A middle-grade novel for fans of boarding school stories -- with a dash of The Mysterious Benedict Society and a splash of Circus Mirandus!
Sebastian Konstantinov has grown up in a travelling circus, surrounded by talented performers. Seb, however, has no circus skills at all. He can't even turn a somersault. But he does know this: the old-fashioned circus his father founded is out of date and running low on money. If someone doesn't figure out how to save it, the Konstantinovs will be in real trouble. Seb thinks he may have the answer, and it involves attending the highly selective Bonaventure Circus School in Montreal, Canada. Seb secretly writes to the school's Directrice (conveniently leaving out the part about his lack of circus skills), and to his surprise, he gets accepted right away. Now all he has to do is keep his lack of talent a secret. But it turns out that Seb is not the only one with secrets. The school is literally crumbling beneath the students' feet, and the Directrice is counting on Seb's "talent" to save it.
One of CCBC’S Best Books for Kids & Teens (2017)
PRAISE FOR The Bonaventure Adventures:
"The Bonaventure Adventures is likely to be the most fun readers will have in 2017." --CM Magazine
"Heartwarming and hilarious. . . . With vibrant circus imagery and a story that is sure to capture the imagination of readers, The Bonaventure Adventures would make an excellent choice for a classroom read-aloud." --Canadian Children’s Book News
