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No Stars at the Circus
A cross between The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and The Diary of Anne Frank.
No Stars at the Circus is the beautifully told story of 10-year-old Jonas Albers, as written in his notebooks. Jonas lives in hiding in the Professor's house during the six months following the round-up of Jews in Paris on 16 July 1942. Jonas spends his days reading about his favourite subjects – among which are sharks, salmon and albatrosses. He also writes about his present life in the attic, as well as the past, in which the circumstances of his rescue are revealed. He writes about his friends at the circus and the family he greatly misses. Unaware of the atrocities happening around him and throughout Europe, Jonas hears that his parents have gone off "to work" and is worried about his little sister, Nadia, who is deaf – so worried that one day he steps outside in the hope of finding out where she is.
No Stars at the Circus is the beautifully told story of 10-year-old Jonas Albers, as written in his notebooks. Jonas lives in hiding in the Professor's house during the six months following the round-up of Jews in Paris on 16 July 1942. Jonas spends his days reading about his favourite subjects – among which are sharks, salmon and albatrosses. He also writes about his present life in the attic, as well as the past, in which the circumstances of his rescue are revealed. He writes about his friends at the circus and the family he greatly misses. Unaware of the atrocities happening around him and throughout Europe, Jonas hears that his parents have gone off "to work" and is worried about his little sister, Nadia, who is deaf – so worried that one day he steps outside in the hope of finding out where she is.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2014
8 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Mary Finn
9 books6 followersMary Finn worked for years as a magazine journalist with Radio Telefís Eireann, the Irish broadcasting service. She says ANILA'S JOURNEY, her first novel, was inspired by the story behind the eighteenth-century PORTRAIT OF AN INDIAN LADY painted by Thomas Hickey. Mary Finn lives in Dublin.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 2, 2020
Jonas is a French boy living through WW2 with his parents and younger sister Nadia who is deaf. The family are Jews although they are not religious. This story is a collection of Jonas’ diaries about his life from working at the circus to living there when his family are taken away. Jonas then moves in with his mother’s old piano teacher where he spends a long time. It is while he is here that he finds out he will get a new identification and that his sister is safe too. This would be a good book to read to KS2 children when learning about the war and how it affected families and children. This could encourage discussions about inclusion and diversity. The book could either be used to base a unit of work around or read simply for enjoyment and learning.
March 17, 2015
Review to come after bookclub.
April 11, 2018
A young boy struggles with survival when the Nazis invade his world in Paris and slowly strip away his life. Jonas Alber struggles with what his life has become and how he has to grow up when he loses his parents. He tries to adapt by taking on more responsibilities and in the opening of the book he is writing out his will. This simple action immediately throws the reader into the complete horror of what this boy is going through.
At this point he is hiding with his mother's old piano professor and is writing about his daily life in notebooks. He has already been hidden once by the Corrado family, Italian gypsies who run a circus but they decided to move him after he gets noticed. The professor is hiding him at the top of his house and Jonas cannot move from the room. All he can do is read, write and stare out over a changing Paris. His notebooks are part distraction and part biography. The reader learns through these books and memories how he came to be with the professor and what happened to his family.
The narrative jumps between the present and past or 'old days', as he calls them. The stories he relates are also interspersed with his dreams and fears - the biggest fear being what happened to his family partcularly his sister Nadia. His childish view of what the Germans are doing to his city and country is poignant and affecting. There is at first an innocence portrayed, for example his joy at seeing the Corrado flea circus but this quickly fades into anger - "the Germans changed the rules".
As Jonas reveals more of how he got to this point the pressure increases. His fear for his sister drives him to take some risks, even as the danger moves next door. As his notebook ends he plans to find out what happened to Nadia, no matter the cost. As a reader you are drawn into this fear, experiencing his emotional journey as he would of. The conclusion lays out both confusion of the time and the journey that Jonas takes. It does not come to an easy conclusion and the poignant advice note at the end, illustrates the loss that occured to the Jewish community in Paris and Europe. The end result being one of a forever broken family.
This is an emotionally written piece that manages to show to the reader the complete and utter destruction of a community in the time of war. Taken from the child's perspective the world devastation is brought into the smaller space of a family. As a result the impact is more heartfelt and terrifying. It has obvious literary peers with Anne Frank's diary but while it may lack the reality and depth of that piece, its obvious emotional resonance is more affecting. Jonas is a wonderfully complex character, struggling to adapt to the damage done to his family. His bravery and hope imbue the story and as a result the ending is like a gut punch, while reflecting the obvious reality for many at the time. I would recommend this story for those of about eight onwards or for those who have an interest in history. A touching, wonderful book with a strong heart that will stay with you for some time.
At this point he is hiding with his mother's old piano professor and is writing about his daily life in notebooks. He has already been hidden once by the Corrado family, Italian gypsies who run a circus but they decided to move him after he gets noticed. The professor is hiding him at the top of his house and Jonas cannot move from the room. All he can do is read, write and stare out over a changing Paris. His notebooks are part distraction and part biography. The reader learns through these books and memories how he came to be with the professor and what happened to his family.
The narrative jumps between the present and past or 'old days', as he calls them. The stories he relates are also interspersed with his dreams and fears - the biggest fear being what happened to his family partcularly his sister Nadia. His childish view of what the Germans are doing to his city and country is poignant and affecting. There is at first an innocence portrayed, for example his joy at seeing the Corrado flea circus but this quickly fades into anger - "the Germans changed the rules".
As Jonas reveals more of how he got to this point the pressure increases. His fear for his sister drives him to take some risks, even as the danger moves next door. As his notebook ends he plans to find out what happened to Nadia, no matter the cost. As a reader you are drawn into this fear, experiencing his emotional journey as he would of. The conclusion lays out both confusion of the time and the journey that Jonas takes. It does not come to an easy conclusion and the poignant advice note at the end, illustrates the loss that occured to the Jewish community in Paris and Europe. The end result being one of a forever broken family.
This is an emotionally written piece that manages to show to the reader the complete and utter destruction of a community in the time of war. Taken from the child's perspective the world devastation is brought into the smaller space of a family. As a result the impact is more heartfelt and terrifying. It has obvious literary peers with Anne Frank's diary but while it may lack the reality and depth of that piece, its obvious emotional resonance is more affecting. Jonas is a wonderfully complex character, struggling to adapt to the damage done to his family. His bravery and hope imbue the story and as a result the ending is like a gut punch, while reflecting the obvious reality for many at the time. I would recommend this story for those of about eight onwards or for those who have an interest in history. A touching, wonderful book with a strong heart that will stay with you for some time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
I picked this one up again mostly for the cover because it's stunning; under 300 pages this is a real easy read and one I managed to fly through in two sittings.
I definitely enjoyed this book for sure, perhaps the first half more than the second; i'm not sure what it was for me but I was definitely missing the emotional connection to this book. Whilst I enjoyed it it's probably not one i'd pick up and read again. I think it's the ending for me that just doesn't quite compute for me; it feels almost a non-ending?
Jonas is only 9 years old throughout the book and so it does have a naive feeling, and you do end up wanting to shake him a couple of times but he's only 9 and doesn't fully understand what's going on and you can really feel that sense of innocence with him.
I would say this is definitely one to pick up and have a read of for sure.
I definitely enjoyed this book for sure, perhaps the first half more than the second; i'm not sure what it was for me but I was definitely missing the emotional connection to this book. Whilst I enjoyed it it's probably not one i'd pick up and read again. I think it's the ending for me that just doesn't quite compute for me; it feels almost a non-ending?
Jonas is only 9 years old throughout the book and so it does have a naive feeling, and you do end up wanting to shake him a couple of times but he's only 9 and doesn't fully understand what's going on and you can really feel that sense of innocence with him.
I would say this is definitely one to pick up and have a read of for sure.
July 26, 2023
Despite its rather bleak historical context, this was an incredibly engaging and accessible read. The consistent shifts between the past and present allow you to envision Jonas' life with great clarity, and consider the struggles of the war from a child's perspective.
The kids of today are too preoccupied with the latest tik tok trends to share a passing thought on a book with over 30 pages, but this has the potential to drag them out of their social media vortex and back into the power of reading.
The kids of today are too preoccupied with the latest tik tok trends to share a passing thought on a book with over 30 pages, but this has the potential to drag them out of their social media vortex and back into the power of reading.
May 11, 2021
Amazing storytelling and very heartfelt.
January 2, 2020
It was a great story of the cruelties during the second world war of hope and courage, love and kindness.
February 1, 2016
A really interesting novel about a young Jewish boy who was hidden by neighbours and friends to avoid being caught by the Germans during the occupation of Paris, France during the World War 2. It is interestingly related as diary entries in the first person which make it seem like the young boy is talking to you about his experiences and encounters. I loved his depth of feeling andinsights about his family and his caring nature.
It is also a great comment on the solidarity of those who helped the Jews during this time.
For Grade 8's & 9's who are studying World War 2 in their History curriculum it is a great book giving
a first hand account of what it was like for young people, during the German Occupation of Paris France.
The afterword is very sobering when one discovers the extent of those lost during the period of the holocaust.
February 14, 2015
This is a brilliant story of Jonas a 12 year old Jewish boy who lives in hiding from the Nazis in the bedroom of a house owner by a Professor, a former music teacher of the boy's mum, in Paris, France during WW2 .
Aimed at young children, the story is told at their level, in the words of 9 year old Jonas who writes every day in a notebook the story of what happened to his family and to the city of Paris when the Nazis invaded.
Because in the words of young children- 'this is not a scary or a sad book'
it is especially suitable for boys aged 10 years and over who liked 'Auslander', 'The Boy in the Striped Pjyamas','I am David', 'Goodnight Mr Tom', 'The Silver Sword' and 'ONCE'.
Aimed at young children, the story is told at their level, in the words of 9 year old Jonas who writes every day in a notebook the story of what happened to his family and to the city of Paris when the Nazis invaded.
Because in the words of young children- 'this is not a scary or a sad book'
it is especially suitable for boys aged 10 years and over who liked 'Auslander', 'The Boy in the Striped Pjyamas','I am David', 'Goodnight Mr Tom', 'The Silver Sword' and 'ONCE'.
May 21, 2014
Beautiful story of a Jewish French family in Paris that are separated during the Occupation in World War 2. Jonas is telling his family's story via a diary from just before the occupation of Paris to the day he becomes "free".
Not too sad like Boy in the Striped Pyjamas but the underlying notes that you already know but aren't told because he's a child. For example, you know what happens to his parents but he's determined that he will see them again after they're separated.
Not too sad like Boy in the Striped Pyjamas but the underlying notes that you already know but aren't told because he's a child. For example, you know what happens to his parents but he's determined that he will see them again after they're separated.
November 18, 2014
This came in and it was ww2 so naturally I was going to read it. It was a really quaint telling of one boy's experience in the war. Written as a 9yr old Jewish boy it really gets under your skin with his naivety and innocence. The only thing that let this book down was the ending. It ended before the war ended, and it just sort of ended. It just didn't close off well. Besides that though I really enjoyed it. Very much.
June 16, 2015
Set in Paris where the Nazis increased their discrimination against Jews and eventually rounded them up and killed them. Told in the voice of the main character, a young boy called Jonas. The fear, the unknown - where were family members, what happened to them? And how good people who weren't Jewish, looked after Jewish children - hid them or mixed them with their families. Just horrific. Simply told but Jonas has more sense than the young boy in "The boy in striped pyjamas'.
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October 25, 2015loved it
March 6, 2016
I liked this book an it was nice to see the war from a deferent perspective than I'm used to.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews