What do the circus freaks represent to frankie

He also travelled one of the first talking picture shows around Scotland where by he had two picture houses as well as a circus. In at the outbreak of WWI life was interrupted, men were conscripted around the country and resources were redirected to the war effort including circus animals and transport.

He died of pneumonia in in Rotherham while on his way to St. Austell to merge his circus with the Anderton and Rowland Show. They continued running the Paulo Circus until finally folding it in Harry senior was an equestrian and a clown who performed in Britain and the Irish Republic. Emily became a female clown and married Tom Reaney. Grace was an equestrian performer and married Ralph Barnsley, who although from a mining background, spent some time working in the circus.

They had two sons; Roy and James Jimmy. Reggie, was an equestrian and clown. Reggie married Cicine Bohm and together they formed the Krasters as well as performing a trapeze act as the Trevals. Nov 17, Roberta R. Rated 2. Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA. Pros: Goes in a different direction than one would expect. Balances the magical adventure at its core with themes of self-acceptation, found family and friendship.

Cons: Tries to do too many things at once and doesn't dwell on any of them enough. A few incidents are too convenient to ring true. Sexual assault off page. Almost-death by fire. First off Thanks to Dundurn Press for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way. While I've never read a book partially set in a circus - or, well, a carnival venue - before, I'm aware of the tropes attached to this kind of narrative, and none of them were employed when it comes to the final denouement, because the truth about Frankie and her connection to the sideshow turned out to be different from anything I would have expected.

There was virtually a lot to unpack, but alas, not enough time to do it. I have to admit I was taken by surprise by a certain character and their agenda, though I should probably have seen it coming; then again, since I wasn't able to foresee the connection between Frankie and the carnival in the first place, it makes sense that I didn't - so kudos to the author for being able to cover her tracks.

View all 5 comments. May 05, Fernanda Granzotto rated it liked it. I expected to like this book more, I think that if it weren't for a very fast and captivating reading I wouldn't have finished it. But I found that sometimes the book got lost, we had very normal and mundane things happening with Frankie in school as a teenager and out of nowhere the book went to magic and curses, I thought that kind of took me out of the story and made it less realistic.

I also found the book with a very youthful tone in my head Frankie was 15 years old, not nearly 18, I think this has to do with the author's writing, which I didn't really like either.

Jun 24, Aly rated it liked it Shelves: urban-fantasy , audiobook , netgalley , , ya , june , fantasy , mystery. This is a quick paced mystery about a girl with no memory of her past, but dreaming of someone else's. Frankie was found by the police one night, abandoned in an alley and she bounced around foster care before finally finding a home with her caseworker.

Now she's having terrifying, bloody nightmares and isn't sure what's real I liked Frankie and felt bad that she had to hide her skin condition so kids didn't make fun of her.

She's labeled a freak at school and has no friends, even though she's This is a quick paced mystery about a girl with no memory of her past, but dreaming of someone else's. She's labeled a freak at school and has no friends, even though she's a kind person and a talented artist. The dreams were interesting and the plot moved at a good rate.

A couple things were predictable, but this kept my attention. I thought the deaths meant Frankie had lived several lives, but that's not quite how it goes. Not a bad read! Oct 12, ellen rated it it was ok. In the end, I thought, who cares? The premise is exciting, and the writing is strong, especially during scenes with dialogue.

Still, overall the story just stayed at a consistent trajectory, neither inciting intrigue during the climax or a feeling of contentment at the conclusion. Overall, this is a very dull story. This was a story that was short and was ok to pass the time with. Life and Deaths of Frankie D. I looked past my biases and read on to discover Frankie who should be renamed Frankie the Brave a girl with no memory of her life before the age of 10 and her social worker foster mom.

Through her dreams Frankie discovers the past which impacts her present and future. I devoured this book in one day. Oct 23, Maria Clara Bruno rated it liked it. Intriguing, fun, but misleading. The book starts off really well, the author knows her characters and builds a very interesting world.

She hooks the readers with so many promises for the story and for its main character, Frankie Doe. But I must say that her writing felt flaky no pun intended - sometimes you can see how this book would be classified as YA, but most of the time it seems to be a perfect fit for a middle-grade audience. Putting that remark aside, and thinking of this book as middl Intriguing, fun, but misleading.

Putting that remark aside, and thinking of this book as middle-grade, it really was enjoyable. Also, the ending felt a little bit rushed for my taste. Colleen got us hooked on her characters, she made them likable enough for us to care, so I'd have liked to see a better and thought-out ending.

Apr 26, Faith Noelle rated it really liked it. This book definitely pulled me in with its interesting premise. Initially I was expecting it to be a book about reincarnation, which is not the case, but the actual premise is nonetheless intriguing. Frankie is a girl whose entire past is a blank slate, when suddenly she starts having dreams about a traveling freak show from the s and a girl named Frances aka Alligator Girl whom has the same rare skin condition that she does.

I love the mystery element of the story, and that the reader get This book definitely pulled me in with its interesting premise. I love the mystery element of the story, and that the reader gets to put together pieces of Frankie's story along with her through her dreams.

I think figuring out what happened to Frances was even more intriguing to me than Frankie's present day story. But as a whole I think the story balanced mystery well with modern high school drama and mythical folklore. This book actually gives me slight Percy Jackson plus Miss Peregrine's vibes, so if you're a fan of either of those then I think you might enjoy this one.

I'll be honest, it took me a little while to connect to Frankie as a narrator. But even though in many ways she is different — a goth foster kid with a rare skin condition and no memory of life before age 10 — there is something relatable in the way she struggles to deal other kids and family and that deep desire to belong. What really connects me with her are the other characters.

Her foster mom, Kris, is absolutely incredible and I loved reading about the ways she supported Frankie. There are moments where Frankie stands up not just for herself, but for others that shows her real heart. I also think she has a strong and consistent voice that shines throughout the novel.

I also really liked the way the author balanced Frankie's voice with that of Frances, the narrator of the dreams. As a whole I do think the mystery of the plot was more interesting to me than the characters themselves, which is usually not the case with me, but it did manage to balance itself out to keep me engaged. The book also touches upon some pretty heavy topics, like depicting trauma responses, sexual assault, bullying, etc.

I do think these depictions were portrayed pretty accurately. These topics are more part of subplots than the main plots, so I don't know if others would prefer more focus on them in the story, but I think what was there was done well and gave a little more depth.

And while topics are heavy, it's done in a way that still feels appropriate for younger YA readers as well. As a whole, this book is paced well and easy to get through, and discovering the histories of Frankie and Frances was really fun to do. I'd definitely recommend it. Nov 01, Isabel Criado rated it liked it Shelves: Frankie is a foster kid who in midst of having a lot of past and present issues, starts having dreams of this circus of "freaks" that haunts her by the eerily familiarity it brings.

She not only feels like she has lived what she is seeing in her dreams but the girl she embodies in them has both her name and her same skin condition. And everything becomes incredibly more complicated when she starts seeing the people she dreams of in her actual life. I love that the story gives us the chance to pie Frankie is a foster kid who in midst of having a lot of past and present issues, starts having dreams of this circus of "freaks" that haunts her by the eerily familiarity it brings.

I love that the story gives us the chance to piece together Frances story through Frankie's dreams, and the mystery it brings towards the origin of the protagonist herself. I would say that it seems perfect as a tween read, but the dark themes brought by Jessica and Frankie herself makes the read for people a little older. But what's good about this is that the story reads smooth, the pacing is good and it's a quick read easy to get into. I had actually just finished a book and thought it would take me a while to be interested in this arc and yet before I knew it I was halfway through it.

I love Frances story, how it reveals that you can be exploited from those you love the most even when you're too young to comprehend what is happening. I did feel that sometimes her story overshadows Frankie's own, but I believe that is just my own love for magic lurking into the story which then starts leaking into Frankie's own life by the end of the books so it balances it off. This book does a very good job at creating a believable world.

Frankie is a great protagonist because she tells a story we rarely miss in the narrative world; the one of a foster kid, what they have been through and how it heavily affects her personality and overall identity. And she also topples with this hatred against her skin because of ichthyosis vulgaris, a skin condition that leaves her with what is known as fish-scale or reptilian skin.

Her fear of being vulnerable, how she hides constantly and having one hobby that is her only comfort is something I truly think so many young girls will identify with. The only issue I have with her is how strongly she feels about what being goth is all about.

She has this higher than thou complex, with might just be her fatal flaw, but for someone who I want to look up to, it makes her look down on other women. And that is a huge problem when you mix it up with the metoo talk. There are a few misspellings that I caught that are probably being taken care of as I was reading it so I'm not worried about those.

The only thing that nags at me is how quickly sexual assault is touched upon. If you really want to delve into something so serious it has to be real and harsh.

And it's the only thing theme that makes this book not for middle graders I would not let my brother read this because it shocked ME, a twenty year old, to the bone.

Nevertheless, it was a good read. Dec 04, Eule Luftschloss rated it liked it Shelves: trigger-warning , arcs , disabled-person , netgalley , dnf , first-person-narrator , young-adult , circus , canadian-literature , orphan. Let me start with this: I broke off because of the pain Frankie experiences. The book may lack in some aspects, but I found the depiction of PTSD very realistic - too realistic for my liking. Since my mental health is not in a good place, either, I have had to stop reading this.

Fran dnf at page 66 trigger warning view spoiler [ trauma, ptsd hide spoiler ] Foster kid Frankie has the same dream every night, which leads her guardian to believe that this might be the key to unlocking Frankie's past.

Frankie is very fixated on being a goth, which leads me to believe that we might have a late middlegrade or early ya on our hands. I've been there. I don't think it's exaggerated, but it's certainly annoying to read in some parts. Especially if you get contradictions like Frankie telling you being goth is liking rot and decay, but then she's disgusted about the task of having to clear out the fridge.

I don't think it's sloppy writing in this case, but a flawed character. Listen, you do and say stupid things when you're growing up. I love the relationship between Frankie and her guardian. You see that they've had some difficulties and are very careful with each other, but also open.

There are no lies between them, which is cool. Some things felt rushed to me, as if the author had a list in their had that needed to be ticked off, or as if some parts had been written beforehand and needed to be patched together. It would have been nice to have more space for this novel and then get more details.

Again, the reason for dnf-ing this book is me, not the story. In different circumstances, I would have read on, so I can give no concluding thoughts. The arc was provided by the publisher. Jan 27, zuz rated it it was ok Shelves: arc. This is not a debut release and you can clearly see that Colleen Nelson is an experienced writer. Even the plot twist r 2.

Even the plot twist relating to one of the characters fell somewhat flat. I wish there was a better connection between Frankie and the Circus of Wonders and Marvels. Expected publication: April 13, Dec 06, Layla rated it really liked it. They aren't main themes of the story however if these are triggering for you in any way, perhaps consider not reading it. I went into this not knowing so hopefully this will help others in making their choice to read this book.

A moving and fantastical tale, that was filled with mystery. I thought that this was going to be more 'travelling sho I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought that this was going to be more 'travelling show magical fantasy' and less set in the real world. But I did enjoy how the story unfolds, how the main character, Frankie, grows and discovers more about herself and her past. It was a quick and easy to read story, well written and filled with emotion.

It is easy to connect to the characters, their motivations and dreams. I did find the 'villain' a little lacklustre, I wanted perhaps a little more from him, to build up to the ending. But all in all, I really enjoyed this book. Nov 22, Jessica Julien rated it liked it. I'm not really sure where to start on this one I have mixed feelings on how I should rate it and feel.

I liked this book and the overall storyline. I really enjoyed the Egyptian history and the plot twists, but they felt predictable and almost underexplored. Anyone could have Googled the information in here, and besides the medical condition, everything was an easy Wiki-Page search away.

I do wish there was more about what Frankie discovers about her family. It was a harsh side story that was r I'm not really sure where to start on this one It was a harsh side story that was really underdeveloped. Overall it was an okay read and I feel like others would really love it, just not entirely me. Dec 01, Azra's Book Corner rated it really liked it Shelves: sent-for-review. I would like to thank Colleen Nelson and net galley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

We follow Frankie a foster child who is now in her 3rd foster home with a dark and mysterious past. Frankie was found in an alleyway around the age of ten with a rare skin condition malnourished and dehydrated with a severe concussion. After resting and recovering in the I would like to thank Colleen Nelson and net galley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. After resting and recovering in the hospital they soon found she could not recall anything from her past.

I cannot say I saw the ending coming. It is difficult to emphasise how popular these shows were. Because they were often touring shows visiting large cities and small villages alike, they attracted thousands of people each year.

This was helped by the low entry fee, with some charging only a penny for admittance. They were also accessible; you did not need to be highly educated to enjoy the freak show. They appealed to every class, and to adults as well as children. Although freak shows were primarily for entertainment, in the Victorian period they also became bound up with ideas about science.

They could be poked and prodded, asked questions and otherwise interrogated physically and verbally. Originally Merrick was displayed in a small and, by all reports, seedy sideshow in Whitechapel.

Among the visitors to this freak show was Frederick Treves, a doctor at the nearby Royal London Hospital, who wanted to see Merrick as part of his medical curiosity. Nonetheless, the alternative life he provided for him, as a semi-permanent resident in the hospital, still involved being examined by multiple people. While Krao was displayed for entertainment, the Great Farini and other people involved in marketing her exhibition used a pseudo-scientific rhetoric, relating to the recent discovery of ideas about evolution, to bolster their show.

While Krao was the one on display, Farini, her Canadian exhibitor, was a fascinating person in his own right. Born in as William Leonard Hunt, Farini adopted his stage name in early adulthood as he established himself as an acrobat, trapeze artist and tightrope walker, performing daring stunts, including tightrope-walking across Niagara Falls.

Taking a break from showbusiness in the mids, he crossed the Kalahari Desert on foot — purportedly the first white person to do so. Ironically, given how publicly she was displayed, it is difficult to find out much about who Krao was besides the information provided by Farini.

Not only is information scarce, but there are different versions of what happened, including conflicting information about where she was born, with reports variously stating Laos, Siam or Burma. Much of the account is difficult to verify, but it seems that Krao and her parents were captured, that her parents then died and that Krao was taken back to Britain, where she was adopted by Farini.

She performed in London for some years, before being taken to the United States, where she continued to appear. It is difficult to ascertain the extent to which these later performances were of her own volition. She was always portrayed as voluntarily exhibiting herself but, as historians have often discussed, it is difficult to determine agency in such situations.

This was not always accepted by audiences, who were sometimes sceptical of the claim. Many were shocked by his findings and refused to believe in the theory of evolution. That Farini was able to tap into this topical concern in the way he marketed Krao says much about his skills as a showman.