** spoiler alert ** 
 4.5 
 Wow. What a book! I was longing to read the next page through the entire book. I laughed, I almost cried, I hated some characters and loved others. The descriptions were wonderful and there was this special mystery that comesmwith circuses. 
 The double storyline with old and young Jacob was lovely and made me love him even more than if I only had the circus' story. 
 The book was full of subjects that aren't usually discusssed in books, such as alzeimer, skyzopheria, conjugal violence, old people in home care institutes, etc. Mrs Gruen brought all of thoses subjects in a lovely manner 
 I believe it's a must read.