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The Blue Moon Circus
Michael Raleigh Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Blue Moon Circus
"The Blue Moon Circus by Michael Raleigh is a nostalgic look at life in a small American circus during the Great Depression. The story revolves around Lewis Tully and his rag-tag band of performers. The acrobats, wrestlers, animal trainers, riders, and magicians are a little long in the tooth and worn around the edges but able to amaze and entertain the simple small town folk whose towns they raise their tent in.

Lewis had rolled up his tent for the last time until a judge orders him to go back on the road or face jail time for a gambling violation. Lewis rounds up the old gang, some new faces, an old flame, and his nine year old nephew, Charley. He must also try to avoid rival Hector Blainey and his larger circus show. The journey west has some unexpected twists and turns. In the end the show must go on and so must Tully.

The Blue Moon Circus could be a child's story of hopes and dreams filled with the magical allure of running away to join the circus, if not for the more adult themes that run throughout. The story is well-crafted and fast-paced full of villains, bad luck, romance, hard work, sweat, and grime. "

David Fletcher, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Blue Moon Circus
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - upbeat
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Life of a profession: - comedian/performer
Poverty, surviving Yes
Kind of living: - general poverty story
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - small businessman
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 (a significant amount)
United States Yes
The US: - West
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to The Blue Moon Circus
The Assistant by Bernard Malamud
A Walk on the Wild Side by Nelson Algren
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Children of the Mountain by Eva McCall
Now and on Earth by Jim Thompson


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Michael Raleigh Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David Fletcher  

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