Circus Mirandus

Chapter 4
Impossible Letters

Grandpa Ephraim opened the drawer of his bedside table to reveal balls of crumpled paper. Micah uncrumpled them one by one until the bed was covered with letters, letters made up of impossible words.

Lightbender, the letters said.
Circus Mirandus, they said.

And they said one more thing, one very crucial thing. You promised me a miracle.

Micah knew about the promise the Lightbender had made to his grandfather. It came at the very end of the story, and it was one of Micah s favorite parts. But . . . it was only a story.

His grandfather placed his hand on top of one of the crinkled sheets of paper. It took me quite a few drafts to get it right.

I don t understand, said Micah. Circus Mirandus isn t

Real? Grandpa Ephraim said quietly. But it is.

A smile was tugging up every wrinkle of Grandpa Ephraim s face. It wasn t a teasing smile.

Micah stared at all of the letters spread across the crocheted blanket. If it s really true ...

Grandpa Ephraim laughed his blub glub laugh and beckoned with one arm. When Micah reached for him, he pulled him close in a weak hug and wheezed in his ear, It s the truest thing ever. I m so sorry I never told you.

Micah hadn t realized there was a fist in his chest until his grandfather s words made it unclench. Grandpa Ephraim would never lie about something so important. And that meant . . . that meant magic was real. And, more importantly, a real magician had made a promise to his grandfather. Micah wouldn t have to be alone. The Lightbender could save Grandpa Ephraim. The world would go back to being the way it was supposed to be.

Micah hugged his grandfather so tightly that his arms hurt. Everything s going to be all right, he said. It is.

Grandpa Ephraim lay back on his pillows and nodded. I think it might. I finished the final draft of the letter last night, and a messenger came for it.

What?

It was the most astonishing thing. I wish you could

Cassie Beasley is from rural Georgia, where, when she's not writing, she helps out on the family pecan farm. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Circus Mirandus is her first novel.

Circus Mirandus is a New York Times Book Review EDITOR S CHOICE! 

"A beguiling first novel" Gregory Maguire, author of Egg and Spoon, in the New York Times

"Manifestations of belief and unbelief run through Cassie Beasley s charming debut, which takes readers to a marvelous place. The Wall Street Journal

You ll love the chance to believe in magic again. Redbook

"Totally immersive (and plans for a movie version are in the works!)." Good Housekeeping

"Cassie Beasley s story will enthrall older kids." Parents Magazine

* "The book is a fantastical circus romp...a delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "This gripping fantasy tale will have readers hooked from the opening scene to the breathtaking and unexpected conclusion." School Library Journal, starred review

* "Readers will be left with the reminder that just because a magic is small doesn t mean it is unimportant and the hope, reminiscent of Peter Pan, that those who still believe will always have magic in their lives." Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Circus Mirandus is an engag­ing, innovative tale that balances fantastical goings-on with an exploration of love, loss, friendship and the value of being open to the unexplainable." BookPage

"Some books take readers to different places or let us experience fantastical lands, but Circus Mirandus brings the magic to our world. Scholastic Instructor, 50 Best Books for Summer

"Beasley elegantly fits together her story's many pieces, crafting a tale where magic is not an illusion but something we can all find....A+." Cleveland Plain Dealer

"If you enjoy the magical tales of Roald Dahl, you will love this story about Micah Tuttle s search for a powerful magician