Synopses & Reviews
Can Ursula ever show her face again?
Ursula always wanted to see the circus. That is, until she caught smallpox. Now all she wants is to hide her scarred face from everyone. But Ah Sam, her parents' Chinese cook, has other ideas.
One day Ah Sam surprises Ursula by bringing a circus to town, but there's one problem -- there's no music. Ursula is the only one who can play the harmonica, but that means she'll have to go outside and face the world again. Will Ursula save the circus or will she hide forever?
Review
"A moving parable of how people help each other overcome suffering." --Kirkus Reviews
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"Wang's evocative illustrations add to the flavor of this quick, absorbing read." --School Library Journal
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"Bolstered by themes of compassion, community and tolerance, this story is among Yep's most assured." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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"Wang, who illustrated Yep's The Magic Paintbrush, contributes detailed b&w drawings that underscore the volume's more serious themes." Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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"Ursula's energy will resonate with young readers, who will be pleased to see her triumph over adversity." BCCB
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"Wang's black-and-white illustrations, scattered throughout, are soft-textured and quietly expressive. " BCCB
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"Yep has based his novel on a true story, and his writing is, by turns, direct, humorous, and poignant." ALA Booklist
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"A bittersweet story, written with characteristic grace." The Washington Post
About the Author
Laurence Yep grew up in San Francisco, where he was born. He attended Marquette University, was graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and received his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife, writer Joanne Ryder. Mr. Yep is one of children's literature's most respected authors and a recipient of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his body of work. His novels include Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate, both Newbery Honor Books. He is also the author of Sweetwater; When the Circus Came to Town; The Imp That Ate My Homework, winner of the Georgia Children's Book Award; The Magic Paintbrush; and The Earth Dragon Awakes. The author of numerous other books for children and young adults, Mr. Yep has taught creative writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara. In 1990 he received an NEA fellowship in fiction.