Earthly Astonishments

by Marthe Jocelyn

In the late nineteenth century, in a dot of a town called Westley, lives the smallest girl in the world. Josephine stands only twenty-two inches high and her parents charge gawkers a penny a piece to see her – until they realize that the headmistress of MacLaren Academy for Girls will pay even more.At the Academy Josephine is treated like a slave and is tormented by the fine young ladies who attend, until she takes five gold dollars and runs away. She finds a new life with R. J. Walters’ Museum of Earthly Astonishments. Among the other human curiosities in the Coney Island freak show, Josephine finds the family she has never known…and dangers greater than any she’d ever dreamed.This riveting novel of adventure and injustice, new in paperback, has received many honors, including selection as a finalist for the Canadian Library book of the Year for Children Award, and as a shortlisted title for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award and the Red Cedar Book Award.From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Canada

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Canadian born
22 books published for young readers"

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earthly Astonishments tells the story of Josephine, a little person, who always lived a hard life because of her size. However, her bravery and ability to be bigger in mind than what she appears in size, makes for an interesting story about life for someone different at the end of the 19th century.

We all hear the stories now about Coney Island in the late 1880s through the early 20th century, all the thrills there including shows which showed "freaky" people - a bearded woman, albino boy, little people, snake man etc. It's sad to hear now how extorted these people were for money and how the rest of the world treated them as second class citizens, only there for labor or amusements. It's hard to imagine this happening now, but it was a serious offense when it did, which is why telling this story is important.

I think older children who have a love for historical fiction will enjoy this story because Josephine is likable. They'll also appreciate the mystical world that Mr. Walters creates with his Earthly Astonishments museum. There's enough action and emotion that brings the book full circle to its finale too.

It's well written children's fiction which is well worth the time!

[Miss Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

gr 4-8 176 pgs

1884 New York City. 12 year old Josephine is only 22 inches tall. When she refuses to cooperate with her parents who charge people admission to come and stare at her, they sell her to Miss MacLaren. Miss MacLaren forces Josephine to work as a slave at her Academy for Girls and never pays her as she promised to do. Josephine finally runs away and ends up working for R. J. Walters' Museum of Earthly Astonishment at Coney Island. Josephine finds that at the museum her size is a positive instead of a negative and she meets other people who, like her, are considered odd by the rest of the world.

I really enojyed this story. It almost reminded me of a cross between the X-men (everyone had a unique ability) and A Little Princess (the MacLaren Academy for Girls and its students seemed very similar to Miss Minchin's). I would recommend this story to readers who like rags to riches stories or stories with interesting characters.

[Elinore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I know that this book was not intended for me (I found out later that the preferred age was 8-12), I had gotten it as a gift for Christmas last year had really wanted to read it. The idea of Coney Island in the late 1800s is really interesting to me, so I'm definitely going to try to find more similar to this - both fiction and non. This speed reading was really cute because it was so much a finding yourself story. I think that the character of Josephine is a character that both boys and girls can relate to because everyone has felt different in some capacity and tried their damnedest to fit in - whether they should even attempt to or not. I would definitely pass this book on to one of younger cousins, though they might be a bit too young too fully understand the story.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book when I was younger. For a children's boook it is delightful. This is the second book I've read by Marthe Jocelyn. As it did with the first book I must say Mrs Jocelyn really has a talent of writing descriptive characters and places. I read this book out of curiosity, mainly. It is definatly a book I would reccomend for anyone between 10 and 14. While not geared for my age group I could see giving this book to my younger friends and accquaintances. Or to anyone that has ever had trouble fitting in.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many children's stories are written from the point of view of a dwarf. This one takes place in the 19th century, and the dwarf girl is trying to make a living as an exhibit in a dime museum.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not that "astonishing"

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was also very good & written some time back its interesting

[Jessica Brixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a lot more from this book. It was ok but I would never read it again. I thought it was boring.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at sideshows in the late 1800's with some fascinating characters. For a slightly younger audience than Wonder Show, though the two novels are similar.

[Kbreach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a school librarian. I weeded this book from our high school library this fall; it had literally never been checked out the entire 20 years it sat on the shelves. But I was intrigued, so I read it. Glad I did! I will re-enter it into our library system, but at the elementary school library, and booktalk it, promoting it to the 4th and 5th graders.