Harley in the Sky
Sale price
$1208
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2020

Harley in the Sky

By Akemi Dawn Bowman

A teen defies her family to chase her circus dreams, facing harsh truths and sacrifices.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,687 ratings
432 pages
$12.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Harley Milano dreams of soaring as a trapeze artist, but her parents demand she stays grounded in school. After a heated argument, she leaves home to join a rival circus, Maison du Mystère. In this new world, Harley discovers the beauty and brutality of circus life, learning hard lessons about passion and teamwork. As she navigates this path, she must confront her family's truths and the sacrifices made in pursuit of her dreams. Will Harley find where she truly belongs, or will the cost of her ambition be too great?

From the publisher

“Earnest, poetic.” –Booklist “Raw, engaging.” –Kirkus Reviews The Greatest Showman meets This Is Us by way of Sarah Dessen in this heart-wrenching, hopeful contemporary novel about a multiracial teen who risks it all to follow her dreams by joining the circus, from the award-winning author of Starfish. Harley Milano has dreamed of becoming a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her heart and soul that she would be up there herself one day. After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family, and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion, and collaboration. At the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past–and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams. From award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, unforgettable examination of love, loyalty, and the hard choices we must make to find where we truly belong.

At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
432
Reading age
12–18
Audience
Young Adult
Lexile
780L
Themes & topics
Books about the circusBooks about tightrope walkers (aerialists)Books about family historyBooks about following your dreamsBooks about culture
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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
~5
F&P level
~S
Publication
Published
April 6, 2021
First published
March 10, 2020
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9781534437135

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