Mirette On The High Wire: Summary, Impression, Peer Review, & Library Use

Title: Mirette on the High Wire

Author: Emily Arnold McCully

Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully

Book Summary:

Mirette is the daughter of a woman who ran a boarding house in the heart of Paris in the 1800’s. It was home to various performers of that time and Mirette loved to listen to the stories they shared. One day, the great Bellini knocked at the door looking for lodging. Unknown to the others was the great feats he had performed on a high-wire, and he preferred it remain that way for fear had infiltrated his mind and affected his ability to continue his act. One day, Mirette came upon Bellini walking on a wire he had run behind the boarding house. Mirette instantly new that she too wanted to able to walk through air. Bellini worked with Mirette through many falls and stumbles until she could successfully cross the wire, and as he did he began to remember his fearless love of gliding through the sky. One day Bellini was recognized by an agent and feeling renewed he agreed to perform a crossing for the people of Paris. That evening, as Bellini started across the wire he froze, the fear had returned. Seeing his fear, Mirette knew she had to help and joined Bellini on the wire. Together they successfully crossed the wire and from that day forward the act was known as “Mirette and Bellini on the High-Wire".

APA Reference:

McCulley. E. A. (1992). Mirette on the high-wire. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Impressions:

The perseverance and tenacity of Mirette provides inspiration for young readers to never give up when working to achieve their goals. This cannot be denied, yet if you look closer at the authenticity of the story a reader could find it hard to believe. How could Mirette go from learning to walk a wire a foot or two off the ground to joining Bellini high in the sky? Though this does leave the reader something to ponder, the message of over-coming personal obstacles to achieve your goals resonates through the character development of Mirette and Bellini.

Professional Review:

Mirette, the young French heroine who first charmed readers in McCully's Caldecott-winning Mirette on the High Wire, returns with more daring than ever in this politically charged sequel. The Great Bellini, the famous tightrope walker Mirette had befriended at her mother's boardinghouse, has invited her to be his wire-walking partner and teaches her all of his most spectacular routines. The amazing girl never loses her nerve, even while performing back flips and cartwheels more than 40 feet above the ground. But when the duo agrees to perform in St. Petersburg, Mirette comes face-to-face with a situation that frightens her more than any high-wire stunt. Bellini is imprisoned for speaking of freedom to the crowd of oppressed citizens, and Mirette's greatest test of courage will be to help her friend. McCully's turn-of-thecentury Europe is ripe with old-world flavor. With her watercolor depictions of Russia's imposing architecture and heavily bundled peasants crowded into snowy streets and courtyards, McCully evokes a tense period in world history. Likewise, her scenes of activists discussing the cause of the people in dimly lit though well-appointed homes offer an insider's view of impending change. McCully wisely refrains from using specific dates or names in her fictionalized account and speaks of universal issues-hunger, hopelessness, hard times, freedom-that many children will grasp. An ambitious and satisfying work. Ages 4-8.

Devereaux, E., & Roback, D. (1997). Starring mirette & bellini. Publishers Weekly, 244(7), 219. Retrieved from ProQuest.

Library Use:

Invite students to draw, write, and/or share goals they have achieved that took practice. Also include a look at the goals they have for this year and ask what do they need to do to achieve these goals, how much practice will it take, and what will be the measure of success. Students can create reminders of their goals digitally or with paper to hang as a reminder.