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Girl on a Wire
- Narrated by: Marisol Ramirez
- Series: Girl on a Wire, Book 1
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Literature & Fiction
Summary
A ballerina, twirling on a wire high above the crowd. Horses, prancing like salsa dancers. Trapeze artists, flying like somersaulting falcons. And magic crackling through the air. Welcome to the Cirque American!
Sixteen-year-old Jules Maroni’s dream is to follow in her father’s footsteps as a high-wire walker. When her family is offered a prestigious role in the new Cirque American, it seems that Jules and the Amazing Maronis will finally get the spotlight they deserve. But the presence of the Flying Garcias may derail her plans. For decades, the two rival families have avoided each other as sworn enemies.
Jules ignores the drama and focuses on the wire, skyrocketing to fame as the girl in a red tutu who dances across the wire at death-defying heights. But when she discovers a peacock feather - an infamous object of bad luck - planted on her costume, Jules nearly loses her footing. She has no choice but to seek help from the unlikeliest of people: Remy Garcia, son of the Garcia clan matriarch and the best trapeze artist in the Cirque.
As more mysterious talismans believed to possess unlucky magic appear, Jules and Remy unite to find the culprit. And if they don’t figure out what’s going on soon, Jules may be the first Maroni to do the unthinkable: fall.
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What listeners say about Girl on a Wire
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
A magical mystery that kept me guessing
Girl on a Wire started with a stumble, but it soon found its footing and delivered a magical mystery that kept me guessing, with the added bonus of a swoonworthy, high-flying, genuinely caring love interest.
The beginning was weird, and I almost stopped after the first chapter. It was like the author didn’t know how to get the main character, Jules, and her family to the Cirque American, so she wrote up a confusing and vague trigger that did nothing to explain how it worked. Jules’ family didn’t want to join their rival family under one tent, so she runs away from home, then they’re suddenly at the circus with nothing to really clarify the in-between? Yeah, no.
BUT. I am glad I continued, as once they actually reached the circus, the plot started to thicken. Jules, determined to both have their new home accept her family and embody her role model, attempts certain daring acts, but someone will go to extreme lengths to ruin this for her. The uncertainty of whether their tokens actually possessed magic or were only psychological tricks sustained me, as did the mystery of who exactly was trying to bring her down (literally). To be honest, I did guess who it was, but I wasn’t 100% sure; it was more an inkling than dead certainty, and I was still surprised when it was revealed at the end.
I wasn’t totally convinced by the romance at first, but YES. Remy. He was a Good Guy, showing concern for her when things went pear-shaped, even though he was from the Other family. Also, can you just imagine how fit he must be as a flyer, on top of all that great personality of his? Yum. My. I had serious butterflies in my stomach when Jules and Remy finally started making out, so points for that one!
In addition to Jules, who was driven but naïve, and Remy, who was perfect (seriously), I liked the other characters and found them interesting. I felt like there was more to learn about all of them. I could connect with the main cast quite well, enough that when tragedy struck, I found myself crying in public while out on a walk. (Audiobook, remember?)
Also, it’s worth mentioning that there was a bisexual character in this, and it was pretty seamless. Or, it was to me. It wasn’t an “issue” either, which is something I really appreciate. She was just there. I’m not really qualified to discuss this in-depth, but I think she was genderqueer as well. If anyone reads the book and can correct me, please do! I am constantly trying to learn more.
EXTRA BONUS AWESOME POINTS to the author for doing her research on circus life and history. I loved learning about Bird Millman and other historical circus figures. I also loved all the customs and superstitions. When a book spurs me on to look up more information online, I know it’s a good one.
I am so glad I picked this up in the end, and I’m looking forward to reading about the magician’s daughter in Girl in the Shadows!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- S. Powell
- 13-05-16
Mostly dreamy, like a parasol.
I enjoyed listening to this book-- with only a few exceptions:
1) Occasionally, the narrating actress gives sentences a weird emphasis. It's moderately distracting, but rare enough that I didn't get frustrated.
2) I'm no circus performer but I would swear that, once or twice, the author added enough random details to betray the fact that she has a flawed understanding of how an actual safety net works.
Besides this, there were several lovely sections in the main character's voice, plus a few descriptions that added value to the piece, and I look forward to more from this author.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deraphim
- 02-11-17
Surprisingly engrossing
The question is whether you're into magical circus crime or not. If you don't know, pick this up and check it out for yourself. That's what happened to me.
Before reading this book, I really hadn't thought about the circus at all, ever. I picked this up primarily because I'm a fan of Gwenda Bond and her excellent Lois Lane YA series. Now I'm hooked.
The characters are deep and fleshed out, the world is detailed and spending so much time reading about the circus may just give you a deeper appreciation for something you haven't thought about in years, if ever. All of this is very capably narrated in a way that serves the purposes of the story w/o distracting. I couldn't ask for more.
AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Mcginnis
- 02-11-16
A bit of adventure and romance with a twist or two
I look forward to more of the Cirque American and the strong female characters that drive it to the new age. This author has successfully brought a little magic to the world through the well written story.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. A. Butchko
- 09-08-16
A must read!
Ever wish you could join the circus? This is the story for you! Follow a circus family trying to get back in the "big show" after years of estrangement.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- JGillSt
- 07-05-16
Romeo and Juliet at the Circus
I recently read a bunch of books that were inspired by or retellings of classics. Girl on a Wire was the least obvious retelling of the bunch. In fact, at first I didn't even realize I was reading a Romeo and Juliet tale. Wire-walker Julietta (Jules) Maroni joins the Cirque American with the hope that her family will finally receive the recognition they deserve. However, the Cirque American is also the home of a family of trapeze artists who are the Maroni's rivals, the Garcias. Together and in secret Jules and Romeo (Remy) Garcia seek to unravel the mysteries of the past, discover why their families are enemies, and who wants the past to repeat itself. Gwenda Bond's book is full of mystery and the romance of the circus.
In a lovely coincide I happened to be listening to this book while I was in Sarsota, Florida. Sarasota was were the Ringling Circus had their winter quarters and there is still a bit of a circus presence there with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Ringling College of Art and Design. I saw some of the circus paraphernalia at museum, including the train cars.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Jennifer L. Francis
- 03-10-19
Very good
I enjoyed this book very much. The story was packed well and the narrator was on point most of the time. Toward the end I struggled to stay involved, it seem a bit superfluous at times but all in all I enjoyed it. I would listen again.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M.L.L.
- 06-02-19
Missing The Modern
Write about what you know. This author doesn't know modern teenagers. The first place modern teens go for information is the internet. The sleuthing in this book is more of the Jessica Fletcher Murder She Wrote variety. And even if Jules takes her investigation techniques from the black and white movies she usually watches, Remy is cellphone carrying fully modern teen.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- ENStyle Design
- 01-07-17
Sweet Valley High Except with Magic and Death
This book is very much so written for the tween to mid-teen age range, which isn't a bad thing except no longer a teen (by over a decade now) I felt very disconnected from the main character. It was an interesting look into the world of high wires, but as for certain things really bothered me - like not knowing your own aunt and uncle's names, for starters...
I would have devoured this book as a tween, forgiven all of its shortcomings and loved it into my twenties, but as I'm reading this going into my thirties, I'm incredibly aware that this book is not for me.
Kudos on the bisexual, potentially gender-queer kid though. YA representation matters!
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Jessica M. Merbler
- 29-09-16
Just couldn't get into it
I hate giving up on books. I especially hate it when I've given so much time to it (41% through.) But, for some reason, (and, I don't know if I've just somehow missed key points in the narrative, or if the author's style of writing simply doesn't mesh with my brain,) I have no clue as to what's going on. Normally, one would start the book over, but I'm just not interested in it enough to spend several more hours just to get back where I am.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- f.milk
- 05-08-16
predictable
there were no surprises in this book. you could guess the villain after the first couple of chapters and the romance wasn't very believable. despite its faults I didn't hate it.