Mirette on the High Wire

by Emily Arnold McCully

Overview

Mirette lives in a boarding house surrounded by actors, dancers, jugglers and mimes. Her life is filled with exciting stories and fascinating people. None as magical as the stranger Mirette discovers crossing the courtyard on air--a tightrope walker. Mirette becomes the stranger's pupil and learns to walk the wire. Features brilliant watercolor and gouache paintings, reminiscent of the French Impressionists. 1993 Caldecott Medal winner.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442051218
Publisher:	Baker & Taylor, CATS
Publication date:	07/10/2009
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Emily Arnold McCully was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and grew up "a daredevil child," always climbing trees or buildings. She made it to college intact, however, and received her B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. in art history from Columbia University.

Emily McCully's artwork has been included in the International Biennale at Bratislava, and she has won a Christopher Award for Picnic, one of the many picture books that she has both written and illustrated.

Writing also for adults, Ms. McCully has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts. Her book, A Craving was nominated for an American Book Award.

The idea for Mirette on the High Wire began as a biography of real-life daredevil Blondin. But the author changed her mind to accomodate the tree-climbing child and risk-taking adult she was and is.

copyright &py; 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Editorial Reviews

Tutored by the world-renowned Monsieur Bellini, Mirette becomes a skillful tightrope walker. But when she discovers that Bellini is overcome with fear on the wire, Mirette begins to feel fear and doubt herself. The beautiful blend of art and text in this Caldecott Medal book will touch the heart of every reader.

Mailbox Magazine

In this picture book set in 19th-century Paris, a child helps a daredevil who has lost his edge to regain his confidence. Many traveling performers stay at Madame Gateaux's boarding house, but Mme.'s daughter Mirette is particularly taken with one guest--the quiet gentleman who can walk along the clothesline without falling off. Mirette implores the boarder to teach her his craft, not knowing that her instructor is the ``Great Bellini'' of high wire fame. After much practice the girl joins Bellini on the wire as he conquers his fear and demonstrates to all of Paris that he is still the best. McCully's story has an exciting premise and starting point, but unfortunately ends up as a missed opportunity. Bellini's anxiety may be a bit sophisticated for the intended audience and, surprisingly, the scenes featuring Mirette and Bellini on the high wire lack drama and intensity. McCully's rich palette and skillful renderings of shadow and light sources make this an inviting postcard from the Old World. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

K-Gr 4-- Mirette's mother keeps a boardinghouse that attracts traveling performers . The girl is intrigued by one silent visitor, Bellini, who has come for a rest. She finds him next morning walking a high wire strung across the backyard. Immediately, she is drawn to it, practicing on it herself until she finds her balance and can walk its distance. But she finds the man unusually secretive about his identity; he was a famous high-wire artist, but has lost his courage. He is lured by an agent to make a comeback, but freezes on the wire. Seeing Mirette at the end of it restores his nerve; after the performance the two set off on a new career together. As improbable as the story is, its theatrical setting at some historical distance, replete with European architecture and exotic settings and people, helps lend credibility to this circus tale. Mirette, through determination and perhaps talent, trains herself, overcoming countless falls on cobblestone, vaunting pride that goes before a fall, and lack of encouragement from Bellini. The impressionistic paintings, full of mottled, rough edges and bright colors, capture both the detail and the general milieu of Paris in the last century. The colors are reminiscent of Toulouse-Lautrec, the daubing technique of Seurat. A satisfying, high-spirited adventure. --Ruth K. MacDonald, Purdue Univ . Calumet, Hammond, IN

School Library Journal

McCully has created a picture book in a totally different vein than that of "Picnic" or "School". Set 100 years ago at a boarding house in Paris, the story features Mirette, the owner's young daughter. One day the great high-wire walker Bellini arrives to stay, and in fascination Mirette observes him practicing his craft. Curious and committed, Mirette begins studying with Bellini and quickly learns the tricks of the trade. She also discovers, however, that her teacher is stricken with fear and no longer performs. In refusing to accept this, she spurs Bellini to stage a comeback above the streets of Paris. McCully delivers an exciting outcome, and her gutsy heroine and bright, impressionistic paintings provide a very satisfying reading experience.

Kathryn Broderick

★"Mirette makes an enviable and plucky heroine; young readers will want to pull on their own high-button boots and join her as she dances between the rooftops." —BCCB, starred review

★"A bravura performance." —Horn Book, starred review

★"A satisfying, high-spirited adventure." —School Library Journal, starred review

"An exotic, suspenseful story." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Emily Arnold McCully narrates her own Caldecott Medal-winning book with emotion well suited to her gently dramatic story. Mirette, the daughter of a boarding house owner, has met many traveling circus performers. But when she sees a new guest, the famous high-wire artist Bellini, walking across a wire strung in the backyard, she is desperate to try it herself. McCully lowers her voice and unevenly affects a slight accent to give Bellini a worldly air, distinguishing him from the other guests. Her accents are not as accomplished as a professional narrator’s, but McCully’s reading is no less endearing for that. Listeners will feel wonder and excitement as Mirette steps onto the wire in the satisfying conclusion. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2019 - AudioFile

Emily Arnold McCully narrates her own Caldecott Medal-winning book with emotion well suited to her gently dramatic story. Mirette, the daughter of a boarding house owner, has met many traveling circus performers. But when she sees a new guest, the famous high-wire artist Bellini, walking across a wire strung in the backyard, she is desperate to try it herself. McCully lowers her voice and unevenly affects a slight accent to give Bellini a worldly air, distinguishing him from the other guests. Her accents are not as accomplished as a professional narrator’s, but McCully’s reading is no less endearing for that. Listeners will feel wonder and excitement as Mirette steps onto the wire in the satisfying conclusion. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2019 - AudioFile