The Quirks in Circus Quirkus

Gr 2–4—In this follow-up to Welcome to Normal (Bloomsbury, 2013), Penelope, Molly, and Finn are still struggling not just to fit in but also to hide their family's secret quirks. Finn, for example, can only be seen by others when he is chewing bubble gum. Nervous Penelope lets her overactive imagination come to life, literally, at times, and their Mom has superpowers of persuasion. Grandpa Quirk can rewind time, and Gran flits in and out as a tiny fairy. Only Molly seems to have no special quirk of her own, although she is immune to her families' unique traits. When the circus comes to town and challenges the local students to a participation contest, everyone is thrilled except Molly and Penelope. They are afraid that their cranky next door neighbor, Mrs. DeVille, is spying on them while they practice circus stunts in the backyard. Has she discovered their secret quirks? Molly is determined to figure out a way to prevent the woman from learning the truth about her family, because she doesn't want to move again. The Quirks have lived in 27 different towns in just under 10 years, thanks to people discovering their unique "talents." Molly and Penelope's desire to fit in rings true, especially in their fourth-grade class. The story develops easily and quickly as readers get to know the characters. Black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout lend comical flair. Fans of Mary Pope Osborne's "Magic Tree House" series (Random) who are ready for longer texts might appreciate the quirkiness of the Quirks.—Lisa Kropp, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY