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Sawdust in His Shoes
An outsider becomes a hero and a boy becomes a man in this classic coming-of-age tale from the heyday of the three-ring circus, by three-time Newbery Honor Book author Eloise Jarvis McGraw.
The circus is all young Joe Lang knows. The third generation of a circus family, he becomes a star bareback rider by the time he turns fifteen. But when his father, a lion-tamer, is killed by one of his cats, Joe becomes an orphan and is sent away to a vocational school while the law decides whether or not Mo Shapely, an old clown, is a fit guardian for him. Meanwhile, the circus moves on. Joe escapes from the school and stumbles into the farm life of the Dawson family, who take him in.
Mistrustful at first, Joe grows to love farming and his foster family. Faced with prejudice as an outsider in a closely-knit rural community, he closely guards the secret of his past--until the day his extraordinary acrobatic talent is called for to save a life. Joe earns respect, but there is still circus is in his blood, sawdust in his shoes. Will he ever be happy away from his former life with the greatest show on earth?
The debut novel of three-time Newbery winner Eloise Jarvis McGraw, "Sawdust in His Shoes" is reminiscent of Ralph Moody's "Little Britches" and "Man of the Family", Roahl Dahl's "Danny the Champion of the World", Sid Fleischman's "The Whipping Boy", and Walt Morey's "Run Far, Run Fast". Rediscover another great read-aloud treasure from the golden age of the children's novel.
The circus is all young Joe Lang knows. The third generation of a circus family, he becomes a star bareback rider by the time he turns fifteen. But when his father, a lion-tamer, is killed by one of his cats, Joe becomes an orphan and is sent away to a vocational school while the law decides whether or not Mo Shapely, an old clown, is a fit guardian for him. Meanwhile, the circus moves on. Joe escapes from the school and stumbles into the farm life of the Dawson family, who take him in.
Mistrustful at first, Joe grows to love farming and his foster family. Faced with prejudice as an outsider in a closely-knit rural community, he closely guards the secret of his past--until the day his extraordinary acrobatic talent is called for to save a life. Joe earns respect, but there is still circus is in his blood, sawdust in his shoes. Will he ever be happy away from his former life with the greatest show on earth?
The debut novel of three-time Newbery winner Eloise Jarvis McGraw, "Sawdust in His Shoes" is reminiscent of Ralph Moody's "Little Britches" and "Man of the Family", Roahl Dahl's "Danny the Champion of the World", Sid Fleischman's "The Whipping Boy", and Walt Morey's "Run Far, Run Fast". Rediscover another great read-aloud treasure from the golden age of the children's novel.
278 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1950
13 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
About the author
Eloise Jarvis McGraw
36 books311 followersEloise Jarvis McGraw was an author of children's books. She was awarded the Newbery Honor three times in three different decades, for her novels Moccasin Trail (1952), The Golden Goblet (1962), and The Moorchild (1997). A Really Weird Summer (1977) won an Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. McGraw had a very strong interest in history, and among the many books she wrote for children are Greensleeves, Pharaoh, The Seventeenth Swap, and Mara, Daughter of the Nile.
McGraw also contributed to the Oz series started by L. Frank Baum, writing with her daughter Lauren Lynn McGraw (Wagner) Merry Go Round in Oz (the last of the Oz books issued by Baum's publisher) and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, and later writing The Rundelstone of Oz on her own. The actual writing of the books was done entirely by Eloise; Lauren made story contributions significant enough for Eloise to assign her co-authorship credit.
She lived for many years in Portland, Oregon before dying in late 2000 of "complications of cancer".
McGraw was married to William Corbin McGraw, who died in 1999. They had two children, Peter and Lauren.
-Wikipedia
McGraw also contributed to the Oz series started by L. Frank Baum, writing with her daughter Lauren Lynn McGraw (Wagner) Merry Go Round in Oz (the last of the Oz books issued by Baum's publisher) and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, and later writing The Rundelstone of Oz on her own. The actual writing of the books was done entirely by Eloise; Lauren made story contributions significant enough for Eloise to assign her co-authorship credit.
She lived for many years in Portland, Oregon before dying in late 2000 of "complications of cancer".
McGraw was married to William Corbin McGraw, who died in 1999. They had two children, Peter and Lauren.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 13, 2012
This remains my all-time favorite book. I was in love with Joe and most of the names on the check-out card from my tiny Iowa school are mine. The copy I have is from the school when it got rid of 'outdated' books. Let's all start lobbying publishers to print it again!
July 6, 2018
It was a long time ago when two friends and I were book shopping online for our private school library. One of the friends highly recommended "Sawdust in His Shoes." We were dismayed to learn the book was out of print and the available books were outrageously priced. Fortunately the book was to be reprinted somewhere in the uncertain future. My friends told me to order four copies, one for each of us and one for the school. We waited for months. I thought the books would never arrive but eventually they did. Oh my! It was worth the wait. Joe, born and raised in the circus, gets a family of his own as well as his dream job. It's fantastic story of growing up and learning what's really important in life.
April 7, 2024
This book is all that a junior novel should be. The glitz of circus life is all swirled up into the beauty of ordinary farm life and it's the most wholesome and endearing story I've read in a while. It makes me want to read it aloud to a 10 or 12 year old and attempt to experience it through their eyes because I think that would be lovely.
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February 11, 2019
Gorry am I ever a sucker for circus books—and throw in a horse (or two), and I'm sold!
Joe Lang is descended from one of the finest circus families in the world—but his life comes crashing down around him when his lion tamer father dies and the new orphan is stranded in a boy's house in Pineville, Oregon. After a daring escape, Joe finds his way to a farmer and his family...and gets hired on. But for a boy with sawdust in his shoes, the only thing that'll make him happy is the circus.
This was a sheer delight to read. It took a minute to get into the language, writing style and somewhat episodic chapters, but once I did it was such an emotional roller coaster as Joe learned that gillies aka gullible non-circus folk are great people, and he finally gains a real family and finds real stability for the first time in his life.
The writing style is definitely not going to be for everyone. This was originally written in 1950, and it shows. There are also some words that were commonly used to describe types of people that would not be cool to use today , and there is also some racism directed towards Joe, both from other characters and in the writing that emphasizes his blackness and difference.
However, despite that it was a really, really good read and a solid coming of age book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
Joe Lang is descended from one of the finest circus families in the world—but his life comes crashing down around him when his lion tamer father dies and the new orphan is stranded in a boy's house in Pineville, Oregon. After a daring escape, Joe finds his way to a farmer and his family...and gets hired on. But for a boy with sawdust in his shoes, the only thing that'll make him happy is the circus.
This was a sheer delight to read. It took a minute to get into the language, writing style and somewhat episodic chapters, but once I did it was such an emotional roller coaster as Joe learned that gillies aka gullible non-circus folk are great people, and he finally gains a real family and finds real stability for the first time in his life.
The writing style is definitely not going to be for everyone. This was originally written in 1950, and it shows. There are also some words that were commonly used to describe types of people that would not be cool to use today , and there is also some racism directed towards Joe, both from other characters and in the writing that emphasizes his blackness and difference.
However, despite that it was a really, really good read and a solid coming of age book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
August 24, 2013
I read this book in fourth grade, and it made me want to be a writer. The end of the first chapter left me in tears -- first time for a book. Also, a scene of a family by lamplight with Joe, the main character, a dour bare-back rider of a boy who ran away from the circus, sitting in the dark outside the circle, observing the difference between them and himself showed me that language can create not only a life but a world. Still a treasure.
June 13, 2011
Oh, how I loved this book! I spent most of my middle school years reading and rereading this book!
November 7, 2016
A bit long, but then, it's not really a juvenile, more for teens. Joe is 15 and considers passing for 18 so he doesn't have to deal with the judge and the orphanage, but he has such a manly sense of honor that he doesn't. He's no goody-goody, but he is strong & brave and a good role model. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Fans of circuses would likely enjoy it even more, even though, at the same time, they'd resent the many pages that aren't circus related. Fans of historical Oregon might like it, too, as the country it depicts is so much more rural, the cities so much smaller, than now.
It might be interesting for scholars to compare it to the stories of "half-breeds" of a few decades ago. Joe gets to the point of spending a lot of energy wondering if he'll ever be able to fit in at the farm, or go back to the circus. And I remember reading several stories about "Indian" youth who didn't feel either Native or comfortable among whites. Immigrants also have similar feelings in much juvenile historical fiction.
"You're in for a hard life, young fellow, if you keep on taking everything to heart so."
"Hard life!" Joe whirled on her. He was suddenly furious. "Who wants to live at all, without being able to feel?"
It might be interesting for scholars to compare it to the stories of "half-breeds" of a few decades ago. Joe gets to the point of spending a lot of energy wondering if he'll ever be able to fit in at the farm, or go back to the circus. And I remember reading several stories about "Indian" youth who didn't feel either Native or comfortable among whites. Immigrants also have similar feelings in much juvenile historical fiction.
"You're in for a hard life, young fellow, if you keep on taking everything to heart so."
"Hard life!" Joe whirled on her. He was suddenly furious. "Who wants to live at all, without being able to feel?"
March 24, 2018
Such a goodie, and so much fun to read to my kids. I hide my grin as the main character, Joe, shakes his black hair out of his eyes and gives wild looks around rooms in almost every chapter, because I know all the girls are secretly in love with him. There's enough foreshadowing that kids regularly give me "Ah-ha, I know what's coming" looks, which is always fun. There are a couple of action (even fist fight!) scenes that delight them all. And I like the historical details, the good role models, and the real-to-life characters. Oh, and the circus. Everybody loves the circus.
May 7, 2009
Excellent book, if you can get ahold of a copy since it is out of print. I met the cousin of the author who lent us a signed copy. You can buy copies on ebay for about $225. My daughter and I read it together and recommend it to anyone from 9-99!!
May 15, 2018
Newbery winner Eloise Jarvis McGraw’s “Sawdust in His Shoes” was published in 1950 and will be re-issued in June of ‘18. The story of circus born and bred Joe Lang is timeless and will be a hit with my Gen Z kids as much as it likely was more than 50 years ago. Joe is a bareback rider who dreams of top billing in a major circus just like his parents, but tragedy and hardship strike at every turn. Readers will read anxiously as hot headed, 15 year old Joe navigates new homes, both good and bad, new jobs, and new challenges and comes out a far better person in the end. McGraw makes the circus come alive with outstanding use of the culture’s unique jargon and descriptive passages and emotions will go on a roller coaster ride as the young man finds hope, only to have it snatched away over and over again. For librarians who participate in the Texas Bluebonnet Award program, “Sawdust” is every bit as good as “Some Kind of Courage” and should be handed to those who loved that book and/or are fans of works by Lisa Graff, Cynthia Lord, and Joan Bauer. No offensive language or mature content despite the circus setting. Target audience is strong fourth grade readers through sixth or seventh grade. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss!
June 30, 2018
Joe Lang is a third generation of a circus family. By the time he is fifteen years old, Joe is a star bareback horse rider. When his father dies, he is forced to go to a vocational school. Unhappy, he runs away and is taken in by a farmer and his family. Joe doesn’t know what to think as he is mistrustful of non-circus people. Will Joe be able to be part of their family? Does Joe want to go back to the circus? Will he?
This is an excelling coming-of-age novel. It is engaging. Each of the characters are true to themselves and different. The action is funny and fast. It was heart moving for me as I read it. This novel is for any age to read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
This is an excelling coming-of-age novel. It is engaging. Each of the characters are true to themselves and different. The action is funny and fast. It was heart moving for me as I read it. This novel is for any age to read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
July 1, 2018
5* Our family enjoyed this read-aloud. We loved Joe Lang, the fearless bareback circus rider. We also found our kindred spirits in the Dawson family. Some lessons Joe learned on the Dawson farm were honesty, trust, hard work, and what it means to be a family - taking care of each other and having fun. Highly recommend this book for family story time.
April 24, 2025
Despite having three Newbery Honor books—in 1953, '62, and '97—Eloise Jarvis McGraw is underrated. Some of her least-known novels would be the high-water mark of another author's career, integrating marvelous characters, challenging themes, and story arcs as compelling as almost any in children's literature. One such novel is Sawdust in His Shoes, which leads our main character on an Orpheus-like journey toward redemption. Fifteen-year-old Joe Lang is a promising bareback horse rider with Riley's circus. Hailing from a fabled family of three-ring performers, Joe grumbles at the slowness of his ascent to stardom, but loves doing unique acrobatic stunts for audiences. His mentor, a clown named Mo Shapely, assures Joe his time to shine is inevitable, but on the cusp of Joe's big break, tragedy mugs him.
How could Joe anticipate going from roaring crowds under the big top, to being an orphan sent off on Judge Reynolds's order to the County Industrial School for Boys? Mo lobbies for full legal custody of Joe, who had mostly earned his own living anyway, but the court demands time to rule on his future. If Joe waits until the judge makes up his mind, the years of delicate training will waste away and his potential for superstardom will be gone. Joe escapes the school and runs off into the night, banking on reaching Mo so his mentor can smuggle him away from the long arm of the law.
Luck, fate...who can discern what forces influence the path of a kid desperate to regain his future? Injured and in a blind panic, Joe is taken in by Pop and Mom Dawson, farmers who for the moment are willing to not pry into details of the fifteen-year-old's plight. The Dawsons' son, twelve-year-old Henry, comes to admire the older boy, and the enthusiasm of younger siblings Ann and Shelley lower Joe's guard. Could he hide with the Dawsons awhile and then maneuver his way to join Riley's circus in their nationwide travels? If the Dawsons learn who he is, surely they'd return him to the school. There's also the problem of training. Joe's bareback act requires constant grueling practice to maintain conditioning, and on a farm that is impractical. Joe is behind the eight-ball as time speeds by with no solution.
Being a paid farmhand was never how Joe imagined life, but he can learn from the menial work and his own growing sense of responsibility to a family who depends on him. The Dawsons respect his silence about the past, and the kids are in awe of his tricks on horseback. The longer Joe remains here the more removed he is from relevance in the circus world, but could he ever be happy retreating from the Lang family legacy to be a farmer? Is his talent a mandate he needs to live up to, or should he embrace becoming part of the Dawson family? The magnificent future laid out for Joe at book's beginning is not to be taken for granted; a successful comeback would be a miracle for the ages.
Sawdust in His Shoes has a greater number of strong, fully realized ideas than I can address, but a major obstacle Joe faces is people in positions of power. Judge Reynolds has no experience in circus matters; he doesn't know Joe can take care of himself and has a clear vision for the future. Most fifteen-year-olds don't, but Joe is set up to surmount his family tragedy...until Judge Reynolds interferes. He becomes a roadblock on the route to success Joe would have little trouble following, with Mo's guidance. When distant figures with no real stake are given authority over a stranger’s personal affairs, the result is likely disaster. Good kids like Joe end up heavily burdened by the "help" of men like Judge Reynolds, when they would have been better off getting assistance from people who know and care about them as individuals.
Pop Dawson bends over backward to grant Joe the space he needs around the farm, but Mom is frequently at odds with the teen. She distrusts him, though he's a natural with their kids and the farm animals. Joe takes special liking to Satin, a horse much like the ones he rode at Riley's circus. He develops a method to teach Satin trick riding, until a sudden ailment threatens the horse's life. Reeling with grief, Joe goes above and beyond to care for Satin, but Mom doesn't want him sacrificing his own health by staying overnight in the cold stables. "You're a stubborn one!" she burst out. "I doubt as how anybody could really manage you. You're in for a hard life, young fellow, if you keep on taking everything to heart so." "Hard life!" Joe whirled on her. He was suddenly furious. "Who wants to live at all, without being able to feel?" Mom’s impulse is to take care of the sullen boy she's come to regard as a second son, but Joe is all in on his future with this horse. Satin may be his only avenue back to the circus, to fulfilling the potential Joe’s deceased father saw in him, and any risk entailed in that is worth it. When we’re certain what we want in life, risk must not be permitted to dissuade our course. A high-reward future requires placing ourselves in jeopardy and never backing down.
I'm amazed by Eloise Jarvis McGraw's consistent ability to produce novels like Sawdust in His Shoes. The characters are rendered just about perfectly, even secondary and tertiary ones, and the narrative arc is so encompassing that the final payoff is almost unreasonably emotional. I love this book’s people, settings, and concepts; Ms. McGraw performs in her own right at the dizzying heights of a trapeze or tightrope artist whose skill steals the audience's breath. I rate Sawdust in His Shoes three and a half stars, and if deeper emotional connections were made at the end to the loss of Joe's father, I might have given the full four or even five stars. Eloise Jarvis McGraw may be among the most underrated children's authors in American history.
How could Joe anticipate going from roaring crowds under the big top, to being an orphan sent off on Judge Reynolds's order to the County Industrial School for Boys? Mo lobbies for full legal custody of Joe, who had mostly earned his own living anyway, but the court demands time to rule on his future. If Joe waits until the judge makes up his mind, the years of delicate training will waste away and his potential for superstardom will be gone. Joe escapes the school and runs off into the night, banking on reaching Mo so his mentor can smuggle him away from the long arm of the law.
Luck, fate...who can discern what forces influence the path of a kid desperate to regain his future? Injured and in a blind panic, Joe is taken in by Pop and Mom Dawson, farmers who for the moment are willing to not pry into details of the fifteen-year-old's plight. The Dawsons' son, twelve-year-old Henry, comes to admire the older boy, and the enthusiasm of younger siblings Ann and Shelley lower Joe's guard. Could he hide with the Dawsons awhile and then maneuver his way to join Riley's circus in their nationwide travels? If the Dawsons learn who he is, surely they'd return him to the school. There's also the problem of training. Joe's bareback act requires constant grueling practice to maintain conditioning, and on a farm that is impractical. Joe is behind the eight-ball as time speeds by with no solution.
Being a paid farmhand was never how Joe imagined life, but he can learn from the menial work and his own growing sense of responsibility to a family who depends on him. The Dawsons respect his silence about the past, and the kids are in awe of his tricks on horseback. The longer Joe remains here the more removed he is from relevance in the circus world, but could he ever be happy retreating from the Lang family legacy to be a farmer? Is his talent a mandate he needs to live up to, or should he embrace becoming part of the Dawson family? The magnificent future laid out for Joe at book's beginning is not to be taken for granted; a successful comeback would be a miracle for the ages.
Sawdust in His Shoes has a greater number of strong, fully realized ideas than I can address, but a major obstacle Joe faces is people in positions of power. Judge Reynolds has no experience in circus matters; he doesn't know Joe can take care of himself and has a clear vision for the future. Most fifteen-year-olds don't, but Joe is set up to surmount his family tragedy...until Judge Reynolds interferes. He becomes a roadblock on the route to success Joe would have little trouble following, with Mo's guidance. When distant figures with no real stake are given authority over a stranger’s personal affairs, the result is likely disaster. Good kids like Joe end up heavily burdened by the "help" of men like Judge Reynolds, when they would have been better off getting assistance from people who know and care about them as individuals.
Pop Dawson bends over backward to grant Joe the space he needs around the farm, but Mom is frequently at odds with the teen. She distrusts him, though he's a natural with their kids and the farm animals. Joe takes special liking to Satin, a horse much like the ones he rode at Riley's circus. He develops a method to teach Satin trick riding, until a sudden ailment threatens the horse's life. Reeling with grief, Joe goes above and beyond to care for Satin, but Mom doesn't want him sacrificing his own health by staying overnight in the cold stables. "You're a stubborn one!" she burst out. "I doubt as how anybody could really manage you. You're in for a hard life, young fellow, if you keep on taking everything to heart so." "Hard life!" Joe whirled on her. He was suddenly furious. "Who wants to live at all, without being able to feel?" Mom’s impulse is to take care of the sullen boy she's come to regard as a second son, but Joe is all in on his future with this horse. Satin may be his only avenue back to the circus, to fulfilling the potential Joe’s deceased father saw in him, and any risk entailed in that is worth it. When we’re certain what we want in life, risk must not be permitted to dissuade our course. A high-reward future requires placing ourselves in jeopardy and never backing down.
I'm amazed by Eloise Jarvis McGraw's consistent ability to produce novels like Sawdust in His Shoes. The characters are rendered just about perfectly, even secondary and tertiary ones, and the narrative arc is so encompassing that the final payoff is almost unreasonably emotional. I love this book’s people, settings, and concepts; Ms. McGraw performs in her own right at the dizzying heights of a trapeze or tightrope artist whose skill steals the audience's breath. I rate Sawdust in His Shoes three and a half stars, and if deeper emotional connections were made at the end to the loss of Joe's father, I might have given the full four or even five stars. Eloise Jarvis McGraw may be among the most underrated children's authors in American history.
May 25, 2023
This is the book that never ends. Yes, it goes on and on, my friend...
November 22, 2025
I started reading this book skeptically and soon had a suspicion that it was simply the stereotypical orphan children's book. I have a deep hatred for all books related to selfish, jealous, and ignorant children who bully smaller and weaker minded individuals as I don't really want to admit that these beings exist. However I soon found that it had hardly anything to do with an orphanage at all. The main character is strong willed and a wonder to the kind and descent people he discovers in his adventures. This book is one of strong bonds between friends, father figures, and role models. Going through it, I found that I couldn't stop from laughing at certain descriptions and enjoy all good and happy moments, as well as stress for the future of the main character, Joe Lang. An amazing children's book. Somehow, I think it made me acknowledge something I hadn't even thought about before, but I'm not sure what. Definitely makes you think. I couldn't help but like Joe. It was inevitable.
January 28, 2008
A circus boy looses his father and the circus at the same time. This book is about prejudging and values.
June 19, 2021
This will forever be one of my favorite children's books ❤️
August 23, 2025
A beautiful and unique coming of age story about a circus performer. I really enjoyed the glimpse into circus life and how the Dawson family stands up to the prejudices of their neighbors and comes to understand a lonely, grieving young man. The underlying message about the importance of following one's dreams is just as timely today for our modern conversations about living authentically.
September 22, 2021
A really outstanding YA novel. Young Joe Lang was born in a circus wagon, as his mother, a tightrope walker, had been. His father was a lion tamer, but an angry lion having a bad evening sent him to that bigtop in the sky. His mother had died by then, so Joe, who had become a bareback rider, was left an orphan. His only friend was an aging clown, and it took a judge more than a year to decide whether he’d make a decent guardian. In the meantime, Joe had been committed to a boys’ school, which was really a prison. Of course he ran away, and ended up in a farm family, pitching hay and slopping hogs. Would he ever get back to the circus? That’s the gist of this wonderful story, which I couldn’t put down. The author, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, also wrote Mara, Daughter of the Nile, which I read and loved as a young teenager.
August 11, 2019
Not as good as The Moorchild, but still a good coming of age angsty novel about where you belong.
April 20, 2021
Its a good book. A cozy read. A coming of age and rags to riches(or maybe fame) story that we North Americans love. So ya... This is a book that I've heard about for simply forever. And I've always had to say, I've never read it. And then behold the shocked expressions. Many teachers have read it for storytime in school. It's so interesting to me... It does not read like the other Eloise Jarvis McGraw books I've read. Maybe I've only read The Golden Goblet, so that doesn't make me an expert on McGraw's style. To me, I would have believed you if you told me the author was Stephen Meader. The whole book sounds JUST LIKE HIM. Why am I so critical of books that I've been told I need to read for years and years? I think my expectations get way too high, when a book is recommended by countless people. But yes it's good! I wish I could give it a 3.5 instead of a 4. That being said, it get's a 3. I'm glad I finally read it.
January 9, 2019
I had heard so much about this book so finally decided to read it. I was pleasantly surprised! I would have loved it as a kid (because I did as an adult) and would like to buy a copy for my kid’s bookshelf
May 9, 2018
At one time or another, haven’t we all wanted to run away to join the circus. Joe’s journey back to the circus in the book, Sawdust in His Shoes, will rekindle those feelings. I read that this was called one of the ten books every child should read. I had not read when I was young, so I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about. I will also admit I was skeptical since I often do not agree with those kinds of lists. Not this time! Now that I have read it, I must agree that Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw should be read by everyone young and older.
It is a timeless classic that renews faith in the genuine goodness of others and the ability of the human spirit to triumph. Joe Lang and Pop along with Mom, Henry, Ann, Shelley and Mo are unforgettable.
If you haven’t read it, it should go on your to-be-read-this-year-list. If you read it as a child, you will be thrilled to know that it is going to be reprinted in June 2018. Highly recommend that when you buy your own copy that you also get one for a child or grandchildren at the same time. Read it together!
The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.
It is a timeless classic that renews faith in the genuine goodness of others and the ability of the human spirit to triumph. Joe Lang and Pop along with Mom, Henry, Ann, Shelley and Mo are unforgettable.
If you haven’t read it, it should go on your to-be-read-this-year-list. If you read it as a child, you will be thrilled to know that it is going to be reprinted in June 2018. Highly recommend that when you buy your own copy that you also get one for a child or grandchildren at the same time. Read it together!
The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.
July 27, 2018
This is the sort of book one reads for fun, regardless of your age. A book that will appeal to all ages.
On the surface it is an adventure story, about a boy born and raised in the circus way of life. Before he is legally an adult, he becomes orphaned. Although another man technically raised Joe, it has to be determined that he is a responsible guardian. As we all discover at some point in our lives, those making decisions about us seem to take a very long time.
Joe ends up in a bad situation and decides to take matters into his own hands.
Digging a bit deeper, this is a book about coming of age, discovering truths about oneself and one's values. It is about learning to trust and following your dreams. Joe knows where he belongs, and not just because of where he was born.
As a child I read (many times) Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis.
When I saw the description for this book, it brought back fond memories of that book.
After reading Sawdust, I highly recommend it to spark a love of literature in young readers.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I will be buying a print copy for my personal shelves. The rating is my honest opinion.
On the surface it is an adventure story, about a boy born and raised in the circus way of life. Before he is legally an adult, he becomes orphaned. Although another man technically raised Joe, it has to be determined that he is a responsible guardian. As we all discover at some point in our lives, those making decisions about us seem to take a very long time.
Joe ends up in a bad situation and decides to take matters into his own hands.
Digging a bit deeper, this is a book about coming of age, discovering truths about oneself and one's values. It is about learning to trust and following your dreams. Joe knows where he belongs, and not just because of where he was born.
As a child I read (many times) Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis.
When I saw the description for this book, it brought back fond memories of that book.
After reading Sawdust, I highly recommend it to spark a love of literature in young readers.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I will be buying a print copy for my personal shelves. The rating is my honest opinion.
June 29, 2018
The story of 15-year old Joe Lang reads like a motion picture! A child born and raised in a circus environment forced to face the death of a parent, uprooted from his place of comfort and abruptly torn away from any sense of tranquility is portrayed through the author's exceptional grace with words enabling the reader to feel every intense, mysterious, rebellious, awkward, sad emotion portrayed by Mo, the Dawson family, Joe himself as well as neighbors and friends. Every gust of wind, the smell of hay and routine of farm life, the far off boat whistle, the sound of the ever-ringing party line phone ... every tear can be vividly imagined. The storyline of Joe Lang struggling to survive and thrive is a testament to the human spirit. Acknowledging ones weaknesses, facing fears, striving to better ones self are all beautiful traits the reader gains insight into and gains satisfaction from witnessing Joe conquer. Learning to trust ones own heart is not merely for the young and the merit of never giving up on a dream is a profound moral throughout this book. This book is uplifting and an exceptional read for all ages.
Sherry Klusman
Sherry Klusman
November 11, 2019
Disclosure: I am using an edition of the book published by Plough Publishing House. Plough sent a copy to me for review purposes, but the opinions in the review are my own.
At fifteen years old, Joe Lang is a rising star in the circus, a trick rider. Circus life is the only life he's ever known because his father is a lion tamer. Many of the children whose parents work for the circus also work for the circus, competing for the spotlight and top billing, and Joe loves that type of life, even though it means hard training, an element of risk, and constantly moving.
Unfortunately, things change for Joe when his father is killed during an accident in one of his performances. (Mercifully, the accident is not described in the book. Joe does not witness his father's death. In the story, he hears screams from the circus patrons and is shortly informed that his father has been killed.) Because Joe is still only fifteen, his father's death raises the question of who will have custody of Joe. Joe's mother is dead, and his stepmother, who did not grow up with the circus herself, was never fond of circus life or of Joe. After the death of Joe's father, his stepmother leaves to go live with her sister, and Joe never hears from her again. Mo Shapely, an older man who works for the circus as a clown, wants to assume responsibility for Joe, and Joe would be happy with that because Mo is an old family friend who helped raise and train him. However, the local authorities are not convinced that Mo is a suitable guardian for the boy because of his age, his unsettled lifestyle, and lack of savings.
Mo waits in town with Joe while the authorities make up their minds, but they soon run short of money, and Mo is forced to catch up with the circus and return to his job. Since Joe's guardianship is still unsettled, the authorities send him to the County Industrial School for Boys, where he will stay until Judge Reynolds has completed his inquiries into Mo's background. The boarding school offers vocational training, but Joe finds the place dull and bleak and the people unfriendly. When the other boys find out that he used to be with the circus, they are envious and tease him, and even the teacher mocks him. Only one boy tries to be friendly with him, and Joe asks him if any boys ever escape from the school. The boy tells him that some have tried, but no one has succeeded. However, Joe realizes that he just can't stand life at the school, and all he wants to do is run away and try to rejoin the circus.
When Joe runs away from the school, he cuts across some farmland, loses his way, and ends up getting caught on some barbed wire, where he is found by the Dawson family. The Dawsons treat his wound, and Joe despairs, realizing that he has gone the wrong way and that he has no chance to catch up with the circus before they move on. The Dawsons ask Joe what his name is and offer to help him get home, but Joe is reluctant to tell them the full truth because he doesn't want to be sent back to the horrible school. Instead, he tells them that he has no home or parents but that he's worked before, since he was young, and that he hopes to find a job when he's recovered from his wounds and exhaustion. The Dawsons are concerned about Joe and curious about his mysterious past and vague answers, but Mr. Dawson decides to offer Joe a position as farm hand. Joe is surprised at the offer and a little suspicious, and he asks Mr. Dawson why he's so willing to take in a perfect stranger. Mr. Dawson answers him in an equally vague way, saying that if Joe really feels like he needs to steal their silver, he must need it more than they do, and he's welcome to it. Joe decides to accept Mr. Dawson's offer of employment.
Eventually, Joe's secrets are exposed, and he must make some choices about his future. Although Joe had lived many different places when he traveled with the circus, living on the Dawsons' farm provides him with new experiences and broadens his horizons in unexpected ways. He had never had much respect for non-circus people before (partly because of his bad experiences with his non-circus stepmother). He still dislikes some of the Dawsons' neighbors for their unfriendliness and suspicious toward him, but the Dawsons themselves are very different from most of the people Joe has met before. Joe comes to realize that he has not forgotten everything that he learned from his old life and that he can apply his old skills in new ways. He even starts to consider that there are more ways of living than he had previously thought, and he begins to see the appeal of non-circus life. Still, the circus is what he always loved first, and he feels torn between what he's always wanted and the people who have loved and supported him when he needed it the most.
This is an exciting and touching story of a boy trying to find his place in the world while dealing with unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances in life. I highly recommend this book! For more of my reaction see my blog, Jestress's Forgotten Books and Stories. The book is available for purchase through Plough.
At fifteen years old, Joe Lang is a rising star in the circus, a trick rider. Circus life is the only life he's ever known because his father is a lion tamer. Many of the children whose parents work for the circus also work for the circus, competing for the spotlight and top billing, and Joe loves that type of life, even though it means hard training, an element of risk, and constantly moving.
Unfortunately, things change for Joe when his father is killed during an accident in one of his performances. (Mercifully, the accident is not described in the book. Joe does not witness his father's death. In the story, he hears screams from the circus patrons and is shortly informed that his father has been killed.) Because Joe is still only fifteen, his father's death raises the question of who will have custody of Joe. Joe's mother is dead, and his stepmother, who did not grow up with the circus herself, was never fond of circus life or of Joe. After the death of Joe's father, his stepmother leaves to go live with her sister, and Joe never hears from her again. Mo Shapely, an older man who works for the circus as a clown, wants to assume responsibility for Joe, and Joe would be happy with that because Mo is an old family friend who helped raise and train him. However, the local authorities are not convinced that Mo is a suitable guardian for the boy because of his age, his unsettled lifestyle, and lack of savings.
Mo waits in town with Joe while the authorities make up their minds, but they soon run short of money, and Mo is forced to catch up with the circus and return to his job. Since Joe's guardianship is still unsettled, the authorities send him to the County Industrial School for Boys, where he will stay until Judge Reynolds has completed his inquiries into Mo's background. The boarding school offers vocational training, but Joe finds the place dull and bleak and the people unfriendly. When the other boys find out that he used to be with the circus, they are envious and tease him, and even the teacher mocks him. Only one boy tries to be friendly with him, and Joe asks him if any boys ever escape from the school. The boy tells him that some have tried, but no one has succeeded. However, Joe realizes that he just can't stand life at the school, and all he wants to do is run away and try to rejoin the circus.
When Joe runs away from the school, he cuts across some farmland, loses his way, and ends up getting caught on some barbed wire, where he is found by the Dawson family. The Dawsons treat his wound, and Joe despairs, realizing that he has gone the wrong way and that he has no chance to catch up with the circus before they move on. The Dawsons ask Joe what his name is and offer to help him get home, but Joe is reluctant to tell them the full truth because he doesn't want to be sent back to the horrible school. Instead, he tells them that he has no home or parents but that he's worked before, since he was young, and that he hopes to find a job when he's recovered from his wounds and exhaustion. The Dawsons are concerned about Joe and curious about his mysterious past and vague answers, but Mr. Dawson decides to offer Joe a position as farm hand. Joe is surprised at the offer and a little suspicious, and he asks Mr. Dawson why he's so willing to take in a perfect stranger. Mr. Dawson answers him in an equally vague way, saying that if Joe really feels like he needs to steal their silver, he must need it more than they do, and he's welcome to it. Joe decides to accept Mr. Dawson's offer of employment.
Eventually, Joe's secrets are exposed, and he must make some choices about his future. Although Joe had lived many different places when he traveled with the circus, living on the Dawsons' farm provides him with new experiences and broadens his horizons in unexpected ways. He had never had much respect for non-circus people before (partly because of his bad experiences with his non-circus stepmother). He still dislikes some of the Dawsons' neighbors for their unfriendliness and suspicious toward him, but the Dawsons themselves are very different from most of the people Joe has met before. Joe comes to realize that he has not forgotten everything that he learned from his old life and that he can apply his old skills in new ways. He even starts to consider that there are more ways of living than he had previously thought, and he begins to see the appeal of non-circus life. Still, the circus is what he always loved first, and he feels torn between what he's always wanted and the people who have loved and supported him when he needed it the most.
This is an exciting and touching story of a boy trying to find his place in the world while dealing with unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances in life. I highly recommend this book! For more of my reaction see my blog, Jestress's Forgotten Books and Stories. The book is available for purchase through Plough.
July 9, 2025
Possibly the best book you will ever read. Seriously. Go read it.
May 9, 2012
So excited to finally have a copy of this book again. I lost my copy my freshman year in college and have been looking for another ever sense. It's not really my book now... I had to buy a thing called "Four Complete Novels for Teenagers" but that just means I get Big Red and two other books that someone thought was great.
August 19, 2008
I read this book around the time I was in junior high -- or maybe even earlier, but I still remember the basic story and how it touched my heart.
January 7, 2008
While Mara remains my favorite McGraw book, I read Sawdust numerous times as well.
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