Wendy Darling is not the perfect girl her parents would like her to be. Intrepid, outspoken, and willful, she's always getting into trouble. One evening, confined to the nursery by her horrible nanny, she sneaks out to spy on one of her parents' glamorous parties.

Their world is lavish, rich with excess -- and off limits to Wendy. On this evening Wendy uncovers a secret she had not bargained for. It catapults both her and her brothers, Michael and John, into a series of confusing events as she tries to make sense of the mystery and intrigue that lie at the heart of her family.

But while Ellen keeps Lucy and Joe's secret, she soon realizes that she has a secret of her own. Ellen has drawn the interest of a fine London gentleman and is starting to feel as if she'll soon be free of boxing kangaroos, sick lions, and her father's yelling. However, when tragedy after tragedy strikes the Spangles, it falls to Ellen alone to keep their business alive. How will she ever learn to accept life with a circus?

A fascinating look at London East End circus life in the nineteenth century, The Unrivalled Spangles is a story about the thrills and dangers of the center ring from one of the United Kingdom's top authors.

The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4.