The Mumbo Jumbo Circus (Mumbo Jumbo Circus, #1)

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The Mumbo Jumbo Circus (Mumbo Jumbo Circus #1)

by Jane George (Goodreads Author)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 98 ratings · 29 reviews

If you enjoy stories by Diana Wynne Jones & J.K. Rowling, you're in the right neighborhood. Look over there. Magic. Mystery. Mayhem. The MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS...

When the enigmatic Ringmaster asks 15-year-old Evanja (Evan) Leane to run away and join the circus, she says yes. Anywhere’s got to be better than foster home Number Eight. Evan learns that this ragtag circus, a h...more

Paperback, 336 pages

Published April 15th 2011 by Red Willow Publishing (first published March 28th 2011)

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YA Debuts 2011

132nd out of 336 books — 1,217 voters

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

Circus/Carnival Books

33rd out of 163 books — 423 voters

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May 19, 2013 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites

Evan is foster care child, bouncing around from home to home pretty much ever since she was born. There have been good placements and bad ones, but this latest one (number eight) is pretty much the worst. So when she is called a freak and then says the magic words, Evan is approached by Compere, the Ringmaster of the Mumbo Jumbo Circus, about becoming part of the traveling show. That is when the adventure starts, because the circus possesses magic that Compere's Uncle, owner of a rival circus, w...more Evan is foster care child, bouncing around from home to home pretty much ever since she was born. There have been good placements and bad ones, but this latest one (number eight) is pretty much the worst. So when she is called a freak and then says the magic words, Evan is approached by Compere, the Ringmaster of the Mumbo Jumbo Circus, about becoming part of the traveling show. That is when the adventure starts, because the circus possesses magic that Compere's Uncle, owner of a rival circus, will stop at nothing to possess. Not to mention the Ju-Ju gives donvrai, true gifts, the power to express themselves. Evan's gift is that she can speak to horses by reading their minds - problem is she's terrified of them. But with a traitor among the ranks and a devastating loss of something key to the show, it might be up to Evan to save Mumbo Jumbo with her amazing act. Along with help from the Pickled Punk (the Panhandle Prophet), the elephant boy, the Circus' teenage cook and some illusionist shifting polar bears Evan might be able to do something important and find something even more special along the way - a family to call her own, ragtag as they may be. I have almost no experience with books set in circuses, magical or otherwise. The closest I can come to that is The Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando. I got a lot more than I expected.
Jane George has a gift with words and from the very beginning when Evan is being knocked around by her hillbilly foster parents, she painted a picture that was so real I could see it in my mind. Once she meets up with the Mumbo Jumbo folk and gets caught up in their problems and joys, there really is no turning back. There is a budding love triangle between Evan, Wally (the cook) and Johnny (the elephant boy) but it is very tame and it becomes quickly apparent who she actually has feelings for. The everyday struggles of a dying circus, the camraderie between the performers and the magic of the show itself definitely cam across in technicolor for me as a reader. Evan's wonder is easily shared and I became very invested in the fate of the circus and everyone involved in it. The addition of the talking elephant Solly, and the jarred but sassy, prophetic Pickled Punk (another term for a human fetus preserved in formaldehyde and used for a sideshow attraction), the polar bear shifting Nanurark family and a host of other colorful characters only added to the richness of the story. The plotline involving the evil uncle, Shock Jacques, could have been less stereotypical but it never fell too far into predictable villain tropes to be truly annoying. The revelation of what the Ju-Ju actually was fit perfectly into the setting of the story and was hilarious. Overall, a wonderful coming of age tale set in a magic circus that I would love to visit. Definitely one of a kind! :)

VERDICT: 5/5 Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available online in ebook format, or maybe even at your local library.*(less)

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Feb 19, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's been an awfully long time since I've been charmed by a book. Enthralled, sure. Disappointed, of course. And there hasn't been much in between. Sometimes it's just as lovely to read a book for fun--adventures, magic, and kissing galore--as it is to read it because you can't even imagine breathing without finishing. I doubt The Mumbo Jumbo Circus will compel many to burn the midnight oil, but it has a whole lot of heart. And sometimes, that's all a book needs.

The biggest delight, to me, was G...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Karen Toz rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Mumbo Jumbo Circus by Jane George, is the story of Evanja Leane (Evan), a teen trying to get through one day at a time in a failing foster care system. When her foster mom calls her a "freak," little does she know she has spoken the final word in an incantation, which leads Evan into the magical world of The Mumbo Jumbo Circus. Although hesitant at first and in complete denial that she will have to work with the one animal she fears the most, Evan soon begins to feel that The Mumbo Jumbo Cir...more

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May 02, 2012 Nicole Introvert rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, free-kindle

I was hoping for a little more out of a book about a magic circus. It was entertaining but I felt the book was a bit repetitive. For example, the phrase "true gift" and "donvrai" were repeated endlessly. We understand, people are looking for their "true gift". Some of the characters were interesting (like Nan and her family) but we are only given a little time with them. Some names are repeated but I had forgotten who they were, like Chuck.

I felt some of the references were forced or didn't mak...more

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May 31, 2011 Lauren Suero rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fact: I’ve never been to a circus in my entire life. Fairs and Carnivals are certainly not the same and apparently don’t bring the same amount of magical elements that come with attending the Circus. But as usual, I love living through books and THE MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS was definitely a story that I got completely lost in it’s magical world.

All Evanja Leane wanted in life was to be loved and feel like she belonged somewhere after being separated from her mom when she was just a baby. Abusive Foste...more Fact: I’ve never been to a circus in my entire life. Fairs and Carnivals are certainly not the same and apparently don’t bring the same amount of magical elements that come with attending the Circus. But as usual, I love living through books and THE MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS was definitely a story that I got completely lost in it’s magical world.

All Evanja Leane wanted in life was to be loved and feel like she belonged somewhere after being separated from her mom when she was just a baby. Abusive Foster House #8 becomes a thing of the past when a series of magical words are spoken on behalf of Evan (and her foster parents) and a mysterious Ringmaster shows up with a proposition that Evan can’t find the heart to refuse. Join the Circus life, discover who you are AND get away from horrible Foster family? WHY NOT?!? Enter Wally (the goth teenage cook), Johnny (the elephant boy) and we have ourselves a tame Love Triangle! But not everything in the Circus is fun and games, especially when the business is dying off and someone out there knows Evan’s gift and plans to do whatever it takes to acquire Evan and her gift. Will her fears continue to prevent her from furthering her gift or can she accept whatever life throws at her to save not only the Circus, but her newly acquired friends and family?

WELLLLLL... you’ll just have to read the book, now won’t you? :)

Obviously plot in a story really helps determine whether one will like a book or not. Ok, well there are many other elements to a story but the characterization in MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS really captured my full attention and had me singing this book’s praises since the very beginning. I’m all about relateable characters, and I felt at one point of the book (or many other times!!) I could identify with each character in the emotions, experiences, etc. of what they were going through. Evanja was a strong lead female character who thrived to discover who she really is, while often thinking of others before herself.

And OH THE LOVE TRIANGLE.

Ok, so it really wasn’t a HUGE, EPIC love triangle but it doesn’t hurt to have two strapping young men yearning after one girl’s heart. In this case we have Wally, the goth boy cook with a knack for bringing the angst and Johnny, Solly the elephant’s assistant with a wicked awesome grin sure to melt any heart. Alas, Wally comes out strong from the very beginning and the relationship between Evan and Wally becomes more evident throughout the novel...although not the sole plot of the story!

Jane George’s THE MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS is a charismatic and fascinating tale that left me wanting more with every page turn. The additions of the illustrations throughout the novel was a delightful element and great visual to place within the story. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who needs to take a “magical vacation” within a book. (less)

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Aug 02, 2011 ABookVacation rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

I was pleased to find that this is a really great debut novel by Jane George, complete with love, betrayal, action, and a very interesting, original storyline! George has created a world in which the reader quickly becomes immersed, a world in which the tastes and smells of the circus become palpable as Evan is whisked away on an adventure after running away from foster home number eight. I highly enjoyed this novel and found myself glued to the pages from the very beginning. The magic...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Marik Berghs rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am really surprised this book hasn't been batted from tongue to tongue like the rare treat it is. The well drawn, sympathetic characters pull you in and keep you hooked. the story is original, fresh and full of mystery. This is something to share, for adults and teens. I love the metaphor, love the magic—morphing polar bears, mojo and the challenge of discovering the unique talent in each of us. The writing is clean and eloquent, really looking forward to number two.

I thought this was a middle...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Janet rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Mumbo Circus, by Jane George: *** Okay. I wasn't blown away by the characters or the circus setting, though. I would start to connect to a character then something (an accident, innuendo, a fight, etc) happens and I was pulled out if it. Basically, the book is long enough to either like or hate a character, like Evan, the main one, but a lot happens (plots, bad luck incidents, etc) in those pages to keep you distracted enough not to come to a conclusion. I wasn't totally charmed or carried a...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Lisa at Adventures of 2.0 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reviewed

I’ve spent a while trying to express my wholehearted love for this book in a way that does not utilize capital letters, an overabundance of exclamation marks and the word awesome. I have clearly failed because I still want to shout: Dudes! This book is AWESOME!!!! *ahem* Right… having gotten that out of my system I can now attempt to tell you why you should stop reading this review and just go grab the book…

First of all, it’s set in a circus. Having been to a grand total of… 0 circuses in my lif...more I’ve spent a while trying to express my wholehearted love for this book in a way that does not utilize capital letters, an overabundance of exclamation marks and the word awesome. I have clearly failed because I still want to shout: Dudes! This book is AWESOME!!!! *ahem* Right… having gotten that out of my system I can now attempt to tell you why you should stop reading this review and just go grab the book…

First of all, it’s set in a circus. Having been to a grand total of… 0 circuses in my life, I love a good circus story to fill this gaping whole in my life experience. The Mumbo Jumbo Circus is just like a circus should be (according to my completely uniformed imagination), complete with clowns and fire and horses. It is even better though, because it has magic! Ta da, two of my favorite things, circus stories and magic.

I loved how Jane managed to balance the everyday circus appearance, the one that people like to go and eat popcorn and watch, with the wonderfully complex magical backdrop that holds the circus together. The magic controls the plot, which is written so perfectly that, even with some admittedly odd events, I never questioned anything. Each scene made sense, and every character fitted perfectly into the circus. I would apologize for my vagueness but really, having no clue what you are getting into is the best part.

So having described my love for the setting, the magic and the plot (which really is fantastic) I must give some acknowledgement to my absolute favorite part: the characters. Without this hodgepodge crew of people, who really come to life in the story, even the fabulous story would have fallen flat. We have a little bit of a love triangle, which I normally hate, but here it adds a bit of oomph. I loved Wally, the gothiest cook in history and I particularly loved Solly, the elephant. And of course, I loved the ringmaster who was exactly quirky enough to be perfect…. ok, I loved everyone.

I did warn you… So in summary: Go and read this book…. Now. I’ll wait.

This review was originally posted at http://baffledbooks.com (less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Caitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

If I were thirteen, I would have given this a much higher rating. It was a cute book with a pretty original premise. For the most part, I enjoyed it, though some parts could have been more detailed--Evan's time at Cirque Patron--and others should have been trimmed back--the additional time in Vegas. There was the occasional editing error, which may have just been poor transfer to ereading edition. Overall, it could have used some work, but I enjoyed it enough. I'll probably read the next book in...more

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May 30, 2011 Beth Barany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I really enjoyed this book. Jane George creates a compelling and sympathetic character in Evan. I was sad for her when she was sad and cheered for her when she managed to stand up for herself. The conflicts felt real and scary, and I really loved how magic was woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story. George's writing is vivid and compelling. Is there a book 2 in the works?! A bonus to the Nook version I read on my iPhone: George's color whimsical art that complements the story so well. I l...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who can appreciate circus magic

Shelves: circus, fantasy, young-adult

I picked up a Kindle copy of this book for free on Amazon.com. It was well worth my time. While a good deal of the story's elements have been well-paved by other young adult novels, such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Twilight, the writing is enchanting and infectious, and it had me turning pages from the beginning through the end.

The protagonist is the teenage Evan, and her story is a bildungsroman. Evan has a bad home situation, and runs away to join a magical circus, where she h...more

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Jun 19, 2011 JL (An Avid Reader's Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mg-ya-books-read-in-2011, ebook, reviewed, tbs

THE TWEET
THE MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS: an imaginative story of a magical circus, a teen girl w/a special ability & her journey to find a place to belong.

WHAT WORKED
I requested to be part of this tour because the book synopsis said it was about a teen girl who joins a magical circus to get away from an abusive life. Really, what could be better than a circus and a magical one at that? Nothing apparently! THE MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS was an adventurous novel that gave readers an inside look at circus life...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Carma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very fun summer read. I've never really been a "horse" girl, and wouldn't have thought I'd love a story about the circus, but this is a fun read with characters that stay with you. Fantasy with street cred...? Is maybe my best description. I just met the author who is very cool. You can find it on Amazon, probably not in bookstores (yet?)...

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Jun 18, 2011 Cecilia Gray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Scrappy heroine? Check.
Fascinating world-building and circus setting? Check.
A paranormal take I haven't read before? Check.

Delightful illustrations? TOTAL BONUS!!!

A magically fantastical and richly developed story that was a treat (especially for someone who grew up always wanting a pony...)

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Apr 11, 2012 LindaW rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-ebook

Rounded up to 4 stars. Fun YA fantasy story about a teen who has been bounced around in the foster care system and is rescued by a magic circus. She learns a lot about her abilities, conquers her fears, and finally finds a place where she is wanted and loved for herself.

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Apr 15, 2012 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: z2012, america, fiction, kindle

I really enjoyed this. It had a great heroine, who is real, conflicted and interesting, and the story contains some very unique and quirky ideas. Lots of fun.

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Oct 25, 2012 Merry rated it 2 of 5 stars

Moderately interesting story, terrible writing. Didn't keep me from reading it, obviously.

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May 19, 2011 S.M. Reine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book. Very imaginative, great characters, well-written. Highly recommended.

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Aug 09, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

nice quick read for middlle schoolers and up. would read as series

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Jan 21, 2012 Victoria rated it 2 of 5 stars

Didn't realize it was a 14yr old + book. Reads like a tween book.

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Sep 07, 2012 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Great young adult read. I recommended it to my son.

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Sep 14, 2011 Lynda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, magical-chrildren, books-i-own

I won this book on Goodreads Firstreads. This would be an interesting read for anyone that loves the circus, with some magic thrown in.

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Jun 10, 2011 KelCee Wayland rated it 5 of 5 stars

adorabley magical. Could not put it down

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Jul 21, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative, young-adult

Review coming soon!

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Apr 27, 2012 Lukas B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable book, easy to read and fun!!! Thank you!!!

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Jul 06, 2011 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

There is an interesting concept at work here, though I felt that sometimes the execution was too rushed and frenetic. However, the characters are not your usual YA fare, and I really wanted to believe in the magic of this circus.

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Feb 16, 2012 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a refreshing read! The characters are well rounded and believable. The story is quick and exciting. All a round a GREAT READ for young adults and adults a like!

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Dec 26, 2012 Read for your future! rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-fhs

Read emma's review here:
http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com...

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May 14, 2013 Marlene marked it as to-read

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