WRITER'S DIGEST JUDGE'S COMMENTARY

The book was a pleasant cross between Sarah Gruen’s “Water for Elephants” and Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus.” The story revolves around Sarah, a preppy young woman from Boston who decides to have experiences outside her comfort zone by joining a circus. There, she falls in love with West, an animal handler who as Sarah will discover, leads a secret life.

The narrative and pacing are enjoyable and the characters are well developed. The author convincingly takes us into the inner workings of the circus life, including not only the portrayal of its people, who have often fallen off the grid from society, but also the cruelty that circus animals suffer at the hands of the trainers.

“Circus Girl” is a warm, page-turning read.

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