Customer Reviews

Mirette on the High Wire

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How many children's books do you know where the girl (rather than a boy or an animal) saves the day by doing something heroic? Relatively few come to my mind. As the parent of two daughters, I was delighted to find this wonderful tale of 19th century entertainment fills that bill.

Ms. McCully had originally set out to write a biography of the famous tightrope walker Blondin, when she decided to write this book instead. The Mirette character is based on her own recollections of being a brave girl.

This book contains unusually high quality illustrations, even for a Caldecott Medal Winner (as the best illustrated children's book of 1993). The style shares a great deal with Toulouse-Lautrec but is more appealing because there is more subtlety and use of soft pastel shades. You will definitely feel like you've stepped through the looking glass into a world of entertainment in 1890's Paris.

The story opens to find Mirette helping her mother keep a boardinghouse for entertainers (traveling players for the theaters and music halls) called Gateau's. "Acrobats, jugglers, actors, and mimes from as far away as Moscow and New York" stayed and ate there. What a wonderful place for a child!

Mirette, unfortunately, had the not so exciting tasks of "washing linens, chopping leeks, paring potatoes, and mopping floors." She was "a good listener, too."

One day, Bellini (a retired high-wire walker) came to stay. "I am here for a rest." Soon, he had set up his wire in the back and was practicing. He refused to teach Mirette when she asked to learn. "Once you start, your feet are never happy again on the ground." She replied, "My feet are already unhappy on the ground." While he was away sometimes she would practice. After weeks of falls and problems, she could go across the whole wire. She showed him.

He responded. "Most give up. But you kept trying. Perhaps you have talent as well."

His key advice: "Never let your eyes stray." "Think only of the wire, and of crossing to the end."

When she says she'll never fall again, he warns her not to boast.

Later an agent from Astley's Hippodrome in London comes to Gateau's and recognizes Bellini. The agent recounts some of his many feats including crossing Niagara Falls on a 1000 foot wire in 10 minutes, and cooking an omelet on a stove of live coals on the way back. He had also toasted the crowd with champagne. Bellini had crossed the Alps on another occasion. Further, he had fired a cannon from the wire over the bullring in Barcelona, and crossed a flaming wire blind-folded in Naples. Ah! Oh exciting!

There's only one problem: He has lost his "nerves of an iceberg."

Encouraged by the agent, Bellini plans a comeback. He walks out on the wire and freezes. What next?

Mirette saves the day by reaching her hands out to him, and meeting him on the wire.

The book's final page shows a poster of Mirette and Bellini saying that they are wire walkers who do "stupendous feats." A little girl looks up at the poster.

As you can see, this is quite a good story, and works in Mirette's heroism in a natural way. The character development is quite good, and the historical context is interesting. Children often wonder what people did for entertainment before television.

As a parent, you may want to make a little addition to the story that, of course, Mirette's mother joined them in traveling around to do the act. Otherwise, this story could be incorrectly construed as encouraging young girls to go traveling around with grown men.

The great lesson in this book is focus. Where would that lesson help your child? Where would it help you?

Use your focus to live your most positive dreams!

As the mother of a 6-year-old girl, IĆ*m always on the lookout for picture books with strong, intelligent and interesting female characters. This is one of the best. Mirette wants to learn to walk a tightrope. She falls over and over again, but never gives up trying, and finally becomes an expert. She is a great model of determination for young girls. But sheĆ*s more than that. The story is also about a once great tightrope walker, the man who first inspired Mirette, who has developed a fear of the wire. Mirette uses her own developing talent to help her teacher overcome his fear. The final illustration of the two of them reaching out to each other across the wire brings tears to my eyes every time. MiretteĆ*s determination, ambition, and compassion are inspiring. My daughter and I both adore this book.

I remember some of the grumbling that went on when "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers" won the 2004 Caldecott Award. "But there's already been a Caldecott award winning tightrope walker book", some said. " `Mirette On the High Wire' has already covered that territory!" The fact of the matter is, however, that the two books are entirely different stories. Where the more recent "The Man Who Walked" is a tale that is dedicated to the memory of the twin towers themselves, "Mirette on the High Wire" concentrates more on the nature of fear and what it takes to overcome it. A beautiful book, "Mirette" tells the tale of a girl, a man, and their newfound dependence on one another.

The book takes place in Paris, "one hundred years ago" in a small boardinghouse. The widow Gateau runs the place with her daughter Mirette and the two take in a fairly creative crew of jugglers, actors, mimes, and acrobats. One day a gentleman arrives and is given the back room where there is no view. Mirette is delighted to find that the man is a tightrope walker, and she immediately insists on learning the trade. Initially the man refuses, so Mirette begins by teaching herself. After many many mishaps she finally is able to walk the length of a clothing line. Having noted her determination, the man, named Bellini, agrees to take her on as a pupil. Soon the girl learns that Bellini was once the greatest tightrope artist in the world. He does not walk the ropes anymore because he is afraid, and this fear begins to eclipse Mirette's own abilities as well. Finally, the man decides to overcome his fear once and for all. In a spectacular staged event he strings a rope to walk, but it is only through Mirette's own intervention that he can truly take command of his abilities again.

The book pretty much appeals to any kid that's ever wished for fame and glory, no matter what fashion. In the end, it becomes clear that the two will travel together from then on, lending their partnership a kind of father/daughter feeling that is pleasant to see. The tale was initially going to be a biography of actual tightrope walker Blondin, but author/illustrator Emily Arnold McCully decided to give the book a child protagonist instead. Mirette is that rare precocious heroine that never gets on your nerves. Though spunky and determined she doesn't whine or play to the worst of the reader's emotions. She is, instead, a delightful character to follow. The story of "Mirette" is fine in and of itself, but I was really taken with the illustrations. McCully has a sense of color that makes this book particularly enjoyable to flip through. From Mirette's bright red hair and royal blue dress to the colorful characters that eat in the Gateau's boarding house, the tale is awash in life and verve. Personally, I was delighted to find Bellini a bit of a hunk as well. Say what you will of the wonderful Philippe Petit in "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers", he's no hunk. Bellini on the other hand is, not to put too fine a point on it, a hottie. And I, personally, have no problems with picture books containing handsome men. No problems at all.

Mirette's high button white shoes have become a bit of a cultural symbol for those who love picture books. Though a work of fiction, her story rings true and is a delightful read. If you're searching for books in which female characters show spunk but aren't cloying or annoying, seek out "Mirette on the High Wire" ASAP. It displays the closest humans could come to flight before the advent of the airplane. A truly wonderful tale.

Confidence in yourself is everything when your occupation is a dangerous one. Generally, once you lose it, getting it back is impossible. In this book, a retired tightrope walker named Bellini has lost his courage and is staying at a boarding house. Mirette is a young girl who works at the boarding house and she watches him walk on a rope that is only a few feet off the ground. She begs him to teach her how to walk the tightrope, but Bellini refuses. Not to be denied, she learns on her own and so he agrees to teach her. They become friends and she learns of his incredible feats. When she asks him why he retired, he tells her of his lost courage. Bellini is eventually persuaded to walk again but his courage fails after he begins. Mirette then comes to his aid, showing him that he can still perform as the Great Bellini.
The theme of this book is an important one for children. Even talented people can lose their confidence and everyone suffers from an occasional lack of confidence. Children, with their zest for life and irrepressible optimism can often be the catalyst for recovery and Mirette proves to be a courageous girl who also exhibits an intense desire to succeed. It is easy to see why this book received awards for excellence.

Mirette is a young girl who works in her mother's hotel. This hotel is frequented by entertainers and performers. One day an interesting man checks in. Mirette discovers him walking on the clothesline one day and becomes fascinated with wire walking. She gives it a try and promptly falls off. She keeps trying and trying during every free moment and gradually gets better.

When she learns the new guest is the greatest wire walker of all time, Mirette pleads for him to teach her. He is reluctant at first but, having seen her dedication to practice, relents and begins to teach her and eventually Mirette learns his dark secret. I won't give away the ending so you will have to read it to find out.

The story is entertaining and the illustrations are delightful. But what I really like about this book is that it does a better job than so many others at showing how long practice can take and how willing someone has to be to undertake it. Too many books seem to have the character become a great ball player, ballerina, magician, whatever in almost no time at all. We use this book when one of our kids gets disgruntled over not learning a new instrument on the third try or some such thing. All in all a fun book with a good lesson to be leaned (and it won't take months to learn it).

"Mirette On The High Wire" by Emily Arnold McCully set in Paris, France tells the story of a young aspiring girl, Mirette, who learns to walk the high wire after meeting a falllen entertainer, by the name of Belini. Mirette soon finds out that Belini however, has been keeping a secret from her, he has become afraid of the wire and has sworn to never walk upon it again. With Mirette's help though, Belini finally conquers his fears and puts on a dazzling show in the night on the streets of Paris, France. The illustrations are enchanting and marvelous showing why this book won The Caldecott Award in 1993.

I really enjoyed this book because of the great illustrations, and the wonderful story line written Emily Arnold McCully. I would encourage every mother of a young girl to go out and purchase the book for her.

I have used this book for three years as an introduction to algebra for my sixth grade math class. The students get very involved with Mirette and her desire to "do the impossible." They identfy with "balance" and the necessity of keeping equations balanced. They also identify with Mirette when they overcome their highwire. Super book with unlimited teaching possibilities.

One class which most influenced my two years in certifying to become a librarian was Children's Literature. As a non-Mom with no children and therefore no need for experience with children's books, I was absolutely MESMERIZED by "Mirette on the High Wire." Oh sure, I enjoyed The Wind in the Willows and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, but it was Mirette that sent me spinning. Why?

First, if you have never read "Mirette," then I urge you to find a copy--in your local library or bookstore--and read it. The book is a Caldecott Gold Medal Book with good reason--or reasons.

One: The main character is a girl, just a servant in her mother's boarding house, until Bellini comes to stay. Bellini, the Great Bellini, is a tightrope walker, famous throughout the world. Only now he lives with failed courage and has come anonymously to try to regain the requisite fearlessness he once owned to walk a rope over Niagra. All it takes for Mirette is one glance at Bellini "walking in the air" to ignite a passion to do that, too! A mere servant girl!

"Excuse me, Monsieur Bellini, I want to learn to do that!"
"Once you start..., your feet are never happy again on the ground."
"Oh please teach me! My feet are already unhappy on the ground."

Don't you love her pluck and persistence? Yes, of course, Bellini teaches her, an apt and quite capable student, almost as if she was born to tightrope!

Two: Separately from the fact of a girl as main character with determination, but also as a girl with an almost heroic accomplishment: She learns and becomes his partner and world famous. Such fame happens, but in a children's book? Obviously not every little girl who reads this book will want to become successful in such a field, but a seed of encouragement is surely planted. I love that!

Three: Separate from influence on another little girl's enlistment in possibilities is the impact on little boy readers. Imagine, they must think, a girl can tightrope. Seeds are planted here, too--the seeds of seeing equals, even role models, in fantastic endeavors. I love that so much more!

Four: It's not really the story that wins the Caldecott, but the artwork, although, of course, the story is paramount. However, the artwork for "Mirette" is simply extraordinary. Super extraordinary! The story is set in 19th century Paris at the time of the new art movements, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.

If you remember, the Impressionists set the stage, so to speak, for modern art. They played with reality and the old rules of art by capturing the moment, an ordinary moment, instead of portraits of the rich and famous or magnificently memorable landscapes or an important point in history. Ordinary people doing ordinary things and blurring that moment, almost making literal a memory of that moment. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but most people behold the beauty of the art of the Impressionists.

Claude Monet was, more or less, the captain of the crew, because his painting, derisively entitled "Sunset: A Moment" by a lackluster critic, was the first exhibited. Auguste Renoir is noted for the delicate beauty of his female subjects and landscapes and "moments" ("The Boating Party"). Monet's scenes, with their deliberate blurring (whether by intention or poor eyesight or both), and Renoir's exquisite paintings are major influences in "Mirette." You can readily discern that influence on almost every page.

The Post-Impressionists took the breaking of rules several steps further. They pushed color to an extreme, e.g., splashing greens onto faces in official portraits (Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin) or painting heretofore forbidden subjects, such as prostitutes, scenes in bars and salons, and barefoot, solidly built Tahitian women (Toulouse Lautrec and Gauguin). In fact, a couple of scenes in the dining room at night in the boarding house are reminiscent of the settings and colorings of both Van Gogh and Lautrec.

I wanted to mention the Post-Impressionist influence first because most of the artwork is Impressionistic in technique, however, McCully's depiction of Mirette is delicate, exquisite, and, in a most unusual manner, detailed. Impressionistic AND detailed? How? Early in the book Mirette is sitting on the stairs at night, listening to the stories of the circus players, actors, and other assorted characters in unusual livelihoods. The picture of Mirette, angled from behind, from a five o'clock perspective, took my breath away! Many illustrations of Mirette show her lighted almost from within. But on that staircase her eyelashes are what caught my eye! Eyelashes--so insignificant in most character paintings. However, that one detail shows how talented an artist McCully is.

Five: Mirette does go on to become Bellini's partner and becomes world-famous with him. However, the last page, the last scene, the last powerful--and poignant--image, is another breath-taker for its totally unexpected surprise. No, I'm telling, because you may not agree with my interpretation.

There is this large poster advertising that Mirette and Bellini are coming to town. Standing before it is a little girl about the age of Mirette when she first began walking the rope in the area behind their boarding house. Does this last illustration suggest that this little girl will be inspired to become a rope walker? Inspired, yes, a rope walker, no. Mirette's success, bizarre though it is, surely must be an in-your-face encouragement to "be all you can be," no matter what that is.

I don't know what that little girl is thinking, but some seeds are being planted. Of that I am sure.

(Until I wrote this review, I didn't know there are two more books in the Mirette series: Starring mirette & bellini (Picture Puffins) and "Mirette and Bellini Cross Niagra Falls" (Amazon won't bring up this title for the blue print, but the book is available through Amazon).

I love this book! A smashing story of a girl's discoveries of her own talents & strength, complete with lovely illustrations & set in one of the most fascinating countries in the world: France. Mirette helps run a boarding house & discovers their new guest has an unusual talent: tightrope walking! She begs him to teach her & each they begin odysseys without & within. Can Mirette truly have nerves of steel, or is she meant to stay on the ground? One of the best picture books & meant to be in every child's library.