The Girl Who Walked On Air by Emma Carroll Review

Reviewed by Samantha Owen

As the saying goes you should never judge a book by its cover but on receiving a copy of The Girl Who Walked On Air by Emma Carroll, despite being slightly older than aged 9-11, who the book is aimed at I immediately loved the vibrant illustration on the front and couldn’t wait to get reading. My 10 year old daughter, who is an avid reader, was also very impressed and thought it was the kind of book that would catch her eye.

This book told the story of a girl called Louie who was abandoned at a small travelling circus as a baby. She begins the story as a ticket seller but has big dreams of becoming the ‘showstopper’ act with a talent for tightrope walking. However she has always felt held back by the owner Mr Chipchase, until she meets the mysterious owner of a rival circus, Mr Wellbeloved, who offers her the opportunity to achieve her dream of travelling to America and cross the Niagara Falls. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way as a determined Louie strives to realise her goals.

I found the book extremely entertaining and neither myself nor my daughter could put it down once we started reading. The book is written in first person from Louie’s perspective and it really draws you in. It is so well written you get a real feel for each of the characters and their relationships with Louie. Louie is a fantastic main character who is very independent and strong willed. It also perfectly captures the atmosphere, and dangers, of Victorian circus life. The story covers the themes of trust, courage and bravery and I felt it portrayed a positive message for 9-11 year olds.

The book was very easy to read and a good length with plenty of action to keep older children (and myself!) interested all the way through. I really enjoyed this dramatic and uplifting story and would not hesitate in recommending it to others.

Rating: 4.5/5

RRP: £6.99 (paperback)

Available to buy from from Faber here.