Circus Sequins

by Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood

Roxanne leaves the farm she grew up on to spend a summer following in her mother's footsteps working for a circus, although as a seamstress not a performer.

Genres: Young Adult

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

American author and public librarian in Indiana and Ohio.

Friermood was educated at Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin. She married Harold T. Friermood, in 1928 and they had a daughter, Libby.

Reviews

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roxy has always been torn between the dear and familiar farm she grew up on and the allure of the circus that her mother left for marriage. When she graduates from high school, she is allowed to spend the summer with her mother's family, all circus performers, although by now her grandmother Grace supervises wardrobe, an immense job for a large, traveling circus. Roxy starts as a junior seamstress but by the end of the summer she is performing on horseback and loves the nomadic life. Doug, the bossy boy next door wants her to come home and marry him but Roxy just isn't sure she is ready to give up her dream for ordinary farmer Doug. In addition, there is Bo, a wistful clown (perhaps there is no other kind) who has admired Roxy since she joined the circus... I particularly liked that this book ended without indicating how Roxy would decide.

[Lori Maassen]

favorite book from junior/high school days