Ellen and Lucy spangle have never known anything but circus life. Raised to be star performers in their father's famous circus, they dazzle crowds with their daring horseback routines. While younger sister Lucy loves the glittery costumes and blinding spotlight, Ellen longs for something more and has continued her education in secret defiance of her father's wishes. Ellen dreams of being a governess and leaving the circus world behind, while Lucy is focused on Joe Morgan, the handsome son of a rival circus owner. But while Ellen keeps Lucy and Joe's secret, she soon realizes that she has a secret of her own. Ellen has drawn the interest of a fine London gentleman and is starting to feel as if she'll soon be free of boxing kangaroos, sick lions, and her father's yelling. However, when tragedy after tragedy strikes the Spangles, it falls to Ellen alone to keep their business alive. How will she ever learn to accept life with a circus? A fascinating look at London East End circus life in the nineteenth century, The Unrivalled Spangles is a story about the thrills and dangers of the center ring from one of the United Kingdom's top authors.
No reviews?? I read this book over a year ago from my local library, and decided to get it for my 12-year-old cousin this Christmas. I was amazed to discover how little-known it seems to be! The Unrivalled Spangles is a great piece of historical fiction. It follows the story of Ellen Spangle, the daughter of a tough showman who runs a circus in Victorian England. Ellen is a strong heroine, who deals with tragedy and betrayal and struggles to balance her family's needs with her own dreams. She also learns to recognize true love, as opposed to a flattering but more shallow infatuation. Ellen's family are all interesting characters as well, including her charismatic but temperamental father and steadfast mother, her spotlight-hungry sister Lucy, and her determined but vulnerable younger brother Sam. Each character is well-developed and believable, and all of them undergo changes as tragedy strikes the family. Though they are often at odds, they ultimately learn to value each other and work together to overcome some seemingly crushing blows. The relationships between characters are what really drives the story--between Ellen and her parents, her sister, her aristocratic suitor, and her friend Joe, son of a rival showman. The way these relationships grow and change over the course of the story is what really makes it an engaging and meaningful story. In addition to the engaging characters and plot, the historical setting is extremely well done. Wallace brings Victorian England to life and makes you feel like you're there! The vibrant energy of the circus, the refined elegance of a tearoom, and the noisy squalor of the streets are perfectly evoked and completely fascinating. I can't figure out why this book is so completely unknown - it's a great read for teen/slightly pre-teen girls looking for something with depth and meaning, great characters, and a wonderful story. I'd highly recommend it for 12 years old and up (I'm 23 and loved it)!
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.