Shoestring the boy who walks on air by Julie Hunt illustrated by Dale Newman

An extraordinary graphic fable about a boy who inherits a dangerous musical gift, from a multi-award-winning author. Allen and Unwin

A gripping illustrated adventure about a travelling circus troupe, a future-telling macaw and a cursed pair of gloves that Shoestring must conquer once and for all. A companion to the award-winning KidGlovz. Allen and Unwin

Shoestring has joined the Troupe of Marvels. He has an amazing act using an invisible tightrope. He seems to walk on air and his performance always thrills the crowds BUT the gloves are back. These gloves are dangerous. They control and manipulate the wearer. Why are these gloves so powerful? Who is the evil Madame Adamantine? Why is she so set on revenge? And most importantly can these dreadful gloves ever be destroyed?

Here is the publisher blurb:

"Shoestring loved the sudden intake of breath when he stepped onto the rope. The upturned faces of the audience made him think of coins scattered at his feet, more coins than he had ever taken when he was a pickpocket.'

Twelve-year-old Shoestring is leaving behind his life of crime and starting a new career with the Troupe of Marvels. Their lead performer, he has an invisible tightrope and an act to die for. But trouble is brewing - the magical gloves that caused so much turmoil for KidGlovz are back.

When he's wearing the gloves, the world is at Shoestring's fingertips. It's so easy to help himself to whatever he likes - even other people's hopes and dreams. But when he steals his best friend's mind, he's at risk of losing all he values most."

I think the most inventive part of this story for me came when Julie Hunt revealed the source of the thread used to make the gloves.  The friends journey to a remote place called Spindle Reach. It is located beyond the town of Loom.  (I love those names). The troupe meet three ladies Peg, Fray and Twill. They tell the group they need to talk to Braid. Things have gone terribly wrong in their world and all of the threads are breaking. There can be no new cloth. Madame Adamantine has caused all this:

"I knew I could make that thread. When I plucked a silver hair from the old woman's head and plied with the coloured rays. But as soon as the job was finished I wished I hadn't done it. I don't know why the woman wanted the thread but it can't have been for any good purpose, because since then no thread will hold. Even the spider's webs break."

Here is the book trailer.  You can see some of the amazing art in this book by Dale Newman. If you loved Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick you will really appreciate the wonderful black and white pencil art in Shoestring the boy who walks on air. 

Parts of this story reminded me of Holes by Louis Sacher and also the betrayal and powerful friendships echoed another book I read very recently - Skycircus by Peter Bunzl.

Julie Hunt’s storytelling is captivating; she creates dark-edged adventures with echoes of folklore. A colourful cast of characters and a vivid setting transport the reader into a world of circus, music and magic. Books and Publishing

I thoroughly enjoyed Shoestring the boy who walks on air. Julie Hunt has an amazing imagination and her descriptions of place are so vivid. I made this same comment previously when I talked about her book Shine Mountain. Shoestring the boy who walks on air can stand alone but I think your reading experience will be more rewarding and far richer if you try to read the earlier volume KidGlovz first.

You can read the background to each story on Julie's web site:
Background to KidGlovz
Background to Shoestring the boy who walks on air

I then recommend you go back and read The Coat which inspired Julie to think further about these sinister gloves.