Mirette+on+the+High+Wire

__ Mirette on the High Wire __ by Emily Arnold McCully

Book Review by: Brianna Eisensmith



__ Mirette on the High Wire __ Author: Emily Arnold McCully Reading Level: 8-12 years Publisher: Puffin, reprint 1997 Language: English ISBN: 978-0698114432 Format: Hardcover, $12.71 Pages: 32

__Summary__: This picture book is set in 19th century Paris and is about a courageous child named Mirette. The child lives in a boarding house with her mother, where she cleans and observes many different travelers that stay there. She watches one man in particular, named Bellini, who often practices walking on a rope a few feet from the ground and never falls. This intrigues Mirette, who approaches the man and convinces him to teach her how to tightrope. The man was hesitant that the child could safely cross the wire on her own, and although she falls over and over again, she was able to make it across after only a few weeks. In the time they spent together, Mirette finds out that Bellini was once the best tightrope artist in the world but unfortunately has let his fear take over. Mirette could not believe that he was afraid and tried to encourage him to forget his fears. When given the opportunity, Bellini decides to face his fear for Mirette and crossed the highwire that was secured between two buildings. When the Mirette hears the cheers from outside and notices that Bellini is on the highwire, she joins him and completely surprises the crowd.

__Book Review__: This is an excellent book for elementary school children of all ages. It is a truly inspiring story about a young girl that, with determination and confidence, motivates a man to overcome his fears. This is a great book for students to read because it is very rare that a young girl, or even a young child, becomes the heroic figure in a story. McCully uses high quality illustrations and the historical context to entertain readers while displaying how a student can have a lasting impact on a teacher.

__About The Author__: Emily Arnold McCully is an author and illustrator that grew up in Garden City, New York. As a child, McCully was always drawn to art and writing and even created many of her own small stories that she folded into books. She pursued her dreams while studying at Pembroke College and Columbia University, where she focused on drawing, theater, and art history. McCully began her career a freelance illustrator, and moved on to be an author and illustrator of picture books. McCully won a Caldecott Medal in 1993 in her book Mirette on the High Wire.

__Literary Element Analysis__: A literary element that sticks out to me in this story is the theme. The theme focuses on determination and confidence when achieving goals and overcoming fears. The theme of this story works to teach a lesson that is motivational and inspiring to the reader, while encouraging them to cheer the characters on throughout the story. It also teaches the reader that a student spreading confidence and determination can have a positive and lasting effect on a teacher.