What a wonderful emotional read, was a little nervous at the start as it was pretty intense but so beautifully written excellent book!
I was not aware of what happened to the circuses in Europe during WW2 and the poor brave people who lived through this time.Wonderful story telling!

Thank you Netgalley the Author and Publisher for a chance to read this book.

Book Review: The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff




Set during the harrowing times of World War II, The Orphan's Tale tells the story of two women bought together in the direst of circumstances.
There's Noa, a young woman who was disowned by her family after falling pregnant to a German soldier at just 16 years old. With her baby taken away from her, Noa works at a train station in exchange for food and a place to sleep.
And Ingrid, a Jewish woman who comes from a circus family. She was married to a German SS soldier, but he divorced her, so she is left alone after their separation.
She returns home to find her family, but they are nowhere to be found. At a loss as to what to do, she visits Herr Nuehoff, owner of another circus, who offers her work as an aerialist with his company. She has no money, so accepts his proposition.
She changes her name to Astrid Sorello to protect her Jewish heritage, and to avoid being discovered by the Nazi's.

One day, Noa discovers a boxcar filled with abandoned infants and young children at the train station where she works.
Reminded of the loss of her own baby not long ago, she makes the decision to take one of the babies into her care, and runs away with him into the forest.
But without food and shelter, she doesn't make it far.
She is rescued by a man named Pete, who works at the circus where Astrid works. In fact, he is Astrid's new lover.
Astrid and Noa meet for the first time, and once Noa recovers, she and the baby are offered a place to stay. Noa is offered a job as an aerialist, and Astrid is to be her teacher.
Together over time, the two women form a relationship that offers hope when there is so little happiness, and a strong sisterly bond.

I enjoyed reading The Orphan's Tale.The author has researched the history well, and it is evident in the story. I felt that she portrayed the circus life effectively.
I'm not sure why, but I did feel as though I didn't get to know the characters well enough, and thus didn't feel overly drawn to either of the female characters as much as I wanted to.
Having said that, it is still a beautiful novel that tugs at the heartstrings so definitely gets points for that.

Title: The Orphan’s Tale
Author: Pam Jenoff
Publisher: 20 February 2017 by Harlequin Australia - MIRA
Pages: 368 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: world war II, historical fiction
My Rating: 4.5 crowns

Synopsis:

A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival .

Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep… When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night.

Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another—or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything.

My Thoughts

She shakes her head stubbornly. “I would have been fine.” She considers the circus a shield of armor that somehow makes her immune to the Germans. But it simply isn’t true. “You can’t save everyone, you know.”

There appear to be mixed reactions to this book, however I can undoubtedly state, I enjoyed it. This is a story told from the two main characters points of view - Noa and Astrid - and their tale of working in a circus during WWII in Europe. This is not a biography, however, the premise is really quite interesting as it is loosely based around the research conducted by the author on real events and people from the time (see Epilogue) - with Jewish babies taken from their parents and a circus that would hide and give sanctuary to Jews during the war. This alone, to my mind, makes the book heartfelt and an emotional tale, as to be expected, when involving demonstrations of real courage and instincts of survival during the time of the Nazi persecution. The fact that it takes place in a circus is quite unique.

‘The circus is a great equalizer, though; no matter class or race or background, we are all the same here, judged on our talent.’

The title is somewhat confusing unless you broaden your understanding of the many orphans this sad war produced. This is not just about the Jewish baby, who only ever features on the periphery really. For me, both the lead characters were orphans in their own way, being lost to lose that love them. This is more a tale about friendship during a time of war, and that family can indeed be so much more than those you are related to. The circus is one large family providing a haven and hope; and the friendship between the two female leads - where they are prepared to sacrifice so much for the other - is inspiring.

“I am with you to the end,” she says, voice quavering slightly.”

Dissention comes from those expecting so much more from this tale - the horrors of war, the heartbreak and profound systematic breakdown of society. Instead, what you find here is a tale of love and hope in many ways and personal character interactions whilst living under the stresses of a dictatorial regime in a circus arena. It did hold my interest and I quickly made my way through this book to find out how the cryptic beginning would end, coming full circle.

The Orphan’s Tale is well written, as a good concept is brought to life and would appeal to those looking for a somewhat different approach to this well recorded period in history.

‘I can’t help but wonder where it will all end and where I will be when I can finally stop running at last.’




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff was a very moving read. Yes a little reminiscent of that powerful book The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, however very different in its own right.

The two women - Astrid a Jewish woman hiding and sheltered in a circus and Noa a younger woman who was cast out from her home in the Netherlands when she became pregnant. When Noa stumbles into the care of the circus the two women forge a special relationship. They were both very strong each in their own way and I really liked them both. While it took them some time to come to an understanding, once they did the bond, the loyalty and trust knew no bounds.

Life in the circus was fascinating. The courage of the circus to keep on going in such hard times, the hard work, the strong links to circus life that Astrid had and her love for and ability with the aerial work all drew me in. She lost her first husband and when she meets another in the circus, his choices certainly put them in danger.

The harsh life that these people lived in, never knowing when the Gestapo would haul them away, the shocking event of a boxcar full of children being transported by the Nazi is horrifying, and yet based on truth that needs to be shared and told.

The story opens with an old woman making her escape from a rest home in the USA and attending a celebration of the circus in Paris lays down the mystery. Who is she? Astrid or Noa? There are clues and false clues and one clue soon became apparent as to whom the person is.

This was a book that once I started to read I couldn't put down. Beautifully written, very emotional and well worth reading.

Cleaning the tiny German railway station for food and a bed was all sixteen year old Noa was able to do – her Dutch father had disowned her after she told her parents she was pregnant. Then her child was taken; her grief she kept well hidden – it didn’t pay to make the Germans notice, she knew that. But the decision she made on the night she heard noises from the rear car of a nearby train was to change her life forever.

Snatching the baby from the train was a spur-of-the-moment decision; but Noa knew she had to run. If the soldiers found them, the baby would probably die; and her own life would more than likely end. At least this way she would give him a chance. But the snow was thick; the weather freezing – she couldn’t keep going…

Rescued from certain death, Noa woke unsure where she was. But her and Theo’s saviour was a German Circus, currently in their winter quarters. And so it began – Noa learned the trapeze, taught by the circus’ star act, Astrid. But Astrid didn’t want this girl with her – knew she wouldn’t be able to train her in just a matter of weeks to do something most people took a lifetime to learn. As the weeks passed, resentments and secrets between the performers caused problems. And as they began their tour across war torn Europe, Noa and Astrid both wondered if they would be safe – what their future would be…

The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff is interesting in that it’s based on two facts the author discovered in her research. The Unknown Children, snatched from their Jewish parents to be sent to the camps, and the Circus’ that would hide and protect Jews during the war. Jenoff has successfully combined the two in my opinion, turning The Orphan’s Tale into a riveting, emotional and heartfelt historical fiction novel which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.