Mirette on the High Wire

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining book with beautiful pictures.
Review: "Mirette On The High Wire" by Emily Arnold McCully set in Paris, France tells the story of a young aspiring girl, Mirette, who learns to walk the high wire after meeting a falllen entertainer, by the name of Belini. Mirette soon finds out that Belini however, has been keeping a secret from her, he has become afraid of the wire and has sworn to never walk upon it again. With Mirette's help though, Belini finally conquers his fears and puts on a dazzling show in the night on the streets of Paris, France. The illustrations are enchanting and marvelous showing why this book won The Caldecott Award in 1993.

Rating:
Summary: An inspiring story of determination and compassion.
Review: As the mother of a 6-year-old girl, IÕm always on the lookout for picture books with strong, intelligent and interesting female characters. This is one of the best. Mirette wants to learn to walk a tightrope. She falls over and over again, but never gives up trying, and finally becomes an expert. She is a great model of determination for young girls. But sheÕs more than that. The story is also about a once great tightrope walker, the man who first inspired Mirette, who has developed a fear of the wire. Mirette uses her own developing talent to help her teacher overcome his fear. The final illustration of the two of them reaching out to each other across the wire brings tears to my eyes every time. MiretteÕs determination, ambition, and compassion are inspiring. My daughter and I both adore this book.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Biggest Wastes of Paper Ever!
Review: I gave Mirette On The High Wire only 2 stars because it was very predictable. The only fair part of the book was the pictures. They might have been an alright nomination, but definitely should not have won. It was predictable when Belini said no to Mirette to teach her to walk on the wire. I believe it was a very bad book!

Rating:
Summary: The world is your oyster
Review: I love this book! A smashing story of a girl's discoveries of her own talents & strength, complete with lovely illustrations & set in one of the most fascinating countries in the world: France. Mirette helps run a boarding house & discovers their new guest has an unusual talent: tightrope walking! She begs him to teach her & each they begin odysseys without & within. Can Mirette truly have nerves of steel, or is she meant to stay on the ground? One of the best picture books & meant to be in every child's library.

Rating:
Summary: Earth below her, drifting falling
Review: I remember some of the grumbling that went on when "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers" won the 2004 Caldecott Award. "But there's already been a Caldecott award winning tightrope walker book", some said. " `Mirette On the High Wire' has already covered that territory!" The fact of the matter is, however, that the two books are entirely different stories. Where the more recent "The Man Who Walked" is a tale that is dedicated to the memory of the twin towers themselves, "Mirette on the High Wire" concentrates more on the nature of fear and what it takes to overcome it. A beautiful book, "Mirette" tells the tale of a girl, a man, and their newfound dependence on one another.

The book takes place in Paris, "one hundred years ago" in a small boardinghouse. The widow Gateau runs the place with her daughter Mirette and the two take in a fairly creative crew of jugglers, actors, mimes, and acrobats. One day a gentleman arrives and is given the back room where there is no view. Mirette is delighted to find that the man is a tightrope walker, and she immediately insists on learning the trade. Initially the man refuses, so Mirette begins by teaching herself. After many many mishaps she finally is able to walk the length of a clothing line. Having noted her determination, the man, named Bellini, agrees to take her on as a pupil. Soon the girl learns that Bellini was once the greatest tightrope artist in the world. He does not walk the ropes anymore because he is afraid, and this fear begins to eclipse Mirette's own abilities as well. Finally, the man decides to overcome his fear once and for all. In a spectacular staged event he strings a rope to walk, but it is only through Mirette's own intervention that he can truly take command of his abilities again.

The book pretty much appeals to any kid that's ever wished for fame and glory, no matter what fashion. In the end, it becomes clear that the two will travel together from then on, lending their partnership a kind of father/daughter feeling that is pleasant to see. The tale was initially going to be a biography of actual tightrope walker Blondin, but author/illustrator Emily Arnold McCully decided to give the book a child protagonist instead. Mirette is that rare precocious heroine that never gets on your nerves. Though spunky and determined she doesn't whine or play to the worst of the reader's emotions. She is, instead, a delightful character to follow. The story of "Mirette" is fine in and of itself, but I was really taken with the illustrations. McCully has a sense of color that makes this book particularly enjoyable to flip through. From Mirette's bright red hair and royal blue dress to the colorful characters that eat in the Gateau's boarding house, the tale is awash in life and verve. Personally, I was delighted to find Bellini a bit of a hunk as well. Say what you will of the wonderful Philippe Petit in "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers", he's no hunk. Bellini on the other hand is, not to put too fine a point on it, a hottie. And I, personally, have no problems with picture books containing handsome men. No problems at all.

Mirette's high button white shoes have become a bit of a cultural symbol for those who love picture books. Though a work of fiction, her story rings true and is a delightful read. If you're searching for books in which female characters show spunk but aren't cloying or annoying, seek out "Mirette on the High Wire" ASAP. It displays the closest humans could come to flight before the advent of the airplane. A truly wonderful tale.


Rating:
Summary: One of the Biggest Wastes of Paper Ever!
Review: I would give this book 3.5 stars for plot. The story's above average but not great, yet definitely worth reading. It is definitely 5 stars for having a very positive female role model - she is hard-working, helpful, extremely responsible (she helps here widowed mother run the guesthouse and when she wants to learn to walk a tightrope, she gets up 2 hours early so she can still finish her chores and have the rest of the day to practice), diligent, and pursues and sticks to her own dreams- teaching herself even when initially rebuffed by Bellini. The book is also one of the few I've seen with a very positive image of a single mother who is very hard-working, conscientious and doing her best to provide for her and her daughter. The book definitely earns 5+ stars for its admirable portrayal of female characters! The book also does a good job of presenting more diverse occupations (the performers) that are not necessarily glamourous or prestigious for their time. (On other diversity measures such as race and heterosexism, the book is not so good but that may be more a reflection of the historical setting of the book and does not necessarily come across as a flaw.) The values modeled by the main character, Mirette, are admirable for anyone to experience - female or male, child or adult. The atypical setting - a turn of the century guest house in Paris for traveling performers - provides a not frequently encountered historical slice of life in picture books. This book is a great transition book from read-aloud picture books to read-aloud chapter books for older preschoolers/kindergardeners or precocious toddlers/young preschoolers. There is a large picture on every page to help maintain interest but the text is longer and more complex than simpler picture books. Also because there are other books in the series, reading one after the other also helps in the transition to chapter books.

Rating:
Summary: High Wire Walking
Review: I would have to say this is not one of the very best books I have ever read, but it was a good story. The little girl in the story wants Bellini, the world famous high-wire walker, to teach her how to walk the high wire, but after years of performing Bellini is afraid. The book is a great story to tell children and explain to them that they should never give up. When Mirette tries to walk on the high-wire she falls off a lot and struggles to keep her balance, but with all her ambition she keeps trying and trying. She never gives up. And when she wants to go with him to perform in front of people, he says she can't. But she doesn't give up hope. She still practices and practices and never gives up.
This story shows little children that if at first you don't succeed, get yourself up and try again and again until you do get it. Even if it does take an extra mile, the end result will be great if you try your hardest. ...

Rating:
Summary: High Wire Walking
Review: My precocious (precious!) 4-year-old daughter just loved this book - so much so that we have enjoyed playing "Mirette & Bellini" together many times, acting out the story and embellishing the details. Strong plot; excellent characterization. What greater recommendation than success with the target audience, kids?

This book is great as a read aloud for younger kids, and a good early reader for those slightly older. To the author's great credit, the vocabulary is NOT simplified -- your child may actually learn something while enjoying the story.

The 2nd sequal, in which the wire-walking duo cross the Niagra Falls, is OK, but not as magical. Seems a bit forced. We have not read the other sequal yet.

Rating:
Summary: High Wire Act
Review: With gorgeous pastel drawings, this book tells a story of a famous tightrope walker in 19th century Paris. He begins training a young girl who eventually learns of Bellini's wondrous feats and his subsequent retirement. He explains to the girl that he has begun to be afraid and once you have fear on the wire, it never goes away. Not wanting to disappoint Mirette, he plans one more event, but when he is unable to make it, Mirette joins her hero to help him across. This is a nice story about overcoming one's fears that has some beautiful illustrations.

Why 4 stars?:
This story could inspire children to face their fears and overcome that obstacle that is keeping them from realizing their dream. On the other hand, they could picture themselves as Bellini and feel they need now need help to accomplish things that used to be routine for them. Hopefully, a good teacher will guide them towards the former.