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Book Summary:
On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn’t allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She’s never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it’s for Lilly’s own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time–and sold to the circus sideshow.
More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents’ estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl.
At first, The Barlow Brothers’ Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus’s biggest attraction. . .until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly’s fate and her family’s shocking betrayal, and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last.
Moving between Julia and Lilly’s stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that, while tender and heartbreaking, offers moments of joy and indomitable hope.
Your Library staff has been working hard updating the charming children’s room! We have some wonderful new books just waiting to be read. Ruth is also finalizing her Summer Reading Program, so stay tuned for updates! We would love for you to drop by and pay us a visit. Our website is www.rcplva.org. ... See MoreSee Less
Important message from your Richmond County Public Library.Don’t be scammed! RCPL events and programs are FREE and open to the public.Sometimes, we need to limit participation due to limited supplies or space. When that happens, we announce it in the original post, usually with directions for how you can participate.We NEVER accept reservations (or payments) through Direct Messaging/DM.If you’re unsure about a RCPL event or program, please phone the library at 804-333-6710. --EH ... See MoreSee Less
Ready for check-out! Ready to Read...the library is showcasing 2 books from our collection. Everyone on This Train is a Suspect, by Benjamin Stevenson: This likeable first-person narrative draws the reader in – onto a train travelling with a flock of crime writers who start sleuthing after the shocking murder of someone onboard. The investigation should be quick business; after all, seasoned thriller writers know how to solve deadly crimes. But they also know how to quietly kill.--CJW Stan Lee: A Life by Bob Batchelor: Stan Lee’s life may have been as much of a “Marvel” as the superheroes he created. This unauthorized biography marked Lee’s hundredth birthday and is considered the ultimate look into the mind of a genius whose flawed and fearless superheroes continue to thrill. --CJWIf interested in reading either title, give us a call at (804) 333-6710.Happy Reading!! ... See MoreSee Less
