It was illuminating without giving too much of the story away it was just enough to make us understand their world and their desires a little better. Almost every member of the Wonder Show gets a short chapter where they explain how they see the events and the world in general, and their views are not always what a reader might expect them to be. The chapters alternate viewpoints between third-person omniscient and first-person narration for each member of the Wonder Show. The way this story is told is not one I typically see in YA literature, but it was very effective. As she learns to live and work with her new companions, she continues to look for her father, and wonders how long it will take Mister to finally catch up with her. Portia is a 'normal,' someone who is useless for the show, but eventually finds herself as the apprentice for the ballyhoo, the storyteller that brings in the customers. This is how she eventually finds her way to Mosco's Traveling Wonder Show, a sideshow for circuses where 'human oddities' are the main attraction.

Until something so terrible happens that she knows she needs to get out. Wonder Show follows the story of Portia Remini, who has been abandoned by her family and left at McGreavy's Home for Wayward Girls, under the 'care' of someone everyone just calls 'Mister.' It's terrible there, but Portia has learned how to get from day to day, all while hoping to find her file and information about where her father might be. While I can see its merits, I can also understand why it didn't take the main prize.

This was one of the contenders for the Morris Award this year, given to the best debut young adult title (first book to be published by the author in any genre and for any audience). Originally posted on ,a href=''>The Broke and the Bookish.

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby