From the bestselling adult author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series as well as the middle-grade series School Ship Tobermory comes an exciting tale of bravery set in and around the circus, with fun, energetic illustrations throughout.

Freddie Mole loves his family They are tight-knit, but they struggle day to day to make ends meet. Times are tough, and Freddie is determined to help.

Then Freddie finds out about a job opening at a local circus--and he can't believe his luck when he is hired. At the circus, Freddie sweeps and cleans and is praised for his work. One thing leads to another, and he's asked to be understudy for some of the acts. The trapeze stunts are daunting enough--can Freddie face the lion's cage?

"A solid work ethic and good manners prove tickets to happiness in this genial tale of a boy who joins the circus." --Booklist

"Freddie is a highly lovable character who demonstrates compassion, courage, and grit. His story is wonderfully complemented by Hindley’s cartoonish illustrations that grace nearly every page. Fast-paced and engaging . . . sure to delight. --School Library Journal 

"Cozy Britishisms and the curly black-and-white line art reinforce the story's 'once upon a time' feel. Possessing an earnest ridiculousness similar to that of a Dahl story, Freddie's adventure should appeal to a similar audience." --Kirkus Reviews