Who would've imagined that intertwining stories of early 1900s New York workforce struggles and a family owned freak show would turn out to be so magical and engrossing? Alice Hoffman, that's who. The Museum of Extraordinary Things tells the tale of Ezekiel (Eddie), a Ukranian immigrant and photographer searching for justice and Coralie, a sheltered daughter starring in her father's Coney Island attraction, The Museum of Extraordinary Things. Both struggle to understand life outside of their limited existence and both strive for something more, something better. 
 Each chapter begins with a flashback in the voice of the character which better acquaints us with their histories, followed by a continuation of the story in real time. While no magic technically occurs in the story it deftly weaves its way through the narrative. The pacing and structure were perfection until the last 70 pages or so, when it raced to tie up loose ends with tiny tidy bows. 
 A very good read!