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We Walked the Sky
A stunning, multigenerational story about two teenagers: Victoria, who joins the circus in 1965, and her granddaughter, Callie, who leaves the circus fifty years later.
In 1965 seventeen-year-old Victoria, having just escaped an unstable home, flees to the ultimate place for dreamers and runaways--the circus. Specifically, the VanDrexel Family Circus where, among the lion tamers, roustabouts, and trapeze artists, Victoria hopes to start a better life.
Fifty years later, Victoria's sixteen-year-old granddaughter Callie is thriving. A gifted and focused tightrope walker with dreams of being a VanDrexel high wire legend just like her grandmother, Callie can't imagine herself anywhere but the circus. But when Callie's mother accepts her dream job at an animal sanctuary in Florida just months after Victoria's death, Callie is forced to leave her lifelong home behind.
Feeling unmoored and out of her element, Callie pores over memorabilia from her family's days on the road, including a box that belonged to Victoria when she was Callie's age. In the box, Callie finds notes that Victoria wrote to herself with tips and tricks for navigating her new world. Inspired by this piece of her grandmother's life, Callie decides to use Victoria's circus prowess to navigate the uncharted waters of public high school.
Across generations, Victoria and Callie embrace the challenges of starting over, letting go, and finding new families in unexpected places.
In 1965 seventeen-year-old Victoria, having just escaped an unstable home, flees to the ultimate place for dreamers and runaways--the circus. Specifically, the VanDrexel Family Circus where, among the lion tamers, roustabouts, and trapeze artists, Victoria hopes to start a better life.
Fifty years later, Victoria's sixteen-year-old granddaughter Callie is thriving. A gifted and focused tightrope walker with dreams of being a VanDrexel high wire legend just like her grandmother, Callie can't imagine herself anywhere but the circus. But when Callie's mother accepts her dream job at an animal sanctuary in Florida just months after Victoria's death, Callie is forced to leave her lifelong home behind.
Feeling unmoored and out of her element, Callie pores over memorabilia from her family's days on the road, including a box that belonged to Victoria when she was Callie's age. In the box, Callie finds notes that Victoria wrote to herself with tips and tricks for navigating her new world. Inspired by this piece of her grandmother's life, Callie decides to use Victoria's circus prowess to navigate the uncharted waters of public high school.
Across generations, Victoria and Callie embrace the challenges of starting over, letting go, and finding new families in unexpected places.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2019
About the author
Lisa Fiedler
24 books78 followersLisa Fiedler is the author of a number of popular young adult novels, including two retellings of a Shakespearean story from the female point of view, Dating Hamlet and Romeo's Ex. She lives in Connecticut with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
March 26, 2020
This one was a fun read, but I wouldn't say that I had a super special connection to it. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the circus setting, but the plot as a whole was pretty basic and predictable for the majority of the story. It just wasn't quite as whimsical as I was hoping for so a 2.5 or a 3 star rating feels pretty right.
TW: domestic abuse, death of an animal
TW: domestic abuse, death of an animal
April 24, 2019
I am an athlete, an artist, a magician. An angel, a daredevil, a dancer in the sky.
🌟 THIS BOOK HAS AWARD-WINNER WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. 🌟
December 27, 2018
This book was a slow start for me; I don't know why but once I found the rhythm of the voice I fell in love with the story. Told from a grandmother, Victoria, and her granddaughter, Callie, it focuses on what is important to these two woman while growing up in the circus.
Victoria runs away from a horrible home life to join the circus, figuring she will leave when she is far from home. What she finds in the circus isn't just joy and love but a family that cares for her just as deeply as she cares for them.
Callie is literally a child of the circus..born into it; so when it is taken away from her she mourns. Forced to live a "regular" life after her mother takes a job at a wild animal sanctuary Callie schemes to get back into the circus no matter the cost.
Fiedler has written a lovely book that explores how two different women grow up and become themselves in this book...I fell in love with both of them!
Thanks to Penguin for the ARC!
Victoria runs away from a horrible home life to join the circus, figuring she will leave when she is far from home. What she finds in the circus isn't just joy and love but a family that cares for her just as deeply as she cares for them.
Callie is literally a child of the circus..born into it; so when it is taken away from her she mourns. Forced to live a "regular" life after her mother takes a job at a wild animal sanctuary Callie schemes to get back into the circus no matter the cost.
Fiedler has written a lovely book that explores how two different women grow up and become themselves in this book...I fell in love with both of them!
Thanks to Penguin for the ARC!
May 15, 2020
Beehive Award nominee for 2020/2021. There wasn't really anything groundbreaking or super exciting about this one, but it did really make me teary at the end, so that definitely counts for something. It was more of a quiet story with some sweet moments.
September 9, 2019
Had this book focused solely on Victoria’s life with the circus, I probably would have enjoyed it more, and thus rated it higher.
I just could not get into Callie’s storyline. Her Grandmother was much more interesting, which is why I wanted more from that story.
The ending felt a bit strange to me as well.
The book just wasn’t what I expected. Still decent, but I had higher hopes.
I just could not get into Callie’s storyline. Her Grandmother was much more interesting, which is why I wanted more from that story.
The ending felt a bit strange to me as well.
The book just wasn’t what I expected. Still decent, but I had higher hopes.
Want to read
June 27, 2019I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS NOVEL TO COME OUT! I've been really hyped about it ever since.
June 25, 2019
The vintage feel of Victoria's perspective adds so much to the story. In the wake of my The Greatest Showman obsession, this felt like nostalgia and a hug all wrapped up into one book. I adored Victoria's parts of the book and eagerly waited to see what was next.
We Walked the Sky is an absolute piece of art. ART, I tell you!From Victoria's whimsical dreams of freedom and Callie's longing for her place she calls home, the book is a siren song to all who know what it feels like to dream of adventure. The plot line kept me intrigued and interested, though I did find myself wishing there were more of Victoria's parts in between Callie's.
The characters are cleverly thought-out and unique! I definitely relate to Victoria's point of view more though - she just has a delightful way of taking the reader's thoughts and voicing them on the page. Callie felt a tad distant and harder to connect to, but that's part of her personality played out on the page. All in all, wonderful character building and plot!
We Walked the Sky is an amazing novel for the dreamers, the adventurers, and the hopeful! I cannot wait to read more of Lisa Fielder's books and see We Walked the Sky in bookstores everywhere!
We Walked the Sky is an absolute piece of art. ART, I tell you!From Victoria's whimsical dreams of freedom and Callie's longing for her place she calls home, the book is a siren song to all who know what it feels like to dream of adventure. The plot line kept me intrigued and interested, though I did find myself wishing there were more of Victoria's parts in between Callie's.
The characters are cleverly thought-out and unique! I definitely relate to Victoria's point of view more though - she just has a delightful way of taking the reader's thoughts and voicing them on the page. Callie felt a tad distant and harder to connect to, but that's part of her personality played out on the page. All in all, wonderful character building and plot!
We Walked the Sky is an amazing novel for the dreamers, the adventurers, and the hopeful! I cannot wait to read more of Lisa Fielder's books and see We Walked the Sky in bookstores everywhere!
June 29, 2019
Who would have thought that a book about an abused girl running off to join the circus would turn out to be such a great read? This story had a lot to it. The characters (Catherine/Victoria, Callie, Jenna and all the rest ... including the animals) created such a warm and supportive environment that I couldn't keep a smile off my face as I read. I also thought it was an interesting way to present the advice from grandmother to granddaughter through the messages left on scraps of paper. We can all learn a lot from the positive life guidance scattered throughout the book. Although the back cover presents this as a story appropriate for the tween/teen, I found it to be a wonderful feel-good adult read as well.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
January 31, 2020
Words cannot describe the feelings I have after reading this novel. You followed the story of both Victoria and Callie. It had me questioning so much about this story but in the end it all came together. You truly followed every wake, every action, every friendship. You felt what the character felt and in the end you were part of that family. The VanDrexel family.
“The thing about running away to join the circus is that it’s a good idea when you believe you’re running toward something. But it can get awfully complicated when you’re running from something.”
“The thing about running away to join the circus is that it’s a good idea when you believe you’re running toward something. But it can get awfully complicated when you’re running from something.”
August 2, 2019
I'm not sure why this didn't work for me. Is it that I wanted a different book than the one that the author delivered? Is it that I wasn't in the right mood? Hard to say. Might come back to it if it ends up having legs come book award season but for now it's just a book with lovely writing and a story that felt a little too familiar for me to spend more time on.
July 20, 2020
There are no words on how good this book is...i have an 18 month old child and i was reading it while it fed him dinner. It was that good. My favorite book of 2019. This is one of those books that you take with you on a desert island to enjoy. Great book. I hope she writes more like this.
December 27, 2023
As a self-proclaimed connoisseur and lover of novels featuring the circus, I went into this book somewhat critical only to have those unprecedented low expectations thrown back into my face.
This novel and the generational stories that it interwove was...incredible. It was such an inspiring, motivational, powerful, and emotional book. I kept thinking that the story couldn't get any better only for some integral part to be introduced or revealed.
This really was a story on resilience and strength and I found that I read it at the perfect time.
"The show must go on. And so it does, and so it will."
***I received a physical ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
This novel and the generational stories that it interwove was...incredible. It was such an inspiring, motivational, powerful, and emotional book. I kept thinking that the story couldn't get any better only for some integral part to be introduced or revealed.
This really was a story on resilience and strength and I found that I read it at the perfect time.
"The show must go on. And so it does, and so it will."
***I received a physical ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
April 1, 2023
Everything about this book was mid. I like that the story went between the grandma and her grandchild and it showed how Callie was learning the lessons her grandma learned. Other then that it was just eh. The author tried to make it seem like a teen book when really it could of been more tweens. Coming from a teenager the language just seemed unnecessary and unrealistic. There was also the romance scenes that just felt kinda awkward and forced. I skimmed the ending I really just wanted to finish it.
Read
October 1, 2019Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Walk of Life
Drinking Buddy: Mixed Bag
MPAA Rating: Adult Situations, Sexuality, Some Violence, Alcohol and Tobacco Use
Talky Talk: Stunt Writing
Bonus Factors: Non Traditional Lifestyle, Juan Ponce de León
Bromance Status: Grandma's Boy
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Walk of Life
Drinking Buddy: Mixed Bag
MPAA Rating: Adult Situations, Sexuality, Some Violence, Alcohol and Tobacco Use
Talky Talk: Stunt Writing
Bonus Factors: Non Traditional Lifestyle, Juan Ponce de León
Bromance Status: Grandma's Boy
Read the full book report here.
September 18, 2019
I really wanted to love We Walked the Sky— and I did love parts of it. On the whole, I would recommend this book, but it is probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. This novel is a YA multigenerational story following Victoria and Callie, a grandmother and granddaughter, and their lives in relation to the VanDrexel Family Circus. Victoria’s story is historical fiction, while Callie’s is contemporary, taking place in the present.
I absolutely adored Victoria’s story. In the mid-1960’s she runs away from an abusive home-life to join the circus. There she discovers a confidence in herself she never knew, as she masters walking the tight-rope. She comes into her own and falls in love, wrapped up in 1960’s cultural references, and the glitz and glam of the traveling circus.
Callie’s story, I did not love. She and her mother have left the circus (unwillingly on Callie’s part) and settled in sunny Florida where Callie is forced to attend public high school, of all things. She is understandably angry at her mother, but also bratty and obnoxious at times. Her days at the high school are filled with “who will I sit with in the cafeteria” and “the popular girl is out to get me” tropes that felt overdone and irritating. The story does of course, eventually, focus on how Callie becomes a decent human being/friend/daughter. It also has a very satisfying ending.
The book is structured so that every other chapter takes place from a different perspective. The reader gets to see the journey of Victoria learning the circus life at the same time at Callie figures out how to be a regular girl. The similar lessons they learn along the way are impactful and special, and the book felt very fast-paced and interesting. Victoria’s story was perfect, I wouldn’t change a thing. I think generally this novel loses points because I don’t personally love YA contemporary, I find the characters hard to relate to and sometimes a bit cringey. Keep in mind that that’s my bias, and if you like YA contemporary as well as historical fiction, you’re definitely going to love this novel!
I absolutely adored Victoria’s story. In the mid-1960’s she runs away from an abusive home-life to join the circus. There she discovers a confidence in herself she never knew, as she masters walking the tight-rope. She comes into her own and falls in love, wrapped up in 1960’s cultural references, and the glitz and glam of the traveling circus.
Callie’s story, I did not love. She and her mother have left the circus (unwillingly on Callie’s part) and settled in sunny Florida where Callie is forced to attend public high school, of all things. She is understandably angry at her mother, but also bratty and obnoxious at times. Her days at the high school are filled with “who will I sit with in the cafeteria” and “the popular girl is out to get me” tropes that felt overdone and irritating. The story does of course, eventually, focus on how Callie becomes a decent human being/friend/daughter. It also has a very satisfying ending.
The book is structured so that every other chapter takes place from a different perspective. The reader gets to see the journey of Victoria learning the circus life at the same time at Callie figures out how to be a regular girl. The similar lessons they learn along the way are impactful and special, and the book felt very fast-paced and interesting. Victoria’s story was perfect, I wouldn’t change a thing. I think generally this novel loses points because I don’t personally love YA contemporary, I find the characters hard to relate to and sometimes a bit cringey. Keep in mind that that’s my bias, and if you like YA contemporary as well as historical fiction, you’re definitely going to love this novel!
July 8, 2019
4.5 stars
“The music swells, she spins pliés, making it look easy. But it’s not easy, and that , I realize, is what makes the circus the circus – doing what’s difficult and making it look simple. It’s the presence of that one thing I’ve never had but always needed and didn’t even know I was missing.
Magic.
And suddenly, I’m no longer afraid.”
This book is told through two perspectives: Victoria’s (the grandmother) via 1965 and Callie’s (the granddaughter) via present day. I absolutely LOVED Victoria’s chapters – I loved her character and really got a beautiful sense of the atmosphere and the other characters. But it wasn’t until more than halfway through the book that I wasn’t as annoyed with Callie. The Callie chapters definitely read more like a YA and parts of it made me cringe a little. I’m not really a fan of books that date themselves and this one does it a few times…mentioning Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, and Instagram (a lot). Callie came across as a spoiled teen holding a grudge; whereas Victoria I fell in love with immediately…a strong, independent, yet compassionate being. I would have loved an entire book dedicated to Victoria! I’m not a fan of the circus in real life (because of the animals), but this book really emphasized humane treatment and looked at the animals as friends/equals….the bond between James and Baraboo…gah, my heart!
“The music swells, she spins pliés, making it look easy. But it’s not easy, and that , I realize, is what makes the circus the circus – doing what’s difficult and making it look simple. It’s the presence of that one thing I’ve never had but always needed and didn’t even know I was missing.
Magic.
And suddenly, I’m no longer afraid.”
This book is told through two perspectives: Victoria’s (the grandmother) via 1965 and Callie’s (the granddaughter) via present day. I absolutely LOVED Victoria’s chapters – I loved her character and really got a beautiful sense of the atmosphere and the other characters. But it wasn’t until more than halfway through the book that I wasn’t as annoyed with Callie. The Callie chapters definitely read more like a YA and parts of it made me cringe a little. I’m not really a fan of books that date themselves and this one does it a few times…mentioning Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, and Instagram (a lot). Callie came across as a spoiled teen holding a grudge; whereas Victoria I fell in love with immediately…a strong, independent, yet compassionate being. I would have loved an entire book dedicated to Victoria! I’m not a fan of the circus in real life (because of the animals), but this book really emphasized humane treatment and looked at the animals as friends/equals….the bond between James and Baraboo…gah, my heart!
July 3, 2021
content warnings:
This is objectively fine, just really not for me: I found the plot incredibly predictable and thus lacking in tension, and I was annoyed by how frequently it veers into waxing philosophical, with pithy "life lessons" that are pretty much exactly what you'd expect to find on an ~inspirational quotes~ Tumblr (except that some are circus-themed). I found Callie irritatingly self-absorbed and Victoria exasperatingly naive; neither plotline was especially compelling, though Victoria's was slightly more interesting except that Callie's gave away most of it.
-----------
CONVERSION : 5.27 / 15 = 2 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 3 / 10
Emotional Impact: 2 / 10
Development / Flow: 4 / 10
Setting: 5 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 1 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5
This is objectively fine, just really not for me: I found the plot incredibly predictable and thus lacking in tension, and I was annoyed by how frequently it veers into waxing philosophical, with pithy "life lessons" that are pretty much exactly what you'd expect to find on an ~inspirational quotes~ Tumblr (except that some are circus-themed). I found Callie irritatingly self-absorbed and Victoria exasperatingly naive; neither plotline was especially compelling, though Victoria's was slightly more interesting except that Callie's gave away most of it.
-----------
CONVERSION : 5.27 / 15 = 2 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 3 / 10
Emotional Impact: 2 / 10
Development / Flow: 4 / 10
Setting: 5 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 1 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5
August 6, 2019
I received this novel as an advanced reader copy (ARC). I am an author with eight published novels and read about fifty novels a year, most of them ARCs. I almost never give five stars.
So what's so special about this novel? Everything. It's engrossing, emotional, and beautifully written!
The circus setting is original and feels authentic; it drew me in right from the beginning. The two plots, taking place fifty years apart, weave into each other masterfully, revealing and concealing, intriguing and moving. The characters are complex and distinct, with faults and strengths evolving with the narration.
This story moved me to the core. The main characters overcome difficulties that are relatable, dispensing heartfelt advice that is never cheesy. I would recommend this coming-of-age story to independent women of any age.
This page turner is a perfect summer read.
So what's so special about this novel? Everything. It's engrossing, emotional, and beautifully written!
The circus setting is original and feels authentic; it drew me in right from the beginning. The two plots, taking place fifty years apart, weave into each other masterfully, revealing and concealing, intriguing and moving. The characters are complex and distinct, with faults and strengths evolving with the narration.
This story moved me to the core. The main characters overcome difficulties that are relatable, dispensing heartfelt advice that is never cheesy. I would recommend this coming-of-age story to independent women of any age.
This page turner is a perfect summer read.
July 19, 2019
I feel so conflicted about this book. There were things about it that I connected to, and I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The circus is fascinating to read about. But I felt like the story lost it’s way in the second half. There was also some content that I wasn’t comfortable reading. So for those reasons I’m giving it a lower rating.
November 18, 2019
I really liked the writing of this novel. I think it borders on adult for me..not young adult due to the amount of F-bombs and adult subject matter (domestic violence, adultery, manslaughter, unwed pregnancy, premarital sex, alcoholism). It covers these topics in an intriguing and positive way but the fact that is covers them all in a young adult book makes me cautious about which youth to suggest it too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
I am always a sucker for a story about the circus. I loved the style of this book - switching between a girl who ran away to the circus in 1965, and her granddaughter in present day. The light romance was sweet and captivating, but all in all this is a fantastic “mothers and daughters” story.
July 24, 2019
I wanted sooooo much more from this book. It really let me down. But that cover is to die for.
August 28, 2019
If you love the circus, this is definitely a book for you.
October 25, 2019
Fine but unmemorable. Definitely not the "This is Us" that was promised. . .
August 19, 2019
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
Actual Rating: 3.5
MY THOUGHTS
1965: Victoria's mother is dying and she's being abused by her father. When the circus comes to town, she takes her chance and asks for a job, creating a new life for herself. Now: Callie is a tightrope-walker at her family circus, at least, she was until her mom decides to move her and Callie to an animal sanctuary. Both Victoria and Callie think that their situation is only temporary.
Once I read the synopsis to this book, I knew I had to read it. This was a wonderfully written book and I was drawn into the story. The book is in dual POV, switching between Victoria and Callie. I loved that this book has a dual perspective of family, within two different time periods. So many YA books use dual POV for romance and it was a breath of fresh air to see it used differently.
Out of the two narratives, Victoria's was my favorite. She was such a strong character, even though she didn't always feel strong, because she worked hard once she was in the circus and she had the courage to run away from her dangerous home environment. She really grows so much throughout her chapters and it was written extraordinarily well. Her story is also a bit more interesting. Yes, there is the historical backdrop and the circus setting that made it interesting, but there was an actual story progression in her chapters that made me want to keep reading forward. Even though I knew how parts of her story would end, thanks to Callie's chapters, and I knew that it would break my heart, I wanted to see how it got there.
Callie's chapters didn't interest me as much. Partially because I didn't like Callie very much. She lived in the circus her whole life but didn't care enough about anyone (except her grandmother) to make friendships with anyone. It made me a bit sad, honestly, but her character came off as obnoxious because she didn't seem to care about anyone else and just wanted to go back to the circus. Unlike Victoria,who had more of a reason to want to leave her home life and become her own person, Callie's reasoning just didn't feel as strong. I did like seeing her connection with tightrope-walking and all of her grandmother's notes helping her along. Callie's chapters worked the best when they felt like they were intertwined with Victoria's story, but there wasn't much of a plot driving her chapters, and I just wanted to go back to Victoria's chapters.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this is a fantastic book, wonderfully narrated, and I loved the focus on family. Again, I preferred Victoria's story to Callie's and that greatly affected my rating, but I did like seeing hints of Victoria in Callie's chapters. The ending punches you in the gut. It hurts and I am again astounded by Victoria's strength. This is the first book I've read by Lisa Fiedler, but I will keep my eyes open for any more YA from her in the future.
Actual Rating: 3.5
MY THOUGHTS
1965: Victoria's mother is dying and she's being abused by her father. When the circus comes to town, she takes her chance and asks for a job, creating a new life for herself. Now: Callie is a tightrope-walker at her family circus, at least, she was until her mom decides to move her and Callie to an animal sanctuary. Both Victoria and Callie think that their situation is only temporary.
Once I read the synopsis to this book, I knew I had to read it. This was a wonderfully written book and I was drawn into the story. The book is in dual POV, switching between Victoria and Callie. I loved that this book has a dual perspective of family, within two different time periods. So many YA books use dual POV for romance and it was a breath of fresh air to see it used differently.
Out of the two narratives, Victoria's was my favorite. She was such a strong character, even though she didn't always feel strong, because she worked hard once she was in the circus and she had the courage to run away from her dangerous home environment. She really grows so much throughout her chapters and it was written extraordinarily well. Her story is also a bit more interesting. Yes, there is the historical backdrop and the circus setting that made it interesting, but there was an actual story progression in her chapters that made me want to keep reading forward. Even though I knew how parts of her story would end, thanks to Callie's chapters, and I knew that it would break my heart, I wanted to see how it got there.
Callie's chapters didn't interest me as much. Partially because I didn't like Callie very much. She lived in the circus her whole life but didn't care enough about anyone (except her grandmother) to make friendships with anyone. It made me a bit sad, honestly, but her character came off as obnoxious because she didn't seem to care about anyone else and just wanted to go back to the circus. Unlike Victoria,who had more of a reason to want to leave her home life and become her own person, Callie's reasoning just didn't feel as strong. I did like seeing her connection with tightrope-walking and all of her grandmother's notes helping her along. Callie's chapters worked the best when they felt like they were intertwined with Victoria's story, but there wasn't much of a plot driving her chapters, and I just wanted to go back to Victoria's chapters.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this is a fantastic book, wonderfully narrated, and I loved the focus on family. Again, I preferred Victoria's story to Callie's and that greatly affected my rating, but I did like seeing hints of Victoria in Callie's chapters. The ending punches you in the gut. It hurts and I am again astounded by Victoria's strength. This is the first book I've read by Lisa Fiedler, but I will keep my eyes open for any more YA from her in the future.
February 22, 2022
The Circus Comes to Town! In a bygone time, 60 years or so ago, the circus was big - clowns, jugglers, acrobats, trapeze and high wire artists, lions, elephants, ring master! So exciting. And the way of life would have had huge appeal to unhappy youngsters, looking for a way out of their small town, suffocating lives. Who hasn't dreamt of running away to the circus.
Life is actually quite tough for 17 year old Victoria, and the arrival of the circus in her home town in 1965, the opportunities it throws up, the magic, the chance to recreate herself is just too good to let pass. And off she goes. Oh, what a life it is. She discovers a pure talent for the high wire, finding love and a new family, who love and care for her, welcoming her into their unique and very different world.
Running parallel to Victoria's story is that of her fifteen year old grand daughter Callie, a child of the circus, and just like her grandmother a tight rope walker too. Only problem is that times have changed, and her mother has accepted a job in an animal sanctuary where retired circus animals go. All the lives of both Callie and her mother have only ever been in the circus, and some major readjustments need to take place, first with Callie accepting that her days of tightrope walking are over. And being a teenage girl, she has myriad other problems too, such as fitting in at a new school. Feeling isolated and alone, Callie begins going through some of her grandmother's bits and pieces, finding a story of another teenage girl.
This is a good story although I found it quite simplistic, which I think makes it a great read for the teen/young adult market. The circus life is fascinating, how one learns to walk a tightrope- makes it seem easier than it looks! We don't really have circuses now, and the way of life has largely gone. So there is plenty of social history in here too as well as the importance of family bonds, even when those bonds aren't necessarily blood bonds.
Life is actually quite tough for 17 year old Victoria, and the arrival of the circus in her home town in 1965, the opportunities it throws up, the magic, the chance to recreate herself is just too good to let pass. And off she goes. Oh, what a life it is. She discovers a pure talent for the high wire, finding love and a new family, who love and care for her, welcoming her into their unique and very different world.
Running parallel to Victoria's story is that of her fifteen year old grand daughter Callie, a child of the circus, and just like her grandmother a tight rope walker too. Only problem is that times have changed, and her mother has accepted a job in an animal sanctuary where retired circus animals go. All the lives of both Callie and her mother have only ever been in the circus, and some major readjustments need to take place, first with Callie accepting that her days of tightrope walking are over. And being a teenage girl, she has myriad other problems too, such as fitting in at a new school. Feeling isolated and alone, Callie begins going through some of her grandmother's bits and pieces, finding a story of another teenage girl.
This is a good story although I found it quite simplistic, which I think makes it a great read for the teen/young adult market. The circus life is fascinating, how one learns to walk a tightrope- makes it seem easier than it looks! We don't really have circuses now, and the way of life has largely gone. So there is plenty of social history in here too as well as the importance of family bonds, even when those bonds aren't necessarily blood bonds.
March 16, 2020
We Walked the Sky reminded me a bit of Water for Elephants. It is a duel perspective and duel time period book that follows Victoria in 1965 who runs away to join the circus and Calliope in present day who is Victoria's granddaughter. It is a very interesting look into the circus/high wire walking lifestyle and how the show must always go on.
August 17, 2020
This was a multi-generational story that collided to create a beautiful tale of three women from different times. The lessons of the early years were still relevant generations later and provided meaning to everyone touched by them.
Well written! I will look for more by this author!
Well written! I will look for more by this author!
June 25, 2021
When I selected the book, I didn't realize it was YA. The premise was so intriguing and held so much promise, but the writing was definitely intended for a younger audience. It was a light and entertaining read, and would have gotten a higher rating had I been the appropriate demographic.
January 5, 2023
3.5 I enjoyed this YA novel wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a story about a girl running off to join the circus but it was very engaging. Written in two time lines the Nans in 1965 and the granddaughters in the present day.
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