Mirette on the High Wire

About this book

One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at a boardinghouse of the widow Gateau- a sad-faced stranger, who keeps to himself. When the widow's daughter, Mirette, discovers him crossing the courtyard on air, she begs him to teach her how he does it. But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini- master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again. Emily Arnold McCully's sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.

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Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1990s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Caldecott Medal

  • recommended·Kindergarten gradesource: Caldecott Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1993 Caldecott Medal winner
  • recommended·1st gradesource: Caldecott Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1993 Caldecott Medal winner
  • recommended·2nd gradesource: Caldecott Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1993 Caldecott Medal winner
  • recommended·3rd gradesource: Caldecott Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1993 Caldecott Medal winner

Common questions

What grade level is Mirette on the High Wire?

Mirette on the High Wire is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Mirette on the High Wire?

It takes about 20 minutes to read Mirette on the High Wire (19 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 20 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Mirette on the High Wire?

Mirette on the High Wire appears on reading lists for Caldecott Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Mirette on the High Wire banned in schools?

Mirette on the High Wire does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.