Starring Mirette and Bellini

Mirette #2

by Emily Arnold McCully

Mirette and the Great Bellini sweep all of Europe with their act on the high wire, but when Bellini is arrested after a performance in St. Petersburg, Mirette is challenged to master the Death Walk to save him from prison, in the sequel to the Caldecott Medal-winning Mirette on the High Wire.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, France

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Mirette on the High Wire, Mirette is enjoying her time traveling with the Great Bellini as a wire-walking duo. Even when the crowds applaud them, Mirette is still learning other acts to perform on the wire with her mentor. When they get an invitation to perform at St. Petersburg, Russia, Mirette is shocked to see the conditions the common people are living in while the Czar's police arrest Bellini for siding with the people's unrest. Mirette must now use her skills in order to free her teacher from imprisonment.

As a sequel, I do think the first book is still a lot better. The first half of the book is more about what happens after the initial ending where Mirette becomes an apprentice to Bellini and they do multiple shows around the country. And while Mirette loves the high wire, she still needs to learn new tricks to keep their act fresh. The second half returns to the theme of perseverance in the first book, where Bellini encourages the Russian people to have hope and Mirette bravely doing the Dead Wire walk to retrieve Bellini from prison. Much like the first book, McCully's watercolor impressionistic style is still done beautifully here and more illustrations of panoramic views are here, presenting nice visuals of how high wire acts are very eye-catching. Starring Mirette and Bellini is a nice sequel, while it doesn't live up to the first book, is still an enjoyable story of two people working together to save the day.

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one wasn't as strong as Mirette, in my opinion, but my 3.5 year old really enjoyed it. My wife and I were surprised but the unexpected journey into the class struggles of Tsarist Russia, but suddenly there we were. There was a bit about Mirette and Bellini espousing freedom which, people talking about "Freedom" in kids books always makes me feel a bit weird in a like, is this going to become a "Freedom Fries" situation, even though I know that objectively speaking, people weren't free under the Tsar. Anyway, despite all of that, the book still works in terms of making being in a circus act seem fun, exciting and liberating, and showing the cool tricks they could do, and also at not making it weird that this young girl is just traveling the world with this adult man. I have a sense that we peaked with the first book and the NIagara Falls sequel is going to be a mistake, but hearing my little kid ask for "Bellini" is so cute I can't resist, and I love the sort of art nouveau aesthetic of it all.

[Kathryn Mcilwraith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book about Mirette and Bellini is more political than the first. The two main characters take a trip to communist Russia, during which Bellini advocates for political freedom. Bellini is imprisoned, and Mirette rescues him by walking on a tightrope. While both of the Mirette & Bellini books have valuable lessons, I think that the first (Mirette on the High Wire) is more child-friendly.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine sequel to the 1993 Caldecott Medal winner Mirette on the High Wire, second of three, and sure enough, they are a high write team, traveling the world, performing crazy dangerous feats with style and cool charm. Great early twentieth century feel to the art, across Europe and the US.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because of the pictures and the storyline. I would have liked to see more but it was still enjoyable.

Lexile Measures: AD320L
DRA Level: 38

Presentation, Voice

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Mirette on the High Wire

[Robert Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb sequel to the Caldecott Medal book Mirette on the High Wire .

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have trouble telling whether this story is based in fact or fiction, but I found it highly engaging. The story continues the story of the two characters from the previous book while mixing in some European historical context by expanding the setting of the previous book. You get a glimpse of Russian oppression and how people fought against it. It's good cause for discussion among readers. It's also an entertaining story with heroism and daring driving everything forward. Good read.

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know there was another one after the first!
And apparently there's a third?
Anyway, this one is very dramatic in the story telling,
and in the tricks they do.

The art is beautiful!
A very fun read!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childs book that is sophisticated with a powerful message, yet still written in a way to still appeal to a preschooler.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are just as beautiful as Mirette on the High Wire, and the story is just as captivating.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:
good story -- best of the 3
not a huge fan of her writing style -- feels rushed sometimes
pictures are beautiful

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't realize this was a series. Have to read the other books with my little. We quite enjoyed this one.