My Father Is a Clown

This book is about a twelve-year-old girl named Maggie and her father, a circus clown. Not long after she suffers the embarrassment of her father's job, she realizes her father really is a hero and doesn't' have to fight in the war (World War II). Not only does this book teach you an important lesson, but it also makes you enjoy reading it!! The story is well written, nicely weaving historical data and factual information about circus life with a pre-teen's story about figuring out life in the "big tent." The glossary of circus terms at the end was most helpful. This is an easy read, and one that you can comfortably let your middle reader enjoy, without the usual parental fears about what our kids are reading. There are lots of layers for learning: get a sense of life in the 1940s; learn more about circus life; read about the actual Ringling Brothers circus fire of 1944; and finally, give pre-teens a character they can relate to.

Joseph E. Scalia - author "FREAKs" and "Pearl"Set against the backdrop of World War II and the Ringling Brother's Circus fire of 1944, "My Father Is A Clown" is the story told by Margaret (Mags), the 13-year-old daughter of a circus clown. From the opening lines her conflict is clear: All the real heroes are in uniform, or in war movies like John Wayne, but he father is just a 4F clown. At school Mags is driven by this notion to create the "Big Lie" and a new father, at the helm of a Navy ship in the South Pacific. Her essay about his bravery under attack by a Japanese submarine leaves her class spell-bound and Mags with a sense of guilt and the fear of her lie being discovered. In the course of her summer on tour with the circus and her best friend Cassie, who cares for the elephants, Mags learns the truth about real heroism.Ms. Kolb tells her story of circus life in a clear and straightforward style that is easy to read. Her inclusion of a Glossary of circus terms makes the reading even clearer. Her characters are fictitious but her story is based on historical fact and she is able to draw her readers into the plot from the first page. Buy it. Read it.

This review is by Tricia Gross of Roundtable reviews:My Father is a Clown is a poignant, inspirational tale about learning to be proud of yourself, and your loved ones, no matter what anyone else might think. Not only is Ms. Kolb's writing entertaining, it is also pleasantly educational. She laces the story with war-era terms and circus lingo in a relative manner, and includes a helpful glossary. As the saying goes, "children of all ages" will enjoy this touching book.

A thought provoking book is Diane Kolb's, My Father is a Clown for readers aged nine to eleven. This is a wonderful story and I recommend it to any parent who wants their child to understand that all fathers are heroes in their own way.

Diane Kolb has written a coming of age story set in the world of a travelling circus at the end of World War II. Well researched and written in an economical style, this book should appeal to all young adult readers who like inspiring stories about heroism and triumph over adversity. Her descriptions of life in a circus from the viewpoint of a child are also unique and since this story is based on fact, it may inspire more study of this forgotten part of American life.