing The Modern

Write about what you know. This author doesn't know modern teenagers. The first place modern teens go for information is the internet. The sleuthing in this book is more of the Jessica Fletcher Murder She Wrote variety. And even if Jules takes her investigation techniques from the black and white movies she usually watches, Remy is cellphone carrying fully modern teen.

A bit of adventure and romance with a twist or two

I look forward to more of the Cirque American and the strong female characters that drive it to the new age. This author has successfully brought a little magic to the world through the well written story.

predictable

there were no surprises in this book. you could guess the villain after the first couple of chapters and the romance wasn't very believable. despite its faults I didn't hate it.

Interesting, intriguing.

This story kept me guessing throughout. I learned many interesting facts about circus lore and traditions.

A must read!

Ever wish you could join the circus? This is the story for you! Follow a circus family trying to get back in the "big show" after years of estrangement.

good not great

I started by reading this book on my kindle but listening to the audio version really helped me to finish and enjoy it more.

Girl on a Wire

Magnificent!! Absolutely loved this audible book !! It was thrilling, exciting, and I couldn’t wait to find out who was the person doing the horrible things!! Definitely recommend this book and Gwenda Bond is an aspirational writer. Must read or listen now !!

Romeo and Juliet at the Circus

I recently read a bunch of books that were inspired by or retellings of classics. Girl on a Wire was the least obvious retelling of the bunch. In fact, at first I didn't even realize I was reading a Romeo and Juliet tale. Wire-walker Julietta (Jules) Maroni joins the Cirque American with the hope that her family will finally receive the recognition they deserve. However, the Cirque American is also the home of a family of trapeze artists who are the Maroni's rivals, the Garcias. Together and in secret Jules and Romeo (Remy) Garcia seek to unravel the mysteries of the past, discover why their families are enemies, and who wants the past to repeat itself. Gwenda Bond's book is full of mystery and the romance of the circus.

In a lovely coincide I happened to be listening to this book while I was in Sarsota, Florida. Sarasota was were the Ringling Circus had their winter quarters and there is still a bit of a circus presence there with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Ringling College of Art and Design. I saw some of the circus paraphernalia at museum, including the train cars.

Mostly dreamy, like a parasol.

I enjoyed listening to this book-- with only a few exceptions:
1) Occasionally, the narrating actress gives sentences a weird emphasis. It's moderately distracting, but rare enough that I didn't get frustrated.
2) I'm no circus performer but I would swear that, once or twice, the author added enough random details to betray the fact that she has a flawed understanding of how an actual safety net works.

Besides this, there were several lovely sections in the main character's voice, plus a few descriptions that added value to the piece, and I look forward to more from this author.