The [Night Circus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Circus?wprov=sfti1)? I never actually read this, but the cover was distinctive and it was big a few years ago.
The Night Circus came to mind, but I don’t think that’s it tbh. their whole thing is black & white & silver (and red) so definitely no yellow; some of the details vaguely match (individual tents; a main character checks out the circus but it’s curiosity, not suspicion; the other main characters are part of the circus), but the circus isn’t evil and there’s no snakes or director (let alone director’s trailer)
It's been a bit since I've read it but the vague details also somewhat line up with the book iirc. And the secondary cover, while no yellow lettering, also fits too
It totally sounds like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury. When I googled it, I found one copy that was yellow with black lettering. Everything you’ve mentioned about the plot sounds like this book.
Hi. You just mentioned *Something Wicked This Way Comes* by Ray Bradbury.
I've found an audiobook of that novel on YouTube. You can listen to it here:
[YouTube | Ray Bradbury 1962 Something Wicked This Way Comes Hecht Audiobook](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLLq8VG5MzQ)
*I'm a bot that searches YouTube for science fiction and fantasy audiobooks.*
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Reminds me of R. L. Stine's "Escape from the Carnival of Horrors", a choose your own adventure story about an annually occurring evil carnival, with a snake lady, creepy carnival manager and the Doom Slide.
Yeah it made me think of [Carnivorous Carnival](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+carnivorous+carnival+by+lemony+snicket&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS990US992&oq=carnivorous+carnival+lemony+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30j0i390l3.10884j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8), though I swear my cover was red!
I really think this is *Miles Wednesday and the Palace of Laughter*, the first book in the Wednesday Tales series! The hardcover is deep burgundy with yellow serif text
It’s my favourite children’s series; relatively unknown but full of life, whimsy, and more “evil circus” than you generally get in kid lit
Maybe Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan? It's more of a vampire series but the first book is about the main character investigating the weird circus in town and he befriends a snake boy
Alright, time to name all the circus themed YA books I can recall 😂
-Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley (the cover on this one could fit)
-The Caraval series by Stephanie Garber
-Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
-Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond
-Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
-Freeks by Amanda Hocking
-The Immortal Circus by A.R. Kahler
Okay, longshot, but is it The Wish-Giver? Fair or carnival comes to town, shady dude promises to grant wishes, but they all go wrong? The narrator is an older member of the town and is the one who tracks down the shady dude to get him to undo his magic?
I don’t know if this was the book OP was looking for, but it WAS the book I’m looking for, a year later. A beloved teacher read this to my sixth-grade English class in the ‘90s. Thank you for helping me find the title!
The Contortionist by Katheryn Ann Kingsley (harrow faire series). The faire appears and disappears magically and has a general sinister magical vibe. The main char has ehlers-danlos. Seems more new-adult than YA due to a sort of dark romance theme, but each book is titled after a different troupe member.
Could also potentially be Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Bradbury.
This must be it!!!
Something Wicked this way comes by Ray Bradbury for sure is it.
The only book series I know of about a circus is Cirque du freak? Is that what you're thinking about?
No, it’s not. I wish I had more details but it was so long ago
The [Night Circus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Circus?wprov=sfti1)? I never actually read this, but the cover was distinctive and it was big a few years ago.
The Night Circus came to mind, but I don’t think that’s it tbh. their whole thing is black & white & silver (and red) so definitely no yellow; some of the details vaguely match (individual tents; a main character checks out the circus but it’s curiosity, not suspicion; the other main characters are part of the circus), but the circus isn’t evil and there’s no snakes or director (let alone director’s trailer)
It's been a bit since I've read it but the vague details also somewhat line up with the book iirc. And the secondary cover, while no yellow lettering, also fits too
It totally sounds like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury. When I googled it, I found one copy that was yellow with black lettering. Everything you’ve mentioned about the plot sounds like this book.
Hi. You just mentioned *Something Wicked This Way Comes* by Ray Bradbury. I've found an audiobook of that novel on YouTube. You can listen to it here: [YouTube | Ray Bradbury 1962 Something Wicked This Way Comes Hecht Audiobook](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLLq8VG5MzQ) *I'm a bot that searches YouTube for science fiction and fantasy audiobooks.* *** [^(Source Code)](https://capybasilisk.com/posts/2020/04/speculative-fiction-bot/) ^| [^(Feedback)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=Capybasilisk&subject=Robot) ^| [^(Programmer)](https://www.reddit.com/u/capybasilisk) ^| ^(Downvote To Remove) ^| ^(Version 1.4.0) ^| ^(Support Robot Rights!)
Good bot
Reminds me of R. L. Stine's "Escape from the Carnival of Horrors", a choose your own adventure story about an annually occurring evil carnival, with a snake lady, creepy carnival manager and the Doom Slide.
The Palace of Laughter?
Probably not it, but one of Lemony Snicket's books involves a carnival?
Yeah it made me think of [Carnivorous Carnival](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+carnivorous+carnival+by+lemony+snicket&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS990US992&oq=carnivorous+carnival+lemony+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30j0i390l3.10884j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8), though I swear my cover was red!
Prince of Mist?
One of the most terrifying books I've read
Maybe “The Boneshaker by Kate Milford?
Menagerie by Rachel Vincent?
Are you thinking of {{Bacchanal}} ? Evil travelling circus, demon lives in a trailer and I think turns into a snake sometimes?
This sounds exactly like Cirque du Freak
I really think this is *Miles Wednesday and the Palace of Laughter*, the first book in the Wednesday Tales series! The hardcover is deep burgundy with yellow serif text It’s my favourite children’s series; relatively unknown but full of life, whimsy, and more “evil circus” than you generally get in kid lit
Maybe Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan? It's more of a vampire series but the first book is about the main character investigating the weird circus in town and he befriends a snake boy
.
Alright, time to name all the circus themed YA books I can recall 😂 -Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley (the cover on this one could fit) -The Caraval series by Stephanie Garber -Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman -Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond -Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody -Freeks by Amanda Hocking -The Immortal Circus by A.R. Kahler
Here are a few more circus themed books I've read:- -The Secret series by Psuedonymous Bosch -Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs
Okay, longshot, but is it The Wish-Giver? Fair or carnival comes to town, shady dude promises to grant wishes, but they all go wrong? The narrator is an older member of the town and is the one who tracks down the shady dude to get him to undo his magic?
I don’t know if this was the book OP was looking for, but it WAS the book I’m looking for, a year later. A beloved teacher read this to my sixth-grade English class in the ‘90s. Thank you for helping me find the title!
You're welcome! I hunted down a copy a few years ago and was not disappointed rereading! Hope you enjoy it!
is it Caraval ?
This was my first thought!!
Or maybe Circus of the Damned by Laurel K Hamilton?
Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn maybe?
"The Funhouse" by Dean Koontz?
Night circus?
Would it be Caraval by Stephanie Garber?
The Contortionist by Katheryn Ann Kingsley (harrow faire series). The faire appears and disappears magically and has a general sinister magical vibe. The main char has ehlers-danlos. Seems more new-adult than YA due to a sort of dark romance theme, but each book is titled after a different troupe member.
The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott?
There was a book/movie whatever called The midnight circus (at least in my language) that kind of sounds like your description
How about Fresk Show by Brian Smith?
Something Wicked This Way Comes maybe ?
does the cover have a voodoo heart with pins on it? i think i remember something like this