Circa Now Hardcover – May 27, 2014

While addressing some serious topics - loss of a parent and spouse, depression, amnesia, aging, bullying, friendship challenges, etc, - this book was a delight to read. It wasn't dark nor trite as it portrayed how main characters, a mother and daughter and one perfect stranger, discovered "restoration and healing" as they came together to help each other. It also demonstrated the importance of learning to recognize the value in the NOW moments we are given.With imagination, creativity and painstaking effort, 11 year-old Circa envisioned some exciting "what if's" as she attempted to carry on the photo restoration work begun by her late father. Could it be possible to change the outcome of something depicted in an old photo by what one added to or subtracted from a photograph? If so, just how much change might be possible?While dealing with her own hurt following her Dad's accidental death, CIrca camee to realize just how fragile her mother was and how much they both had depended upon her Dad to hold things together.Turner's characters feel real,while reflecting the qualities of kindness and genuineness suggestive of days gone by. This is a clean, decent book that was a pleasure for me to read as a 65 year-old and it is something tweens and others can enjoy as well. Do yourself a favor. Read CIRCA NOW and then follow it up with Turner's first book SWAY. Both are winners in my book!

I cheated and read through all the "Shopt" stories first because the old photographs intrigued me so. They could almost stand alone but they became so meaningfull when I read this totally unique, beautifully crafted story. Circa and Dad's relationship is so sweet and funny and heartbreaking. Her belief in the Shopt "magic" captures what it's like to lose someone precious in childhood (or any time) and try to find a way to get him back. The unfolding of Mom's depression is spot-on. Miles broke my heart and made me cry like a baby. Circa is the epitome of an eleven-year-old...a little ball of hope and wonder and selfishness and generosity. I loved Ms. Turner's book, "Sway", and sort of hoped this would be more of the same fun ride full of puns and humorous characters. It's far more than that, yet it has the same polished prose...a deep story of loss and friendship with a heaping helping of surprise and how to make your own magic. 5 Giant Stars! Great book for any age.

As I read this book, a cherished memory from my past danced within. It was of my teenage self, meandering thru the Art Institute of Chicago, pausing in front of paintings and sculptures to soak in their ingenuity. I'd switch back and forth between the beautiful stories told by each piece, to the brilliance of the individual, minute brush strokes. I would return to the Art Institute numerous times, enamored by the indescribable talent of the creators.As I walked along side the story of Circa and Miles, I continually paused, in no hurry to finish the tale, but instead to savor the ingenuity of the plot twists, and the beauty of exquisitely crafted sentences. This was a delightful tale of family, of courage, and of thens and nows.

Toni-Ann KorenI applaud Amber McRee Turner for writing this book! Circa Now is the ultimate story of "paying it forward. " Circa recent past is not filled with many happy thoughts and her present is a bit of a struggle too. But, she is not alone. Their are others who feel lost...very lost! Together these characters discover a person's "purpose here on earth" A purpose that requires a journey through the eyes of a 12 year old name Circa and her "Shopt" magical beliefs. This book is a journey that will touch your heart; old and young alike!

Circa's dad includes her as he Photoshops photos sent in for the Memory Wall at the local residents hall. He especially loves to insert unusual items for their special Shopt folder and makes up funny stories to go along with them. After a tragic accident, Circa must convince her mom to continue her dad's project and pick up the pieces to make her family whole again.

This book is definitely one of my favorites now! It left you on a cliffhanger and I just wanted to read more and more!

I heard such great things about this book that I was a little surprised that I didn't love it from the get-go. Instead, it slowly grew on me.Circa is a likeable character. I loved her relationship with her dad, and maybe my reluctance to love the book from the beginning may have been because I was so sad for her.Miles is a great character, and I loved the friendship between him and Circa, especially the healing they brought each other.This is a beautiful tale of love, loss, and friendship. I'm eager to put it in my school library and see what the kids think.I was given this book in exchange for my review, but my thoughts are my own.

There were so many things going on in this story: dealing with grief, keeping secrets, caring for the elderly, depression, lost souls, and hints of magic. And they were all woven together so beautifully into one big ball of emotion, which is exactly what one would expect after a tornado has come through and devastated a community.Circa's good-natured quirkiness turned what could've been a heartbreaking story into a heartwarming one. I really hated to close this book because I wasn't ready to say good-bye to Circa, her friends, and her family.