A magical, captivating tale of adventure set in imperial Russia. St Petersburg, Russia 1725. Katinka Dashkova is running for her life because everything she knows is changing. Katinka, a dazzling ballerina with a hunched back, and her friends Alexei the Giant and Nikolai the dwarf are different. That's why they are part of Peter the Great's Circus of Curiosities. But the Tzar is dead and they must flee the Winter Palace. Guided by a special map, they set out across Russia running for their lives. An enthralling and delicious blend of history and fiction.

PICKED BY THE OBSERVER AS ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2020. "Long ago" and "far away" were comprehensively nailed by Robin Scott-Elliot in The Acrobats of Agra (Everything With Words). Circus performers are a reliably unruly device in children's fiction, and here apprentice acrobat Bea, her teacher, his tiger and their new friend Ping performed myriad leaps of faith to outfox a siege as the empire began to slip. OBSERVER-From the author of The Tzar's Curious Runaways, this is another breath-taking adventure .' READING ZONE -All in all, this is up there with a trip to the circus for thrills and breath-taking excitements.' Lovereading4Kids -We love the way Scott-Elliot spirits magical fiction from historical fact. This marvellous wee book is nothing short of triumph!' Sunday Post -A magical tale based on the true story of a lost French circus during the Indian rebellion. A breath-taking adventure. School Zone, Librarian's book choice 5/5 star

A Girl. A War. Who to Trust? Even your friends may betray you. In war everyone becomes a new person and some seem to shed their old skin entirely. Paris 1942, when Amelie Dreyfus hides in her mother's cupboard, it's a game; when she comes out it's a matter of life and death.

A magical, captivating tale of adventure set in imperial Russia. St Petersburg, Russia 1725. Katinka Dashkova is running for her life because everything she knows is changing. Katinka, a dazzling ballerina with a hunched back, and her friends Alexei the Giant and Nikolai the dwarf are different. That's why they are part of Peter the Great's Circus of Curiosities. But the Tzar is dead and they must flee the Winter Palace. Guided by a special map, they set out across Russia running for their lives. An enthralling and delicious blend of history and fiction.

PICKED BY THE OBSERVER AS ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2020. "Long ago" and "far away" were comprehensively nailed by Robin Scott-Elliot in The Acrobats of Agra (Everything With Words). Circus performers are a reliably unruly device in children's fiction, and here apprentice acrobat Bea, her teacher, his tiger and their new friend Ping performed myriad leaps of faith to outfox a siege as the empire began to slip. OBSERVER-From the author of The Tzar's Curious Runaways, this is another breath-taking adventure .' READING ZONE -All in all, this is up there with a trip to the circus for thrills and breath-taking excitements.' Lovereading4Kids -We love the way Scott-Elliot spirits magical fiction from historical fact. This marvellous wee book is nothing short of triumph!' Sunday Post -A magical tale based on the true story of a lost French circus during the Indian rebellion. A breath-taking adventure. School Zone, Librarian's book choice 5/5 star

A Girl. A War. Who to Trust? Even your friends may betray you. In war everyone becomes a new person and some seem to shed their old skin entirely. Paris 1942, when Amelie Dreyfus hides in her mother's cupboard, it's a game; when she comes out it's a matter of life and death.