Available on Brilliance Audio * A Junior Library Guild Selection * Nerdy Book Club Author Post * Downloadable Discussion Guide

★ “Books about P. T. Barnum generally try to determine whether he was a showman or a huckster, a champion or exploiter of the human oddities he employed. In these eleven cumulative fictional short stories, however, Noyes focuses instead on those within the gravitational pull of his American Museum, and how the force that was Barnum affected the trajectory of their lives…all [are] facets of the Barnum story, based on fact but elevated to exquisite explorations of what might have been.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“An entertaining, absorbing look at the prominent figures in Barnum’s life that will appeal to his fans and history buffs in general. Recommended.”
—School Library Journal

“Barnum, the ‘Prince of Humbug,’ rose to fame by exhibiting—and exploiting—a collection of human and animal “wonders.” But here, Jumbo the elephant and the Fejee mermaid aren’t the showman’s only “creatures.” In 11 intertwined, third-person stories spanning from 1842 to 1891, the author imagines the perspectives of those in Barnum’s narcissistic shadow—from his belittled, overwhelmed wives and overlooked daughters to such celebrated performers as the little person Charlie Stratton, aka General Tom Thumb, who pays for his fame by losing his identity…. the stories create a vivid, dark impression of Barnum’s personality.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The dramatis personae may be dissimilar, but each story, conveyed in the third-person perspective, emphasizes the central character’s emotional isolation…. these stories vividly engage with their period images… providing a picture of what life with Barnum might have been like.”—Publishers Weekly

“The author uses historical facts combined with her own imagination to show readers that while Barnum did make some of his exhibits rich and famous, deep down he was a shyster who preyed on a gullible population in the name of ‘entertainment.’…with real photos and historical facts included, this book may make a nice addition to larger public library collections.”—School Library Connection

“Each story offers a new perspective and different time in Barnum’s life, painting him as a more nuanced man than the one in the most recent movie, starring Hugh Jackman. Still, those who are fans of the movie will find this book to be a special treat….The book echoes many similar themes… fitting in when you feel and appear to be different, attempting to make a mark on the world, resilience, the public’s attraction to the unusual, and losing oneself in the pursuit of success.”—YA Books Central