Camp Big Top

by Alexandra Diaz

Four kids overcome challenges and form a strong friendship while trying to save their circus camp from closing in this new coming-of-age story from Pura Belpré Honor winner Alexandra Diaz.

Mario has been banished, to circus camp of all places, after stealing his parents’ credit card.

Luna is an aerial artist, but her body seems to have grown curvier overnight, making it harder to perform on the silks.

Ricky is destined to be a stilt-walking star, but his attention span keeps him from safely learning the basics.

Betina has a natural talent for clowning comedy, so long as no one is watching her.

When the landlord threatens to close down Camp Big Top forever, these four kids must join forces to save it. But first, they will have to build trust in each other…and in themselves.

Genres: Middle Grade

352 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2026

Reviews

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the big top, four unlikely friends discover their greatest act is believing in themselves.
🎪
Mario, Luna, Ricky, and Betina arrive at Camp Big Top carrying their own challenges, insecurities, and dreams. As they learn circus skills, from aerial arts to stilt-walking and clowning, they discover that performing takes more than talent…it takes confidence and trust. When the camp’s future is threatened by a landlord determined to shut it down, the four must work together to save the place that has become a second home while learning to believe in themselves and each other.
🤡
This was a breath of fresh air! I adored this upper middle grade new release for many reasons: the diversity & representation, the fact that not many MG titles involve the circus so there will be buy in because it’s something different and RICKY!!! He must be protected at all costs! This is a great read by @alexandradiazauthor and one you should add to your middlegrade fiction collection!

CW: body shaming, emotional abuse, theft, hospitalization, injury, medical content, animal abuse (discussed)

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luna and her parent, Cosmos, have run a circus camp in New Mexico for several years. Luna was a talented aerialist, but since the last summer has gained weight and not been able to work out. Cosmos is not happy about this and has made a lot of disparaging remarks about how Luna shouldn't eat so much. There are about thirty campers, but the book concentrates on just a few of these. Mario has been sent by his harried tech worker parents to stay with his abuela after he used their credit cards to buy a number of things online, and his abuela has enrolled him in the camp. He is not happy and would rather work with her in her vintage clothing resale shop. Ricky is super excited to go to the camp, since he has been kicked out of several because of the behavior caused by his extreme ADHS. Bettina is at the school on a scholarship after a guidance counselor notices that she is a good student who could use some enrichment after three years of being in the US. When classes start, Luna is reunited with her camp best friend, Rowan, who is a competitive ice skater who uses circus camp as a change of pace. Coach Emmy and Coach João teach classes in climbing silks, juggling, and stilts, and Horace covers clowning. The school is having financial problems, and when a plumbing issue closes the school down for the day, Cosmos is in danger of being evicted from the building due to back rent being owed. It doesn't help that Rowan breaks his ankle when he falls from a pyramid when Mario fails to spot Ricky. Luna is fighting more than ever with Cosmos and even spends several nights with her step parent Kai and stepsister Lani, who don't make fun of her weight. Ricky doesn't want to come back, since he feels responsible for the accident, but Luna firmly believes that the circus should include everyone, and the kids visit his house to ask him to come back. They then all work together on a plan to save the school, and Ricky is instrumental in helping with the fundraiser. Even Mario, who has discovered a talent for juggling, wants to help. A fund raising performance is planned in the Teatro del Palacio complete with a parade. Will it be enough to save the camp?
Strengths: When I coached cross country, the other coaches and I were well aware of what we called "Eighth Grade Girl Syndrome". There are a lot of runners who do really well in 7th grade and start their 8th grade year 35 pounds heavier, and really struggle. This is a tough situation for all parties involved to navigate, so I definitely read Luna's account with interest! I liked that she really had made peace with her body and was working on regaining her abilities, and her biggest challenge was dealing with Cosmos' negative attitude. Mario was not the most pleasant character, but his grandmother knew how to deal with him, and he definitely got better as the book progressed. Ricky is a fairly typical middle school boy, and it was good to see the other campers try to support him. Betina's family didn't quite understand why she wanted to go to the camp, but were ultimately supportive as well. There are lots of good details about the acts that go into a circus, and also information about the fact that animals shouldn't have a role in modern circuses. There is a glossary of Spanish words at the end of the book, since many are used in the text.
Weaknesses: Cosmos' business practices seem ineffectual, and as an adult, it was hard for me to believe that a fund raiser would really make much difference. Younger readers will believe that children can save the day.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who harbor secret desires to attend circus camps and have read Levinson's Watch Out for Flying Kids, or who enjoyed reading books like Palmer's Camp Prodigy or Bird's Long Road to the Circus.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my Kids Book Club The Book Monsters and The Mini Lits stepped into the ring with Camp Big Top by Alexandra Diaz, we had no idea we were about to experience the most thrilling, heart-filled circus act of the summer! 🎪✨

As a mentor and parent, I absolutely adored this coming-of-age story. Diaz writes with such an authentic, warm understanding of the messy, vulnerable middle-school years. The book follows four completely different kids Mario sent to camp as a punishment, Luna struggling with her changing body on the aerial silks, Ricky dealing with a runaway attention span, and Betina a brilliant clown with major stage fright. When their beloved camp is threatened with closure, they have to put aside their differences, build trust, and save the day. It’s a beautifully written reminder that our perceived flaws are often where our true magic hides.

But you don’t just have to take my word for it! Here is what the kids from our review club thought:

▫️Leo (9): "Mario was my favorite because he starts out mad about being there, but then he realizes the circus is actually cooler than video games. I loved the stilt-walking parts!"

▫️Maya (10): "I really related to Luna. It’s hard when your body changes and things you used to be good at suddenly feel different. It made me feel less alone."

▫️Sam (8): "Ricky made me laugh because his brain jumps around just like mine, but he still found a way to be a star. This book made me want to learn how to juggle!"

The Club Verdict: A unanimous thumbs up! It’s the perfect summer read that tackles real-world anxieties, body image, focus issues, stage fright, and accountability without ever losing its sense of fun and wonder.

✨️ Thank you, Simon Kids and Alexandra Diaz, for sharing Camp Big Top with us!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer is turning out to be quite different from what twelve-year-old Mario expected, first being sent across the country to his Abuela’s house and next being thrust unwillingly into a circus camp. Even for experienced campers like Luna, the summer is not off to a good start. Each day brings new challenges both physically and emotionally, and every camper must participate fully in order to truly appreciate the rich culture of the circus. And though every camper comes with their own identity and baggage, the circus is a place where everyone can truly belong, whether they realize it or not. This thoughtful middle grade novel is told from the perspectives of four individual characters, each of whom has a secret they are holding tight inside. From body shaming and low self esteem to poverty and poor choices, the experiences the characters have are tangible for the target audience. Though weighty, these subjects are explored with sensitivity, offering opportunities for readers to consider how they might react in similar situations. Spanish and Portuguese languages appear throughout the book, often in moments of heightened emotions, which amplifies and deepens the richness of the text. These phrases are generally understood from context, but they are also defined in a glossary at the end, if necessary. Complete with a diversity of character types and a unique and memorable setting, this book is at once a celebration of embracing one's true self and a poignant investigation of the many complexities of adolescence. This is a positive addition to library contemporary fiction collections for middle grade readers.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the publisher.

Mario is forced to attend a circus camp after he got into trouble, and he isn't thrilled about it. Luna has taken a year-long break from aerials and is nervous to go back now that she's gained some weight. Betina is a shy scholarship camper, while Ricky is super excited to be there, if only his ADHD could work with his coordination. As camp begins, all four discover that circus has positive effects - so when the camp is threatened with being evicted, they know they have to try to save it.

This is one of the few books with aerial silks on the cover that is a realistic wrap! (and I know because I just finished up a week-long aerial silks retreat). The four main characters each had their own struggles to overcome, and I loved them all, especially Ricky who also seems to be a bit on the spectrum in addition to the ADHD. I probably identified with Betina the most. For the most part, the descriptions of the circus skills was good, although it can be hard to imagine especially when things are called something else in my neck of the woods. All of the characters spoke Spanish at times and had very different lives, but there was other diversity, such as Ricky's neurodiversity and Cosmos, the non-binary camp director. This book would appeal to any kids who already do circus as well as those who haven't had the opportunity to try yet.

[Christine Shestak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author spins riveting story of friendship, family relationships, and the path to discovering one’s own identity against the backdrop of a circus camp in financial trouble. Of course, as with all good circuses, the clowns provide laughs, but the author injects a sly, subtle humor into Ricky’s insistence that he understands enough Spanish to interpret comments not meant for him, and Omigosh! Abuela’s dogs made me laugh out loud. The tension is masterfully written- each time I thought I “knew” things would turn out all right, there was another complication that forced me to turn the page and keep going. In fact, I would strongly recommend that the reader set aside a day just for finishing this novel!

Ms. Diaz knows and loves the circus community, and her descriptions of the different techniques provide a clear picture of the settings and the skills necessary to perform them. Each character has their own skillset and problems to resolve, and the author provides us with enough information for us readers to be able to pick these kids out if we passed them on the street. I can’t decide if I’m more Ricky, the ADD klutzy guy or Betina, the socially awkward, shy girl, but there isn’t one character I didn’t fall in love with.

I highly recommend this book for all children and the adults who love them. Just be prepared to cry happy tears at the conclusion.

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The frustrated feeling with the physical changes of your growing body......
The hurtful feeling of being invisible from your immediate family....
The conflicted feeling of being aware you are different but still want acceptance...

Tapping into all those messy feelings. This is what the Author does. And, she does it so well.
The depth of this book will resonate with young Readers. It's not so much as in the plot, but the respective characters' interaction with one another and their self-reflection. Add in the characters' comfort in expressing primarily in the primary language of either Spanish or Portuguese made this book richer. Like that the Author did not include English translations as it prods the non-native speaker to understand from context or to take the initiative to look up what was said.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Beach Lane Books providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite their differences, and the burdens they carried, Mario, Luna, Betina, and Ricky formed a bond as the true meaning of friendship, and the importance of being there for each other, made this a summer none of them would ever forget. The author did a great job fleshing out each character, allowing readers the chance to see themselves or to recognize a classmate. After reading about the many exciting circus activities the children learned to do, I won’t be surprised if circus camps pop up wherever “Camp Big Top” is read. Read more about it on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[ebigeyl wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

staff rec blurb, july 26: Mario's the ringmaster of his life––until, one day, he gets into elephant-sized trouble, and Abuela takes him to Camp Big Top. At first, Mario feels like a clown (and not in a good way!) until he realizes campers Betina, Luna, and Ricky are juggling problems of their own. As coaches walk the tightrope, barely making rent, the kids work together to save camp. No one is a freak here––everyone belongs in the circus!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story idea-circus camp! This is a topic I don’t think I have on the shelves of my middle school library. However, this middle grade book also deals with some pretty serious topics; body positivity and feeling invisible are just two of the topics addressed in the book. Thanks for the shout-outs to my home state of Kansas! I will be adding this book to my library wishlist.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Body-shaming
Hospitalisation & medical treatment for injury
Animal abuse discussed

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will pass on this one, though the circus school was unique. With drastic cuts in my budget I can’t buy anything that could be a shelf sitter.

[Natasha]

Circus, stage fright, body positivity,