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In the late nineteenth century, in a dot of a town called Westley, lives the smallest girl in the world. Josephine stands only twenty-two inches high and her parents charge gawkers a penny a piece to see her – until they realize that the headmistress of MacLaren Academy for Girls will pay even more.
At the Academy Josephine is treated like a slave and is tormented by the fine young ladies who attend, until she takes five gold dollars and runs away. She finds a new life with R. J. Walters’ Museum of Earthly Astonishments. Among the other human curiosities in the Coney Island freak show, Josephine finds the family she has never known…and dangers greater than any she’d ever dreamed.
This riveting novel of adventure and injustice, new in paperback, has received many honors, including selection as a finalist for the Canadian Library book of the Year for Children Award, and as a shortlisted title for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award and the Red Cedar Book Award.
From the Hardcover edition.
“The protagonist is a compelling and sympathetic character with whom children will identify. The occasional use of letters, newspaper articles, and a billboard ad creates a feel for New York in the 1880s. However, the real story here is that while family isn’t always found where it should be, it’s okay to make one’s own.”
–School Library Journal
“…a snappy pace, an exciting plot and flavourful dialogue that’s fun to read…With verve, wisdom and honesty, Jocelyn explores the realities of human curiosity, friendship and life with a physical trait that will always have to be accommodated.”
–The Toronto Star
“Earthly Astonishments is…original and literary…[with] strong characters and [an] unbeatable story…a sure bet.”
–New Brunswick Telegraph Journal
“Tundra seems to be doing an excellent job of making the past come alive for young readers in an intriguing way. This volume is simply a lovely book…From cover to cover, this is a book which I highly recommend.”
–St. Catharines Standard
From the Hardcover edition.
Marthe Jocelyn is a talented and versatile author and artist. She has written two novels for middle readers, The Invisible Day and The Invisible Harry, and a novel for young adults, Earthly Astonishments. She also wrote and illustrated two stories about Hannah, Hannah and the Seven Dresses and Hannah’s Collection. Marthe Jocelyn and her family divide their time between New York City and Stratford, Ontario.
From the Hardcover edition.
Visit the author's web site.
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