Palace of laughter. Jon Berkeley. 2006.

Miles Wednesday, orphaned, unwashed and living in a barrel, has never been to a circus before - but then the Circus Oscuro is no ordinary circus. There’s a stranger caged beast called The Null among the animals, the clowns seem up to something downright sinister, and when an unusual little girl with wings, named Little, falls from a tower during the performance, Miles’s life is changed forever.

When Miles and Little set out to rescue two friends, their quest takes them on an extraordinary adventure that leads to them palace of Laughter - a place where fun  and mirth are strictly forbidden…..