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When the Circus Came to Town
Ursula always wanted to see the circus. That is, until she caught smallpox. Now all she wants is to hide her scarred face. But Ah Sam, her parents' Chinese cook, has other ideas. He brings to town a magical circus and finds a way to give Ursula the confidence she needs to face the world. In return, Ursula finds a way to make Ah Sam happy. She creates the biggest, best Chinese New Year celebration that )Whistle, Montana, has ever seen! Based on actual events that occurred in the early twentieth century, two-time Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep's novel captures both the overwhelming pain of being different and the simple comfort in finding the community to which you belong.
128 pages, Library Binding
First published December 1, 2001
About the author
Laurence Yep
127 books305 followersBorn June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Growing up in San Francisco, Yep felt alienated. He was in his own words his neighborhood's "all-purpose Asian" and did not feel he had a culture of his own. Joanne Ryder, a children's book author, and Yep met and became friends during college while she was his editor. They later married and now live in San Francisco.
Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.
Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 17, 2012
This was I think the third time I read this book. I read it a few years ago and decided to reread it because it is about circus. If you know anything about me, you probably know of my love for circus.
I think this book takes place during the 1800s or early 1900s. In the book, we are introduced to Ursula, a friendly girl that loves playing pirates with her friends. Her parents own a hotel or stagecoach something, and when a guest gives her smallpox, she decides to stay in her room, vowing never to come out. Her family hires a Chinese cook, named Ah Sam, and the two start to become friends. Gradually, Ursula feels more comfortable around him and even takes off the scarf she always has around her face that is used to hide her smallpox. One day, after telling Ah Sam that she wants to see the circus more than anything, Ah Sam's cousins come to town. And what do you know, they are circus performers! They put on a remarkable circus performance and Ursula supplies the music. After a big snowstorm that leaves Ah Sam's cousins unable to attend Chinese New Year in Chinatown, Ursula's town gives them an elaborate Chinese New Year festival.
This was the first Laurence Yep book I read, and it was okay. I don't know if he wrote YA or adult, but if he did I might try reading one. I thought that for the most part the story was consistent, although there was one part wear Ursula was talking about how someone was "decked out" in something, and then she was "sleeping on the job". Not a big deal, but it seems kind of weird that he mixes the old, local dialect with modern slangish speak. The plot of this story was okay, and it held my interest because it is only about 110 pages. I thought the characters were decent. There isn't much else I really can say about the book.
This is probably a good book for younger readers. I would recommend it for kids getting into historical fiction, because it isn't very dry historical fiction.
I think this book takes place during the 1800s or early 1900s. In the book, we are introduced to Ursula, a friendly girl that loves playing pirates with her friends. Her parents own a hotel or stagecoach something, and when a guest gives her smallpox, she decides to stay in her room, vowing never to come out. Her family hires a Chinese cook, named Ah Sam, and the two start to become friends. Gradually, Ursula feels more comfortable around him and even takes off the scarf she always has around her face that is used to hide her smallpox. One day, after telling Ah Sam that she wants to see the circus more than anything, Ah Sam's cousins come to town. And what do you know, they are circus performers! They put on a remarkable circus performance and Ursula supplies the music. After a big snowstorm that leaves Ah Sam's cousins unable to attend Chinese New Year in Chinatown, Ursula's town gives them an elaborate Chinese New Year festival.
This was the first Laurence Yep book I read, and it was okay. I don't know if he wrote YA or adult, but if he did I might try reading one. I thought that for the most part the story was consistent, although there was one part wear Ursula was talking about how someone was "decked out" in something, and then she was "sleeping on the job". Not a big deal, but it seems kind of weird that he mixes the old, local dialect with modern slangish speak. The plot of this story was okay, and it held my interest because it is only about 110 pages. I thought the characters were decent. There isn't much else I really can say about the book.
This is probably a good book for younger readers. I would recommend it for kids getting into historical fiction, because it isn't very dry historical fiction.
July 16, 2015
This book is based on a true incident that occurred in Trembles, Montana approximately 100 years ago. There are several themes in this story--frontier life, smallpox, prejudice, and community. I enjoyed this book, as I have all of Laurence Yep's books, though this was written for a younger audience than most of his others.
May 6, 2018
Real Rating: 3.5 stars
When I was younger, I loved it. But now it's just enjoyable for me.
When I was younger, I loved it. But now it's just enjoyable for me.
October 23, 2017
In this book Ursula is an adventurous little girl who loves to play pirates with her friends. Then Ursula gets sick with the measles. She is really embarrassed of how she looks. Meanwhile her parents hire a chinese cook named Ah-Sam. Ah-Sam and Ursula become really good friends. Ah-Sam puts on a circus to get Ursula outside. While she is outside her scarf falls off and everyone can see her measles. Then she she realize it doesn't matter what she looks like. Ah-Sam and his friends aren't able to go to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year so Ursula and her friends decide to have Chinese New Year in their town.
One character that changes is Ursula. She changes because at the beginning she is self conscious about her measles. But when her scarf falls off she realizes that it doesn't matter what you look like. When she didn't care any more she was a lot happier.
I loved the relationship between Ah-Sam and Ursula. Ah-Sam was the one to get Ursula outside in the first place. They are really good friends. I didn't like the way Laurance Yen wrote though. It was kind of boring to read. That is why I gave this book a three out of five.
December 28, 2017
This heartwarming chapter book is a story of a girl whose family owns a stagecoach stop and how she struggled after being scarred badly from smallpox. The only person she will even show her face to is their Chinese cook, Ah Sam. Their friendship and the life lessons he teaches her are wonderful. This book is perfect for 4th and 5th graders because it has elements of racism that speak to their growing sense of justice, but it's not too intense. The strong sense of community also plays out in this book. It is based on a true story, which made it even sweeter.
September 5, 2018
Ursula lives at the back of beyond (Montana), where her parents run a stagecoach changing station, providing fresh horses and meals for weary travelers. After a bout with smallpox, Ursula refuses to leave the house, so her only friend is their cook, a Chinese man called Ah Sam.
Pirate crews and no quarter. Scarred cheeks and scarves. Letters and daughters. Donkey men and dragons. A vivid short story that touches on tragedy, bigotry, mockery, and finding a way past them. Even more delightful knowing the tale is based on a true story.
Pirate crews and no quarter. Scarred cheeks and scarves. Letters and daughters. Donkey men and dragons. A vivid short story that touches on tragedy, bigotry, mockery, and finding a way past them. Even more delightful knowing the tale is based on a true story.
August 30, 2019
I loved this book. Although Ursula was really self concernd , I really felt bad for her. The reason I felt bad for her is that she got the chicken pocs , and got holes in her face. Her family has a chiniese house boy who Ursula becomes friends with . Overall a really nice book .
December 30, 2021
What a neat children's book addressing the judgement of others, while being still age appropriate. It was uniquely set in Montana with the cook being from
China. It was older, so maybe not the most racially sensitive, I would say.
China. It was older, so maybe not the most racially sensitive, I would say.
December 27, 2018
I think this book started out slow. It got more exciting as it went along.
September 12, 2020
I think what I know of Chinese American history comes from yeps books
July 15, 2011
Age of readership: 8-10
Genre: Historical fiction
Diversity: Multicultural, racism.
Description of the illustrations: There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book.
Personal response to the book: I enjoyed the book because of its story of the Chinese in America that were in America in the mid to lat 1800's.
Curricular and programming connections: The book tells give a glimpse of Chinese culture and racism and could bring awareness of difficulties the the Chinese had in the 1800's. The story could help a child's understanding if displayed with other cultural books.
Genre: Historical fiction
Diversity: Multicultural, racism.
Description of the illustrations: There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book.
Personal response to the book: I enjoyed the book because of its story of the Chinese in America that were in America in the mid to lat 1800's.
Curricular and programming connections: The book tells give a glimpse of Chinese culture and racism and could bring awareness of difficulties the the Chinese had in the 1800's. The story could help a child's understanding if displayed with other cultural books.
March 14, 2009
This book talks about a girl named Ursula who have always wanted to see a circus. Just before New Years, she got chicken poxs. She was upset and didn't want anyone to see her face.
On the day of the New Year, Ah Sam(Chinese cooker who worked for her parents in the restaurant) bought a circus to town for Ursula. But there wasn't any music. So Ursula decided to go outside of town and give the circus some music. Ursula saved the circus! Everyone was really happy that day, including Ursula.
On the day of the New Year, Ah Sam(Chinese cooker who worked for her parents in the restaurant) bought a circus to town for Ursula. But there wasn't any music. So Ursula decided to go outside of town and give the circus some music. Ursula saved the circus! Everyone was really happy that day, including Ursula.
December 14, 2012
This was a lovely gem of a book that I discovered by accident. I was browsing the library website for books related to our future history topics and found this. It came up when I searched "stagecoaches." The girl's family runs a stage coach stop out west. There were many subjects to discuss beyond the original stagecoach I originally checked it out for: friendship, Chinese Americans, smallpox, Chinese New Year, and overcoming differences. Dax and I both loved it.
October 30, 2008
Adventuresome, spirited, "Pirate" Ursula contracts smallpox, which leaves her face scarred. Strangers laugh at her when she goes out in public, so she hides from the world, including her friends. When a man from China, Ah Sam, comes to work for Ursula's family, Ursula changes for the better. Historical fiction.
September 17, 2007
Takes place in a small town in turn-of-the-century Montana.
A Chinese cook and some circus performers help a young girl overcome her reluctance to be seen in public with the smallpox scars that cover her face.
A Chinese cook and some circus performers help a young girl overcome her reluctance to be seen in public with the smallpox scars that cover her face.
February 7, 2012
Lighthearted, fun look at the realities of being different (in various ways). Also historical, so I learned new things.
Aside from that, it was also just a cute, fun story. I would love to read it to children.
Aside from that, it was also just a cute, fun story. I would love to read it to children.
October 1, 2013
Great message about overcoming fear of public ridicule. Although the story takes place in Montana, it discusses Chinese New Year and other cultural differences between Americans, Native Americans, and the Chinese.
June 6, 2016
Ursula is recovery from small pox, which she contracted from a traveler who came through her parents' stagecoach station. Set in the 1870s, Yep's novel includes living with disfiguring scars, community, racism against the Chinese, and multi-culturalism in America.
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May 22, 2008JF Yep
June 30, 2009
This one was not as good as The Trolls and Everything on a Waffle, but better than Canning Season.
July 23, 2009
i had to read this for school... its a very intresting book. i don't remember all of it... it was a while ago i read it.
July 8, 2011
Jareth picked this book out all by himself at the library and we are now picking it up for out nightly reading.
We enjoyed this book!
We enjoyed this book!
March 17, 2013
Heartwarming and expertly written. For a younger audience so simple and short, but not lacking in depth and beauty. Based on a true story, which always makes books awesomer.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews