The Circus is Coming by Noel Streatfeild tells the story of 11-year-old Santa and her 12-year-old brother Peter, who face the threat of being sent to separate orphanages after the death of their strict, snobbish aunt. Determined to stay together, they set out to find their mysterious Uncle Gus, who travels with Cob’s Circus. The novel explores themes of orphanhood, the search for belonging, and the ways children adapt to alternative forms of family.