The Disappearing Circus

By Kate Gordon and Helen Edwards

Reviewed by Jenny Ruge

Kate Gordon is the award-winning author of numerous books, including the Aster series, the Secret Detectives Club series, and My Brother Finch. Helen Edwards has published three previous novels including Legend of the Lighthouse Moon and On Gallant Wings. The Disappearing Circus is their first novel written together. It is a timeless allegorical fantasy that almost defies categorisation and has all the hallmarks of a classic.

It tells the interwoven stories of Emme and Ivy, both marked by sadness and loss, running away separately not so much to escape grief as to find hope. As Emme tells herself: ‘If she stayed, she’d go grey… Fading into whatever people become when they can’t face their grief’ (p.3). In the wilderness, the two girls each stumble upon the strange and confusing Disappearing Circus filled with fantastical creatures, real, imagined and extinct. As they struggle to find their ‘special talents’, they are drawn into the frightening world of The Ringmistress, Seraphina, who hides her own devastating secret.

This is a complex story in which Emme and Ivy have alternating chapters. Are the voices of the two girls distinct enough? Perhaps it doesn’t really matter – ultimately both are seeking the same thing. For most of the story, apart from the first few chapters, their stories intertwine as they try to make sense of their roles in saving the circus from disappearing forever. The result is that, unlike many novels with dual authors, the writing is so seamless it’s impossible to tell which author wrote what. Ultimately, it’s a story of friendship, hope and self-belief.

The Disappearing Circus is filled with heartfelt moments, rich descriptions and compelling imagery. The vast array of creatures could be confusing for younger readers, but no more so than for Emme and Ivy themselves. The supremely talented Tamlyn Teow has once again created a cover illustration that perfectly captures the wonder of the story, with its mythical creatures and blood-red tent.

I wanted to love this novel and yet, for me, at times it doesn’t quite work. Perhaps the explanations are too convoluted, the meanings too obscure. But the story is undeniably imaginative and utterly unforgettable, and it’s comforting to know that unique stories such as this can still find a home in today’s publishing world. Recommended for capable readers aged 9+.

Riveted Press, 2025

Kate Gordon

Helen Edwards