{"product_id":"the-ringmasters-apprentice-jonathan-roberts-9781066989805","title":"The Ringmaster's Apprentice","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eFancy scrubbing a bridge with your toothbrush? Perhaps you'd like to count the maggots in the bin? What about spending the rest of your childhood catching enormous spiders with your bare hands?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEngland, 1949. \u003c\/strong\u003eNobody wants to live at the East Berkshire and District Home for Parentless Boys, least of all twelve-year-old Arthur. The war took his parents. It hasn't taken his hope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen a travelling circus rolls into the village: a charismatic ringmaster, majestic lions, gallons of elephant snot, and a chance of a new family.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis luck might be changing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut two men are recovering from war in very different ways, and their private battles are about to become Arthur's problem. After all, the circus can be a dangerous place when old wounds refuse to heal. And old wounds can turn men into tyrants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArthur could be forgiven for following the same path.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead, when the orphanage's money starts disappearing, and the circus is put up for sale, only he can fight for it. Part apprentice, part spy and part detective, he must learn the skills necessary to save the circus, and his friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Ringmaster's Apprentice is a warm, funny and moving adventure for readers aged 9+, and anyone who loves a good old-fashioned story.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlongside found family and the need for honesty and hard work, it explores questions rarely asked of children this directly: what do good role models look like, and what happens to men when the war is over?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jonathan Roberts\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 106698980X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781066989805\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Burgh and Beacon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/16\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 204\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.46lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.47d","brand":"Jonathan Roberts","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":50666288611583,"sku":"9781066989805","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6f0060c9-53e9-498a-ab7b-4d7d17b68623.jpg?v=1792016708","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-ringmasters-apprentice-jonathan-roberts-9781066989805","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}