Camp Big Top

A tween attending circus camp learns about challenging himself and the power of teamwork in this bighearted novel by Diaz (Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla). After Mario Gallegos’s parents catch the 12-year-old covertly using their credit cards to buy limited edition sneakers, they send Mario from their Ohio home to spend the summer in New Mexico with his abuela. She momentarily lifts Mario’s spirits upon revealing that she has a surprise for him—maybe Abuela enrolled him in basketball camp! When the surprise turns out to be attending a local circus camp, he only agrees to go after she offers to buy him the coveted sneakers. Though initially reluctant to participate, he soon warms to the activities (unicycling, trapeze, acrobatics) and his fellow campers, including the camp owner’s daughter Luna, who is grappling with body image and parental criticism; Betina, a gifted clown weighed down by anxiety and the pressure to please; and Ricky, an aspiring stilt walker whose yearning to speed through safety training impedes his progress. As the children hone their performance skills, they begin to trust one another. But their newfound community is imperiled when the camp’s landlord hikes the rent and demands back payment. Grounded emotional interactions between mostly Latinx characters meaningfully render tweens reconciling issues with self-perception against a unique, high-flying backdrop. Spanish and Portuguese dialogue is organically woven throughout; a glossary concludes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kristin Ostby, Salky Literary. (May)