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The Girl Who Walked On Air
Abandoned as a baby at Chipchase's Travelling Circus, Louie dreams of becoming a 'Showstopper'. Yet Mr Chipchase only ever lets her sell tickets. No Death-Defying Stunts for her. So in secret, Louie practises her act- the tightrope- and dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air. All she needs is to be given the chance to shine.
One night a terrible accident occurs. Now the circus needs Louie's help, and with rival show Wellbeloved's stealing their crowds, Mr Chipchase needs a Showstopper- fast.
Against his better judgement, he lets Louie perform. She is a sensation and gets an offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform in America. But nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus . . .
Fans of Frost Hollow Hall will love this epic adventure, where courage takes many different forms.
One night a terrible accident occurs. Now the circus needs Louie's help, and with rival show Wellbeloved's stealing their crowds, Mr Chipchase needs a Showstopper- fast.
Against his better judgement, he lets Louie perform. She is a sensation and gets an offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform in America. But nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus . . .
Fans of Frost Hollow Hall will love this epic adventure, where courage takes many different forms.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2014
38 people are currently reading
1182 people want to read
About the author
Emma Carroll
30 books598 followersAfter years of teaching English to secondary school students, Emma now writes full time. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. In another life Emma wishes she’d written ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne Du Maurier. She lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and three terriers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 5, 2014
Having developed a mini crush on Will from Emma Carroll’s Frost Hollow Hall Moontrug was so excited to hear Carroll has a new book out – another enchanting historical adventure for 9-11 years: The Girl Who Walked on Air.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we bring you to the sensational story of Louie Reynolds, whose dream is to become a circus showstopper. Whose tightrope talents put the finest performers to shame. Yet the path to fame is a rocky one. To travel it, Louie must first: witness a terrible accident, meet two mysterious strangers, cross Niagara Falls and look Death square in the eye. Will Louie find the the courage, Ladies and Gentlemen, to face such challenges and become the Girl Who Walked on Air?
Just like Rob Lloyd Jones’ Wild Boy, The Girl Who Walked on Air plunges the reader into the spine-tingling world of Victorian circus – a world of shimmering sequin outfits, dangerous tightrope walks, fortune-telling cards and knife throwing trapeze artists. And from the opening pages, Carroll’s words shiver with drama: ‘The bigger the danger, the bigger the crowd.’ From her birth, Louie Reynolds’ life was destined to be full of danger: ‘Another knife skimmed my left elbow… A glint of steel, the thwack thud as the final knives hit the board either side of my legs.’ And Carroll perfectly captures Louie’s sense of frustration at being over looked by Mr Chipchase as a showstopper and her emerging determination to see her skill through: ‘My heart steadied. I focused up ahead. Emptied my thoughts. Now it was just me and a long thin stretch of rope. My feet tingled. I let go of the tree and walked forwards.’ Carroll’s writing is so sharp and precise that the reader genuinely starts to feel as if they’re walking the tightrope with Louie.
Although the book is very much set in real life – there is a sort of magic to tightrope walking. Moontrug felt it in Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers and it seems Carroll has conjured up this magic again in Louie’s world. As Louie says to her guardian Jasper: ‘It’s the tightrope. It makes me feel magic’ and then later ‘The flames in me kept flickering till I was all lit up inside.’ Louie, who has always felt like an outsider (‘When I was just a baby [my mother] left me at the circus, the way most people forget an umbrella’) finally finds her identity on the rope and it’s exhilarating to read: ‘I stood very still. Felt the rope. Thought the rope. Imagined it as a part of me, a living, twitching thing.’
Carroll gives us a fantastically punchy heroine in Louie. She continually surprises and impresses while breaking every rule possible (the chase scene as she slips into the circus ring to watch the famous Blondin is awesome) – and when Louie fights back against her captor in America, Moontrug wanted to jump up and fist pump the air: ‘Mr Wellbeloved,’ I said. ‘I’ve only just got started.’ She dances like a savage with Gabriel which made Moontrug love her even more – and the friendship that develops between the two young showstoppers is brilliantly done. The Girl Who Walked on Air is a gorgeous read filled with everything that makes a book for 9-11-year-olds work: a determined heroine, a frightening villain, a vibrant and spine-tingling setting and a plots with dramatic twists and turns. Small wonder critics are comparing Emma Carroll to a modern Eva Ibbotson…
Ladies and Gentlemen, we bring you to the sensational story of Louie Reynolds, whose dream is to become a circus showstopper. Whose tightrope talents put the finest performers to shame. Yet the path to fame is a rocky one. To travel it, Louie must first: witness a terrible accident, meet two mysterious strangers, cross Niagara Falls and look Death square in the eye. Will Louie find the the courage, Ladies and Gentlemen, to face such challenges and become the Girl Who Walked on Air?
Just like Rob Lloyd Jones’ Wild Boy, The Girl Who Walked on Air plunges the reader into the spine-tingling world of Victorian circus – a world of shimmering sequin outfits, dangerous tightrope walks, fortune-telling cards and knife throwing trapeze artists. And from the opening pages, Carroll’s words shiver with drama: ‘The bigger the danger, the bigger the crowd.’ From her birth, Louie Reynolds’ life was destined to be full of danger: ‘Another knife skimmed my left elbow… A glint of steel, the thwack thud as the final knives hit the board either side of my legs.’ And Carroll perfectly captures Louie’s sense of frustration at being over looked by Mr Chipchase as a showstopper and her emerging determination to see her skill through: ‘My heart steadied. I focused up ahead. Emptied my thoughts. Now it was just me and a long thin stretch of rope. My feet tingled. I let go of the tree and walked forwards.’ Carroll’s writing is so sharp and precise that the reader genuinely starts to feel as if they’re walking the tightrope with Louie.
Although the book is very much set in real life – there is a sort of magic to tightrope walking. Moontrug felt it in Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers and it seems Carroll has conjured up this magic again in Louie’s world. As Louie says to her guardian Jasper: ‘It’s the tightrope. It makes me feel magic’ and then later ‘The flames in me kept flickering till I was all lit up inside.’ Louie, who has always felt like an outsider (‘When I was just a baby [my mother] left me at the circus, the way most people forget an umbrella’) finally finds her identity on the rope and it’s exhilarating to read: ‘I stood very still. Felt the rope. Thought the rope. Imagined it as a part of me, a living, twitching thing.’
Carroll gives us a fantastically punchy heroine in Louie. She continually surprises and impresses while breaking every rule possible (the chase scene as she slips into the circus ring to watch the famous Blondin is awesome) – and when Louie fights back against her captor in America, Moontrug wanted to jump up and fist pump the air: ‘Mr Wellbeloved,’ I said. ‘I’ve only just got started.’ She dances like a savage with Gabriel which made Moontrug love her even more – and the friendship that develops between the two young showstoppers is brilliantly done. The Girl Who Walked on Air is a gorgeous read filled with everything that makes a book for 9-11-year-olds work: a determined heroine, a frightening villain, a vibrant and spine-tingling setting and a plots with dramatic twists and turns. Small wonder critics are comparing Emma Carroll to a modern Eva Ibbotson…
July 29, 2017
2.5 stars. This was ok. I liked the historical details of a Victorian circus in England (though filtered for a young audience), and was surprised to learn about how kids performed in circuses (until it was outlawed in 1879). Louie is determined and brave and hardworking, and just never gives up.
February 14, 2017
The Girl Who Walked On Air is the wonderfully talented Emma Carroll's second novel for children, aimed around the middle grade reading age but... (and this is a big BUT), I truly believe that her books can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, especially those adults who love an imaginative plot and beautifully drawn characters like Louie Reynolds, our heroine for the story.
I first came across Emma's writing with her fantastic debut, Frost Hollow Hall which completely captured my heart and I can't recommend highly enough. Well, if she hasn't gone and done it again with The Girl Who Walked On Air! Set in the grounds of a Victorian circus it features a young girl called Louie who was abandoned by her mother at Mr Chipchase's circus and is looked after by the kindly Jasper, a trapeze artist and her guardian angel. She has big dreams of being a performer, or to be exact - a "showstopper," on the tightrope wire. She practices constantly, watched over by her loyal little dog Pip, but Mr Chipchase is determined that she is only good enough to sell tickets and mend costumes.
This sends her and new arrival at the circus Gabriel, straight into the clutches of Mr Wellbeloved, who manages a rival circus and insists on only the most death defying stunts to bring in the punters. As Louie learns more about who she is as a person, where her heart lies and just what lengths she will go to in becoming a star, she also discovers a lot about friendship and just who can be trusted in a fickle world where money and pure greed is, sadly, the only yardstick by which success is measured.
Once again, Emma Carroll has given us some brilliant characters which have stayed with me long after finishing the book. Louie, just like Tilly in Frost Hollow Hall is beautifully drawn. She is impetuous, independent, brave and indeed flawed but ever so realistic as a young girl which in turn, made her infinitely more loveable as a result. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships with Jasper and her friends Ned and Gabriel and was touched by the dark side of her past and her desperation to find out where she came from and where she belonged. The setting of the circus that the author chose was just as stunning and so descriptive that I felt I could picture events scene by scene, character by character, which led to many difficulties putting it down!
As I mentioned earlier, please don't be dissuaded that the author writes for children, I do believe that this book can be enjoyed by adults just as much. The Girl Who Walked On Air took me right back to my childhood when I used to just sit in a room and read right until the book was finished (and if this went past my bedtime, it was continued under my duvet with a torch!). I didn't need the torch as an adult, but I certainly read from the beginning to the end in one sitting and loved every moment.
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
I first came across Emma's writing with her fantastic debut, Frost Hollow Hall which completely captured my heart and I can't recommend highly enough. Well, if she hasn't gone and done it again with The Girl Who Walked On Air! Set in the grounds of a Victorian circus it features a young girl called Louie who was abandoned by her mother at Mr Chipchase's circus and is looked after by the kindly Jasper, a trapeze artist and her guardian angel. She has big dreams of being a performer, or to be exact - a "showstopper," on the tightrope wire. She practices constantly, watched over by her loyal little dog Pip, but Mr Chipchase is determined that she is only good enough to sell tickets and mend costumes.
This sends her and new arrival at the circus Gabriel, straight into the clutches of Mr Wellbeloved, who manages a rival circus and insists on only the most death defying stunts to bring in the punters. As Louie learns more about who she is as a person, where her heart lies and just what lengths she will go to in becoming a star, she also discovers a lot about friendship and just who can be trusted in a fickle world where money and pure greed is, sadly, the only yardstick by which success is measured.
Once again, Emma Carroll has given us some brilliant characters which have stayed with me long after finishing the book. Louie, just like Tilly in Frost Hollow Hall is beautifully drawn. She is impetuous, independent, brave and indeed flawed but ever so realistic as a young girl which in turn, made her infinitely more loveable as a result. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships with Jasper and her friends Ned and Gabriel and was touched by the dark side of her past and her desperation to find out where she came from and where she belonged. The setting of the circus that the author chose was just as stunning and so descriptive that I felt I could picture events scene by scene, character by character, which led to many difficulties putting it down!
As I mentioned earlier, please don't be dissuaded that the author writes for children, I do believe that this book can be enjoyed by adults just as much. The Girl Who Walked On Air took me right back to my childhood when I used to just sit in a room and read right until the book was finished (and if this went past my bedtime, it was continued under my duvet with a torch!). I didn't need the torch as an adult, but I certainly read from the beginning to the end in one sitting and loved every moment.
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
January 14, 2023
Louisa was left in a basket outside the door to a circus car by her mother, and grew into a young girl amid the excitement and talents of the circus performers. But Louisa has a dream- to walk the tightrope, even though Mr. Chipchase, the owner, keeps telling her she is too young.
So Louisa sneaks away each morning after feeding the horses and ties a rope between trees so she can practice in secret.
When the rival circus owner, Mr Wellbeloved, comes around looking for one of his contract performers who ran away to Chipchase, young Gabriel, he wants to take Louisa and Gabriel to America from England.
How talented is Louisa? Can she cross Niagara Falls? What is Mr Wellbeloved hiding? Where is Louisa’s mother?
I love circus themed books and this is one of the best I have read. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I know I will definitely be reading this again in the future. It was a sweet story with special, heartwarming characters.
So Louisa sneaks away each morning after feeding the horses and ties a rope between trees so she can practice in secret.
When the rival circus owner, Mr Wellbeloved, comes around looking for one of his contract performers who ran away to Chipchase, young Gabriel, he wants to take Louisa and Gabriel to America from England.
How talented is Louisa? Can she cross Niagara Falls? What is Mr Wellbeloved hiding? Where is Louisa’s mother?
I love circus themed books and this is one of the best I have read. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I know I will definitely be reading this again in the future. It was a sweet story with special, heartwarming characters.
November 22, 2014
A delightful YA Victorian read. A well drawn central character in Louie, the tightrope-walking girl, and her adventures in the world of the circus. Emma Caroll writes so clearly, with a very well-defined plot line and excellent pacing - and her stories deal with issues that affect young people of any era - loneliness, hopes, friends, family, who you can trust and who you can't.
March 5, 2019
I loved this book! It was filled with adventure as a young girl accomplishes her dreams!
August 18, 2014
I was thoroughly looking forward to reading The Girl Who Walked On Air after being really impressed with Emma Carroll’s debut novel Frost Hollow Hall last year. I’m happy to say that this book totally exceeded my already high expectations. Emma Carroll’s writing is absolutely beautiful. I felt like I was in the book, watching the scenes unfold before my eyes. It was fantastic!
The Girl Who Walked On Air centres around Louie, a young girl who has grown up with Mr Chipchase’s circus after being abandoned by her mother and taken in by the circus. Louie’s role in the circus is to be a ticket-seller and costume mender. She dreams of being a show-stopper and in her spare time she’s been practising walking the tightrope. Louie really wants to impress Mr Chipchase so she can fulfil her dreams. After a terrible accident Louie wants to step up to the mark, but Mr Chipchase is having none of it. Louie meets some people who begin to change her life in a way that she didn’t expect…
Louie is an absolutely fantastic main character. I immediately warmed to her and was rooting for her to get what she wanted. Louie is determined to get what she wants and really fights to succeed. There are such strong secondary characters in this story as well. They’re all so well developed. There are even characters I delighted in disliking. It was Louie that stood out for me and her interactions with Gabriel, a performer from another circus.
Emma Carroll has written about a Victorian circus so well. It’s incredibly detailed, and as I mentioned before, so well detailed that I felt like I was IN the story, watching it all unfold. We’ve all heard about how every act needed to be so dangerous in order to be entertaining. Louie was so sure she wanted to take those risks for other people’s entertainment even though she had experienced watching a terrible accident. It didn’t matter to Louie, she knew the business was tricky. The element of danger really made the book exciting!
This book had me gripped from the start. I couldn’t put it down. I was absolutely engrossed by the world and the characters. It’s exciting, well-written and definitely one of my favourite books this year.
The Girl Who Walked On Air centres around Louie, a young girl who has grown up with Mr Chipchase’s circus after being abandoned by her mother and taken in by the circus. Louie’s role in the circus is to be a ticket-seller and costume mender. She dreams of being a show-stopper and in her spare time she’s been practising walking the tightrope. Louie really wants to impress Mr Chipchase so she can fulfil her dreams. After a terrible accident Louie wants to step up to the mark, but Mr Chipchase is having none of it. Louie meets some people who begin to change her life in a way that she didn’t expect…
Louie is an absolutely fantastic main character. I immediately warmed to her and was rooting for her to get what she wanted. Louie is determined to get what she wants and really fights to succeed. There are such strong secondary characters in this story as well. They’re all so well developed. There are even characters I delighted in disliking. It was Louie that stood out for me and her interactions with Gabriel, a performer from another circus.
Emma Carroll has written about a Victorian circus so well. It’s incredibly detailed, and as I mentioned before, so well detailed that I felt like I was IN the story, watching it all unfold. We’ve all heard about how every act needed to be so dangerous in order to be entertaining. Louie was so sure she wanted to take those risks for other people’s entertainment even though she had experienced watching a terrible accident. It didn’t matter to Louie, she knew the business was tricky. The element of danger really made the book exciting!
This book had me gripped from the start. I couldn’t put it down. I was absolutely engrossed by the world and the characters. It’s exciting, well-written and definitely one of my favourite books this year.
July 17, 2014
I absolutely adored The Girl Who Walked On Air by Emma Carroll. This is Emma Carroll's second historical story aimed at a middle grade audience but it is the first book of hers I've read. I'm sure I'll go back and read Frost Hollow Hall based on the strength of feeling I had for this book though.
I absolutely loved the main character, Louie, and witnessing her journey throughout this book. She goes on such an adventure! And I definitely think my favourite aspect of this book is Louie's determination to succeed and follow her dreams despite everyone around her telling her that she can't because she's young and a girl.
But things aren't all smooth sailing for Louie. As a baby, Louie was abandoned by her mother and taken in by Jasper, a trapeze artist at Mr. Chipchase's circus. Louie has grown up to become a ticket-seller and mender-of-costumes but she dreams of being a show-stopper, she dreams of being a tightrope-walker. Together with her lovely little dog, Pip, she's been training for years to hone her craft in order to impress Mr. Chipchase. But he doesn't seem to take her any notice at all. And instead the first of two strangers enters her life and changes things all around.
I loved all the details that Emma Carroll wrote into the story about Victorian circuses and how every act needed the WHIFF OF DEATH in order to be widely entertaining and how every act needed to be daring and pushing the limits and taking things one step further to be truly death-defying and amazing. And Louie definitely gets pulled into this mind-set and idolises other risk-taking tightrope-walkers like Charles Blondin even after a horrible accident leaves the person closest to Louie in a terrible state. It felt exciting to read about all the risks and daring that these performers get up to, but also really scary that a balance hadn't been set.
Other than Louie herself, I really loved all of the secondary characters in this book. Jasper, Mr. Chipchase, Pip, Louie's best friend, Ned ... even Kitty, Louie's arch-nemesis was a really entertaining addition to the story. But for me, it was Louie and Gabriel, a performer from another circus who comes to audition for the role of showstopper that really took the limelight for me. I loved how we are able to see Louie's courage next to Gabriel's nervousness and stage fright and how we slowly discover how Gabriel came to feeling this way.
There were several really emotional scenes during The Girl Who Walked On Air and I felt slightly surprised by how quickly I came to love Louie and how much I wanted the best for her. I actually cried from pride at one point in the book because she had achieved something wonderful and my heart just felt fit to burst. This book was just so lovely and entertaining! I really do recommend it especially for slightly younger than YA readers who are looking for a story about adventure and empowerment and friendship and bravery.
I absolutely loved the main character, Louie, and witnessing her journey throughout this book. She goes on such an adventure! And I definitely think my favourite aspect of this book is Louie's determination to succeed and follow her dreams despite everyone around her telling her that she can't because she's young and a girl.
But things aren't all smooth sailing for Louie. As a baby, Louie was abandoned by her mother and taken in by Jasper, a trapeze artist at Mr. Chipchase's circus. Louie has grown up to become a ticket-seller and mender-of-costumes but she dreams of being a show-stopper, she dreams of being a tightrope-walker. Together with her lovely little dog, Pip, she's been training for years to hone her craft in order to impress Mr. Chipchase. But he doesn't seem to take her any notice at all. And instead the first of two strangers enters her life and changes things all around.
I loved all the details that Emma Carroll wrote into the story about Victorian circuses and how every act needed the WHIFF OF DEATH in order to be widely entertaining and how every act needed to be daring and pushing the limits and taking things one step further to be truly death-defying and amazing. And Louie definitely gets pulled into this mind-set and idolises other risk-taking tightrope-walkers like Charles Blondin even after a horrible accident leaves the person closest to Louie in a terrible state. It felt exciting to read about all the risks and daring that these performers get up to, but also really scary that a balance hadn't been set.
Other than Louie herself, I really loved all of the secondary characters in this book. Jasper, Mr. Chipchase, Pip, Louie's best friend, Ned ... even Kitty, Louie's arch-nemesis was a really entertaining addition to the story. But for me, it was Louie and Gabriel, a performer from another circus who comes to audition for the role of showstopper that really took the limelight for me. I loved how we are able to see Louie's courage next to Gabriel's nervousness and stage fright and how we slowly discover how Gabriel came to feeling this way.
There were several really emotional scenes during The Girl Who Walked On Air and I felt slightly surprised by how quickly I came to love Louie and how much I wanted the best for her. I actually cried from pride at one point in the book because she had achieved something wonderful and my heart just felt fit to burst. This book was just so lovely and entertaining! I really do recommend it especially for slightly younger than YA readers who are looking for a story about adventure and empowerment and friendship and bravery.
March 23, 2024
I was so happy to dive into another Emma Carroll book. I had a great time with this one. Chipchase’s Circus, England, 1875. An abandoned baby..A tightrope walker..A deadly discovery..Louie, who was abandoned at Chipchase’s Travelling Circus as a baby, dreams of becoming a ‘Showstopper’, but Mr Chipchase keeps her hidden, tucked away in the ticket booth. No Death-Defying Stunts for her. But Louie has been secretly practising her act - tightrope-walking - & dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air..she just needs to be given the chance to shine. & the circus needs her too - Wellbeloved’s rival show is stealing their crowds. They need a Showstopper. Desperate, Mr Chipchase reluctantly lets Louie perform. She is a sensation, & gets an offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform . . . over Niagara Falls. But nothing is quite as it seems & soon Louie’s bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past & the shady characters in the world of the circus . . .By the end of the book Louie had some great character growth/development, but for most of the book she came across as bratty, whiny, self-centered, stubborn, & mean at times. You’d think she’d lived this high class spoiled life the way she acted, so it was such a contradiction. Other than that I loved the writing, the atmosphere of the story, all the other characters, & especially Pip lol. I also loved the circus in here. It’s so rare, especially in historical fiction books, to not see wild animals(I’m extremely against any circus with wild animals), used & it just be human acts. Well this was just that & I LOVED that so much, & appreciated it so much. Absolutely loved the ending & had such a fun time with this. BEAUTIFUL cover by Julian De Narvaez too.💜
June 30, 2025
Another amazingly written book by Emma Carroll!! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves drama, the best twists in the world, and whose name is spelt Lilly ⬅️ like this! You’ll find out why if you read the book!! It is just brilliant and l couldn’t put it down…I nearly walked into a lamppost reading it! 🎪🎪
March 17, 2017
My favourite book by Emma Carroll so far.
August 25, 2014
I discovered Emma Carroll through my love of the Victorian era. Even though her books are aimed at children aged 9-11 years I couldn't resist the allure of her first book, a victorian ghost story called Frost Hollow Hall. This became one of my favourite books.
So........ when I discovered Carroll was writing a second YA book, this time set in a Victorian circus, I squealed, pre-ordered and then became increasingly nervous as the release date drew nearer. Was this book going to be as good as her first book? Was it going to disappoint me after such a brilliant first book? The answers to all of the above was of course NO! The Girl Who Walked On Air introduces us to the magical, travelling life of a circus. With believable characters that you root for throughout the book, perfect amounts of drama and suspense right through to the last page and what I love most about Carroll's writing - an unpatronising tone. You forget you are reading a YA book and instead become immersed in the life of Louie and her adventures.
A brilliant, sweet, gripping and magical story. Can't decide between 5 or 4 stars so going to go for a 4.5!
So........ when I discovered Carroll was writing a second YA book, this time set in a Victorian circus, I squealed, pre-ordered and then became increasingly nervous as the release date drew nearer. Was this book going to be as good as her first book? Was it going to disappoint me after such a brilliant first book? The answers to all of the above was of course NO! The Girl Who Walked On Air introduces us to the magical, travelling life of a circus. With believable characters that you root for throughout the book, perfect amounts of drama and suspense right through to the last page and what I love most about Carroll's writing - an unpatronising tone. You forget you are reading a YA book and instead become immersed in the life of Louie and her adventures.
A brilliant, sweet, gripping and magical story. Can't decide between 5 or 4 stars so going to go for a 4.5!
July 2, 2014
The Girl Who Walked On Air was one of my most eagerly anticipated releases of this year. I fell in love with Emma Carroll’s writing in Frost Hollow Hall and am pleased to say it is just as beautiful in this story.
Louie is headstrong and determined – she will be a Showstopper. I loved her fire, even when you could see that it will lead her into trouble.
The Girl Who Walked On Air is an adventure both for Louie and the reader because the writing makes everything so vivid you’re emotionally invested. It only took the fall at the beginning of the book for me to be completely lost. I didn’t want to put the book down.
When Louie steps onto the tightrope it is just her and the rope, the rest of the world disappears. When you begin reading the words on the page Emma Carroll weaves the same magic around you. Once inside the world of The Girl Who Walked On Air you won’t want to leave.
Louie is headstrong and determined – she will be a Showstopper. I loved her fire, even when you could see that it will lead her into trouble.
The Girl Who Walked On Air is an adventure both for Louie and the reader because the writing makes everything so vivid you’re emotionally invested. It only took the fall at the beginning of the book for me to be completely lost. I didn’t want to put the book down.
When Louie steps onto the tightrope it is just her and the rope, the rest of the world disappears. When you begin reading the words on the page Emma Carroll weaves the same magic around you. Once inside the world of The Girl Who Walked On Air you won’t want to leave.
August 2, 2014
I received a copy of this book for review from Net Galley.
This was a charming story about a girl who was left with a circus as a baby and is desperate to become a show stopping act. She wants to walk the tightrope and practices secretly. She wonders why her mother never came to collect her.
I found the book a little slow starting- but am so glad that I persevered with it - as it really picked up.
Louie manages to stow away on a liner heading for the Niagara Falls where Mr Well Beloved has plans for a show stopping spectacle. She wants to save her friend and offer to go in his place. But are things as they seem and has she made a desperate mistake.
It gave the atmosphere of life in the circus in days gone by- and the spectacle of death defying tricks required to bring in audiences when rival companies are trying to capture the crowds attention.
This was a charming story about a girl who was left with a circus as a baby and is desperate to become a show stopping act. She wants to walk the tightrope and practices secretly. She wonders why her mother never came to collect her.
I found the book a little slow starting- but am so glad that I persevered with it - as it really picked up.
Louie manages to stow away on a liner heading for the Niagara Falls where Mr Well Beloved has plans for a show stopping spectacle. She wants to save her friend and offer to go in his place. But are things as they seem and has she made a desperate mistake.
It gave the atmosphere of life in the circus in days gone by- and the spectacle of death defying tricks required to bring in audiences when rival companies are trying to capture the crowds attention.
Want to read
March 2, 2014Apparently it's set in a Victorian circus- want to read so very, very much! But I have to wait until August!
So... sad.
Ooh! I'm so excited, my heart's all aflutter like the beating of a butterfly's wings...
But when it does come out I reckon that it will be amazing... a thousand wonders in a book
So... sad.
Ooh! I'm so excited, my heart's all aflutter like the beating of a butterfly's wings...
But when it does come out I reckon that it will be amazing... a thousand wonders in a book
November 3, 2014
very good and sad
July 23, 2023
finished this book! set in a Victorian circus, Louis has an ambitious dream to become a tightrope walker. but when facing an opportunity to go to America and achieve her dream, her dreams in reality becomes her nightmare.
in my opinion, this book was bland and had a disappointing plot. though the ending was heartwarming as it had unity of the characters, I thought the mystery of Louis’ mother would have a deeper and denser plot line. as well as this, Gabriel (who supposedly plummeted to his death from a tightrope above Niagara Falls) mysteriously appeared in the final chapter. I think Carol was just trying to make the story feel complete with a happy ending yet I think it degraded the book as Gabriel claimed to have just ‘swam to Canada to be liberated from Mr WellBeloved’ without question.but how? Emma Carol should have expanded on Gabriel’s journey and how he survived falling from the tightrope on his behalf. overall this book was generously a 3 star. Not the best work from this author, however, ‘Frost Hollow Hall’ is a good recommendation!!
in my opinion, this book was bland and had a disappointing plot. though the ending was heartwarming as it had unity of the characters, I thought the mystery of Louis’ mother would have a deeper and denser plot line. as well as this, Gabriel (who supposedly plummeted to his death from a tightrope above Niagara Falls) mysteriously appeared in the final chapter. I think Carol was just trying to make the story feel complete with a happy ending yet I think it degraded the book as Gabriel claimed to have just ‘swam to Canada to be liberated from Mr WellBeloved’ without question.but how? Emma Carol should have expanded on Gabriel’s journey and how he survived falling from the tightrope on his behalf. overall this book was generously a 3 star. Not the best work from this author, however, ‘Frost Hollow Hall’ is a good recommendation!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2018
Trying to ease myself back into the habit of reading, I checked the ebook of "The Girl Who Walked on Air" out from my library, planing to dip in and out of it until I got to the end. Instead, I devoured it in a couple of days, reading on my lunch break, on the bus, and even in the street. It's that good.
The story revolves around Louisa, or Louie. Abandoned as a baby in Mr Chipchase's circus, she's stuck selling tickets and mending costumes, but in her spare time she steals away from the camp to practices tightrope walking in secret. When tragedy strikes, she is determined to become the circus' next star tightrope act. There's just one problem - for various reasons, nobody wants her to perform. Her quest to prove herself drives the narrative forward in satisfying leaps and bounds, and is set alongside a lovely thread of maternal loss, love, and deception.
Emma Carroll beautifully evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of a Victorian circus. An accident early on, and backstory learned partway through the book, mean that the tightrope sequences never feel completely safe: you tremble up there on the wire along with the performers, haunted by a sense that things really could go terribly wrong. The characters are larger-than-life, but saved from caricature by the earnest, endearing narration of Louie, who learns across the story that people are never what they seem.
Fun, confident, and well-researched, this book captured my imagination for days after I finished it, and I can't wait to discover more of Emma Carroll's novels.
The story revolves around Louisa, or Louie. Abandoned as a baby in Mr Chipchase's circus, she's stuck selling tickets and mending costumes, but in her spare time she steals away from the camp to practices tightrope walking in secret. When tragedy strikes, she is determined to become the circus' next star tightrope act. There's just one problem - for various reasons, nobody wants her to perform. Her quest to prove herself drives the narrative forward in satisfying leaps and bounds, and is set alongside a lovely thread of maternal loss, love, and deception.
Emma Carroll beautifully evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of a Victorian circus. An accident early on, and backstory learned partway through the book, mean that the tightrope sequences never feel completely safe: you tremble up there on the wire along with the performers, haunted by a sense that things really could go terribly wrong. The characters are larger-than-life, but saved from caricature by the earnest, endearing narration of Louie, who learns across the story that people are never what they seem.
Fun, confident, and well-researched, this book captured my imagination for days after I finished it, and I can't wait to discover more of Emma Carroll's novels.
January 23, 2020
It was brilliant!
April 1, 2018
I love this book💓
October 18, 2014
The Plot
The Girl Who Walked On Air is an entertaining read aimed at the middle grade audience, but easily enjoyed by any age range. The story is narrated by Louie, a young girl who has been brought up in a travelling circus. Surrounded by the theatrics of the circus, Louie has just one ambition and that's to be a showstopper, a show stopping tightrope walker. Her ambition proves difficult as she and her skills are constantly being put down however that doesn't deter Louie from achieving her dream.
Louie's journey isn't just about achieving her dreams, it's also about discovering who she is, where she comes from - her past. The two plots running alongside each other flow together well and make this book a mysterious read.
The Characters
Narrator, and main character Louie is strong willed, confident, passionate and most importantly, determined. Louie is the kind of protagonist that makes me love a book, especially in a book that is aimed at children.
As I mentioned above, Louie is passionate and what she is most passionate about is her skill of tightrope walking. This enthusiasm only adds to the magic of The Girl Who Walked On Air.
Emma Carroll writes characters wonderfully, but what's even greater than the individuals are the dynamics that are created. The relationship between Louie and her father figure, Jasper, is touching; and the friendship she shares with Ned is fun and playful - both of which feel lifelike and natural.
The Writing
There are many things I enjoyed about the writing within this book but the element I enjoyed the most is how visual the story was. I could see the characters, picture the circus and get lost in the Victorian setting.
This was my first reading experience of Emma Carroll's work and I'm glad to have discovered her books.
Final Thoughts
The Girl Who Walked On Air is a charming read - it'll keep you on your toes but leave you with a feel good feeling by the end of it.
This review was taken from my blog - http://www.lifesopenpages.blogspot.co.uk
The Girl Who Walked On Air is an entertaining read aimed at the middle grade audience, but easily enjoyed by any age range. The story is narrated by Louie, a young girl who has been brought up in a travelling circus. Surrounded by the theatrics of the circus, Louie has just one ambition and that's to be a showstopper, a show stopping tightrope walker. Her ambition proves difficult as she and her skills are constantly being put down however that doesn't deter Louie from achieving her dream.
Louie's journey isn't just about achieving her dreams, it's also about discovering who she is, where she comes from - her past. The two plots running alongside each other flow together well and make this book a mysterious read.
The Characters
Narrator, and main character Louie is strong willed, confident, passionate and most importantly, determined. Louie is the kind of protagonist that makes me love a book, especially in a book that is aimed at children.
As I mentioned above, Louie is passionate and what she is most passionate about is her skill of tightrope walking. This enthusiasm only adds to the magic of The Girl Who Walked On Air.
Emma Carroll writes characters wonderfully, but what's even greater than the individuals are the dynamics that are created. The relationship between Louie and her father figure, Jasper, is touching; and the friendship she shares with Ned is fun and playful - both of which feel lifelike and natural.
The Writing
There are many things I enjoyed about the writing within this book but the element I enjoyed the most is how visual the story was. I could see the characters, picture the circus and get lost in the Victorian setting.
This was my first reading experience of Emma Carroll's work and I'm glad to have discovered her books.
Final Thoughts
The Girl Who Walked On Air is a charming read - it'll keep you on your toes but leave you with a feel good feeling by the end of it.
This review was taken from my blog - http://www.lifesopenpages.blogspot.co.uk
February 1, 2015
Louie is a member of Chipchase's Travelling Circus. Her mother left her with them when she was a baby and she's never come back. Louie never has the feeling of really belonging with someone. Mr. Chipchase doesn't want her to perform in the circus and when he finally has no other choice he lets her do the most horrible act, denying her the thing she's so good at. She should have been the showstopper, but he hasn't made her one. Louie's very good at walking the tightrope and she can do almost anything on it. She's felt one with the rope for a very long time and she has no fear. Her role at Chipchase's circus and the constant feeling of never being appreciated for who she really is finally drive her into the hands of the rivaling circus of Mr. Wellbeloved. He does want Louie to perform on the tightrope and he even has much bigger plans for her than being a showstopper alone. Is she actually better off with him or will there be a catch?
Louie is such a sweet and brave girl, but she's troubled. She's angry with her mother for leaving her and doesn't want to talk about her at all. She wants to have a family, but to be happy with what she has she has a battle to fight first. I loved reading about the circus and the feeling of doing something dangerous day after day. There was a great, exciting cliffhanger and I liked it a lot. I couldn't stop reading until I knew what would happen to Louie.
The author has done a terrific job with this story. Every character has been so fabulously portrayed, which made the story come to life really well. That made it entertaining and a joy to read. The Girl Who Walked on Air is a fabulous book about chances, challenges, a passion for something you're good at and love for your family and friends. This is actually a children's book, but I think a lot of adults will enjoy it very much as well.
Louie is such a sweet and brave girl, but she's troubled. She's angry with her mother for leaving her and doesn't want to talk about her at all. She wants to have a family, but to be happy with what she has she has a battle to fight first. I loved reading about the circus and the feeling of doing something dangerous day after day. There was a great, exciting cliffhanger and I liked it a lot. I couldn't stop reading until I knew what would happen to Louie.
The author has done a terrific job with this story. Every character has been so fabulously portrayed, which made the story come to life really well. That made it entertaining and a joy to read. The Girl Who Walked on Air is a fabulous book about chances, challenges, a passion for something you're good at and love for your family and friends. This is actually a children's book, but I think a lot of adults will enjoy it very much as well.
August 2, 2014
I enjoyed reading this. I haven't read a book set in the Victorian times in a long while, so it was nice to go back there again.
It took me a while to warm up to the main character, thirteen - year - old - Louie, but she grew on me and I enjoyed reading the story from her narrative. Certain aspects of her personality, such as her bravery and her attitude, reminded be of Jacqueline Wilson's Tracy Beaker, who I liked reading about when I was younger. I really enjoyed reading about Louie's friendship with Gabriel. I thought that it was sweet and true.
The plotline of this book is good, with plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I was always wondering what would happen next and I was eager to learn more about Louie's past.
As much as we've all wondered what it would be like to drop everything and run away with the circus, this book shows us that it's not all fun and games, and that there is a darker side to it which I never really thought about that much before reading this book.
One negative thing that I would have to say about this book is that I don't think that it dealt with some sensitive issues, such as loss, that well as I don't think it showed the effect that these issues had on the characters.
Overall, it was a good read. I'd recommend it to anyone between the ages of 9 - 12.
It took me a while to warm up to the main character, thirteen - year - old - Louie, but she grew on me and I enjoyed reading the story from her narrative. Certain aspects of her personality, such as her bravery and her attitude, reminded be of Jacqueline Wilson's Tracy Beaker, who I liked reading about when I was younger. I really enjoyed reading about Louie's friendship with Gabriel. I thought that it was sweet and true.
The plotline of this book is good, with plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I was always wondering what would happen next and I was eager to learn more about Louie's past.
As much as we've all wondered what it would be like to drop everything and run away with the circus, this book shows us that it's not all fun and games, and that there is a darker side to it which I never really thought about that much before reading this book.
One negative thing that I would have to say about this book is that I don't think that it dealt with some sensitive issues, such as loss, that well as I don't think it showed the effect that these issues had on the characters.
Overall, it was a good read. I'd recommend it to anyone between the ages of 9 - 12.
December 31, 2016
Louie wants to be a showstopper. She has tight rope walking in the blood, but the owner of the circus Mr Chipcase won’t even consider the idea. Louie has her place, selling tickets and sewing costumes, and she should be happy with that after being abandoned at the circus when she was a baby.
But Louie doesn’t give up on her dream. Even after someone she loves has a terrible accident, a new act joins the circus, and Mr Chipcase still won't listen. There’s another circus nearby – a circus that is bigger, better and looking for a showstopper.
Louie chases her dream, the mother who abandoned her, and the thrill of an international voyage. But is it what she truly wants? Sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for….
Set in the 1870’s, this story of rival circuses, family secrets, ambition and determination, is spread across two continents, two generations and the thundering abyss of Niagra Falls. It gives an insight into 19th century circuses and their way of life, and tells a tale of a feisty, strong, young girl unravelling her past to find her future.
But Louie doesn’t give up on her dream. Even after someone she loves has a terrible accident, a new act joins the circus, and Mr Chipcase still won't listen. There’s another circus nearby – a circus that is bigger, better and looking for a showstopper.
Louie chases her dream, the mother who abandoned her, and the thrill of an international voyage. But is it what she truly wants? Sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for….
Set in the 1870’s, this story of rival circuses, family secrets, ambition and determination, is spread across two continents, two generations and the thundering abyss of Niagra Falls. It gives an insight into 19th century circuses and their way of life, and tells a tale of a feisty, strong, young girl unravelling her past to find her future.
August 6, 2014
Review first shared on my blog www.moloneyking.com
As I said in my preview I was delighted to have gotten this book to review. This is Emma Carroll’s second historical story aimed at a middle grade audience, well anyone who likes a good book really.
The setting of a Victorian circus was written well. We see friendships develop between our main character, Louie, and new arrival, Gabriel. Louie wants to be taken more seriously, she wants to be centre stage on the tight rope but everyone is against her. It will pull on the heart strings of any child who wants independence and to be given more responsibility.
The circus is really a character in this book. The acts all must have THE WHIFF OF DEATH and be life threatening. All performers try their best to push themselves and the audience to the limit.
This is a fantastic read for middle grade kids and victorian circus loving adults also.
As I said in my preview I was delighted to have gotten this book to review. This is Emma Carroll’s second historical story aimed at a middle grade audience, well anyone who likes a good book really.
The setting of a Victorian circus was written well. We see friendships develop between our main character, Louie, and new arrival, Gabriel. Louie wants to be taken more seriously, she wants to be centre stage on the tight rope but everyone is against her. It will pull on the heart strings of any child who wants independence and to be given more responsibility.
The circus is really a character in this book. The acts all must have THE WHIFF OF DEATH and be life threatening. All performers try their best to push themselves and the audience to the limit.
This is a fantastic read for middle grade kids and victorian circus loving adults also.
April 10, 2019
Best book I've ever read I wish she could somehow make a sequel
October 15, 2016
This was just a really fun book. It was predictable but also pretty different than any circus books I've read before. It's really what I always hope circus books might be and never are. I want to know about the skills, the passions, the characters and all their complicated messiness, the moving around, the ups and downs, the risks, that life, y'know? And this book had all that and was engaging, not overstuffed, and was great fun to boot. The main character was a great heroine, flawed and hot-headed but loyal and witty and complex in her own way. The other characters were characterised well, and I could imagine everything so clearly. It was very enjoyable, and the inner child in me just loved it.
January 3, 2015
I found this book in a shop in Dublin and was attracted to it because of the main character's name, Louie Reynolds. Louie is a young circus performer during Victorian times. I hadn't realize that it is considered a Young Adult novel but like many of that genre it has a very universal appeal. The characters are very interesting and it has a very engaging storyline that has elements of suspense and human interest.
Louie is full of spunk and her quest to both be a "showstopper" and find her mother leads her on an interesting adventure. The book includes an interview with the author at the end that explains how and why she developed the story which was also interesting to read.
Louie is full of spunk and her quest to both be a "showstopper" and find her mother leads her on an interesting adventure. The book includes an interview with the author at the end that explains how and why she developed the story which was also interesting to read.
February 23, 2015
This enchanting tale pulled me in from the very first line and didn't let me go until the last. Even then I was tempted {and still am} to begin again.
It has thrills, spills, villains, heroes and a circus. What more could a girl want?
I loved Emma Carroll's first book (Frost Hollow Hall) and this is even better.
Although it's listed as a children's book I'd strongly recommend it to anyone with a love of great fiction, whether grown up {or masquerading as such!} or otherwise.
An absolute delight.
Very much looking forward to the next novel by this brilliant author
It has thrills, spills, villains, heroes and a circus. What more could a girl want?
I loved Emma Carroll's first book (Frost Hollow Hall) and this is even better.
Although it's listed as a children's book I'd strongly recommend it to anyone with a love of great fiction, whether grown up {or masquerading as such!} or otherwise.
An absolute delight.
Very much looking forward to the next novel by this brilliant author
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