Harvey and the Extraordinary

Fifth grade Mimi is obsessed with thoughts of her father and is convinced he has left home to become the greatest high-dive performer in Mr. Morelli’s Big Top Circus. And she knows he is missing her too. But when he returns, she will be ready! She has prepared a mime act so extraordinary that he is bound to make her his fellow performer at the circus. Mimi no longer attends school after an unfortunate incident there. Instead, she enthusiastically rehearses her act assisted by her best ex-friend Patricia and Harvey, her hamster named after her dad. When her father fails to show at her performance, she faces the reality of his absence and is forced to pick up the threads of her life, finally understanding that ‘extraordinary can look a lot like ordinary’.

Mimi is a well-portrayed three dimensional character initially seen as a quirky, imaginative, confident child with a desire to show that she, like her father, is extraordinary. Gradually, the reader realizes that, below the surface, Mimi’s fervor hides desperate anxiety about her absent father. Loyal friend Patricia and Grandma are credible and stoic supporting characters while mother and brother, who are also missing Mimi’s dad, are loving background figures.

The story, based on the author’s 2018 play, is complemented by appealing whimsical black and white drawings. The language, often poetic, is easily absorbed. However, the plot, with its flashbacks and subtle allusions, is hard to follow initially until the poignant and emotional climax of the story makes it all clear. Nevertheless, it pays to persevere with this story of loss, friendship, and self-acceptance. Mimi will stay in your head well after Harvey and the Extraordinary is finished.