Lucy had been placed in an orphanage, the Home for Friendless Children, by her step-father after her mother died and is now eleven years old. She hopes that her older sister Dilly, who would now be seventeen, will come and claim her someday. Meanwhile, she has gotten in trouble again and has to do extra work, she, another girl and two boys are left working outside the fence. Lucy sees her opportunity and runs off, only to find that the other kids have followed her and now they are all trying to get to Chicago. Lucy hopes to find her sister in the old neighborhood but they get sidetracked along the way and helped along by a young woman who used to be in the same orphanage, she gives them a number to call and they end up trying to land jobs in the circus. Underlying all this adventure is that Lucy has been part of a cruel study on stuttering and is now a selective mute. She is needed back by the orphanage so that the administration can keep lining their pockets with the extra funds from the university for the study.
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Lucy runs away from orphanage with three other kids. They're helped by other former orphans, one who works for the circus and tries to find the kids a place with the circus. But it's hard for Lucy to find an apprenticeship because she won’t talk. She loves the elephants and hopes she can work with them -- but she'll need to find her voice. In a horrifying series of memories, we learn that Lucy was one of many orphans used in cruel experiments to create a stutter in someone who didn't previously stutter. She'll find her inner strength to overcome the past in this atmospheric, circus-life story with a happy ending.

Lucy is Orphan Eleven, a reluctant resident of five years at the Home for Friendless Children. It's quickly explained that Lucy's mother had remarried after Lucy's father's death, and relocated with Lucy to be with her new husband. Lucy's older sister had refused to go, and Lucy has not seen her since. Not long after arriving, Lucy's mother became gravely ill, died and her stepfather has abandoned her at the orphanage. The story begins with Lucy recalling verbal abuse at the hands of the orphanage staff, abuse which has resulted in her choosing to be mute. There is an insidious reason for this abuse which is not revealed until nearly the end of the novel, a horrifying psychology experiment, which sadly was drawn from reality in which outgoing children without speech impairments were emotionally abused to demonstrate that stuttering is a learned behavior. . However, the experiment is not the subject of the novel, Lucy's elective mutism however is a key point in her character. Lucy manages to escape the orphanage with three other children, who band together.. The four children bond, despite character differences- Lucy, raised initially in a kind family, feels things deeply and has a strong moral compass. Nico, was taken in from the streets by a con man, and desperately wants to be returned to this family. His morals are therefore, more flexible, but he's kind and protective of the mute Lucy. Eugene and Doris are siblings, given up by a family which couldn't afford them. Eugene is a thinner character, but remains devoted to Doris. Doris, however, is the child who will sell out anyone if it will advantage herself. Her journey is to realize that in order to be trusted, she must become trustworthy. The quartet go through a series of misadventures and betrayals from adults before ending up at a circus. In the circus, they find support, purpose and a new family. Lucy is reunited with her sister, which is lovely, but unnecessary as she has by that time found a family and regained her voice with the circus folk. (But it's a kids book, and I can understand the author's and the reading audience's desire to reunite the siblings)
. Overall, I felt that there were almost two novels here - the one of Lucy and her companions finding happiness at the circus and the one in which the psychologically brutalized child escapes being an experiment. The problem is that by the time the explanation for the matron's abuse and extreme interest in Lucy (chasing after the escaped orphans in a time period when no one would have bothered to do so) it's not really relevant. The reunion of the sisters becomes the reason why Lucy cannot be returned to the orphanage and the experiment, but it seems like her circus family could have saved her as well. And given the author's afterword, this retelling of the damage done to orphans submitted to psychological experiments was one of her motivations in the story., it seems a shame that she buried her lead.

Sometimes the worst of circumstances brings out the best in us. Eleven-year-old orphan Lucy Sauvé doesn’t speak, and no one knows why. After escaping from the Home for Friendless Children, which is as horrible as it sounds, she and her friends find work with a travelling circus. But in order to find her place, Lucy must also find her voice by unlocking the secret of her past.
As unsure as she might be of speaking, Lucy is not unsure of herself. She’s a strong, determined protagonist who knows that there is a better life outside the orphanage gates, and she is determined to find it. This is a brisk, engaging read with a mystery that will keep young readers turning the pages to discover the truth of Lucy’s circumstances. Her journey is a powerful example of how much words can hurt us and how the strength of our spirit helps us to rise above them.

The Home for Friendless Children is not the greatest orphanage. Lucy and 3 other children find an opportunity to run away and take it. But the people in charge come after them. Fortunately the children find someone to help and after a few days they find themselves at a circus. All 4 children are hoping to find a job with the circus but Lucy s having the most trouble because she has stopped talking. She finally gets a job working with a baby elephant but then the people in charge catch up to her and take her - and only her - back to the orphanage. But why? Why is she some important. Interspersed with this is Lucy's sister who has finally found out where Lucy is and is trying to get her back. Will Lucy ever be reunited with her sister and get back to the circus?

I really liked this historical fiction book. Lucy and her friends were good characters and there was some interesting context with a study on selective mutism. I wish there had been a bit more between the 2 sisters because I felt that the action lagged a bit until that subplot really got moving.

This is a fast paced, highly engaging book. Readers will fall in love with Lucy, who is so endearing from the beginning that you will not be able to help rooting for her. The supporting cast of characters are also very vivid and (mostly) likable. The plot moves quickly and the action will keep even reluctant readers engaged. Having been around the circus when I was younger, the story was entirely authentic and thoroughly entertaining. This is a great addition to any middle grade library.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Choldenko spins tales that immediately connect to readers. This book is about orphans and the circus - almost seems like a cliche - until you step into the world she creates in 1939 Illinois.
The orphanage where Lucy lives is as vile and depressing as expected. What is unexpected is the way the university uses some of the orphans for a speech study. In essence, this study has turned Lucy into a selective mute as they are researching whether they can make children become stutterers by constantly attacking their speech. Lucy and three others run away and are rescued by another former orphan who guides them to the circus. Each has to make their way there. Several further twists await readers including Lucy being caught and returned to the orphanage, discovering the file notes from the university study and reuniting with her sister.
Choldenko has again created a literary journey to capture the imagination of middle grade readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of Orphan Eleven in exchange for an honest review.

Young Lucy Sauve and three other children run away from the Home for Friendless Children, an orphanage. The headmistress is cruel and has unfortunately taken a special interest in Lucy. The reader wonders about the special interest and the bigger question, why Lucy does not speak. She used to speak and even sing, but now only communicates with notes written on scraps of paper.

The children are befriended by a series of kind people who are connected to a traveling circus. The runaways hope to earn their spots in the circus and go on the road, leaving the orphanage and their old lives behind.

Up to this point in the story, I was intrigued, but once the kids came to the circus, the story became inauthentic to me. The kids, except Lucy (because of her inability to speak), were accepted into the folds very quickly. Lucy was desperate to become an elephant girl, but she had never even seen an elephant before this experience. Everything became too rushed for me at this point and I felt no connection to the characters.

Soon, we discover the reason the orphanage head mistress needs Lucy. I was horrified. Reading about the abuses of orphans during this time period was heart breaking, but those feelings were generalized—not directed toward the character. I still felt no close connection to her.

There is one more topic that is difficult to bring up. I really disliked the casual use of Yiddish phrases by the character Dilly. It was gratuitous. Like other parts of the story, it felt inauthentic and had no place in the narrative. As a Jewish woman, I was quite bothered.

As a whole, I liked Orphan Eleven, but did not love it. It will appeal to middle grade readers and I will recommend it. However, for this reader, there was no connection to the characters in the story.

Choldenko never ceases to amaze me at how she grabs random weird pieces of history and weaves them together to create a really great story and teach us something totally new. In this book, we learn about orphanages, the circus, and a study regarding stuttering. All of this with quirky, endearing, and interesting characters and a plot with nice-paced action. AND she's donating some proceeds to elephant rescue too! "Orphan Eleven" was a quick and enjoyable read. I would give it to students who were partial to "The One and Only Ivan."

An enjoyable read but not my favorite book I've read lately. One of the best parts of the story in my opinion is Bald Doris, the fellow orphan who is selfish and difficult. The other orphans stick by her anyway which made for a much more interesting dynamic between them. It was a refreshing change from books where the main cast of characters are all 100% nice and selfless at all times.

This book had potential, but it seemed as if the author wasn't sure what sort of story they wanted to tell. Was it about a girl finding her voice? Long lost sisters? A scrappy gang of runaway orphans? Found family?Making good choices? Medical testing on vulnerable populations? By the end it was all over the place, and the part of the plot that seemed the least important was the bit focused on on the dust jacket (the elephants or, indeed, the circus entirely). I was left feeling very unsatisfied

Lucy is in an orphanage in 1939 after her mom dies. She is separated from her sister before she enters the orphanage and is treated poorly. When Lucy and a few other have the opportunity to run away, they do. They join the circus hoping to earn apprenticeships. But because of Lucy’s stuttering, she is not likely to be asked to stay. All circus members need to be able to yell “John Robinson” if there is danger.

Lucy is a strong and lovable character as are her friends Nico and Eugene. Doris is not as likable, But she causes those issues herself. The circus life is intriguing and a great background for the orphans. I enjoyed reading the author’s note as well providing more information on orphanages, circuses and medical experiments linked to Lucy. An excellent story that will appeal ti a wide variety of readers.

Set in 1939, Lucy and three other children escape the Home for Friendless Children. With the help of some kind, former orphans, the four find themselves searching for apprenticeships with a travelling circus. But Lucy is mute, and not speaking is not an option in circus work. Lucy used to speak and sing, so why won't she now? And why are the matrons of the orphanage so insistent on bringing her back, but not the others?

This mystery and Lucy's spirit made it hard for me to put this book down. The themes of love, family, friendship, loyalty, and resilience are heartwarming.

The trauma that Lucy suffers is based on experiments that were done on children in the 1930's and it's infuriating to think that children went through this. Choldenko appears to have done in her homework in researching the historical aspects of this novel.

Gennifer Choldenko is the master of unique storylines for middle school readers. I had no idea what it expect. It looked like a book about a circus but the title suggested an orphanage. Well it is about both, but mainly about family, love and loyalty.

A lot of horrible things happened during this time in history. Orphan Eleven is set in 1939. Without revealing a spoiler, I continue to be appalled at the way children were used as expendable guinea pigs for unethical human experimentation.


The story is about 4 orphans who have escaped from the Home for Friendless Children. One is Lucy, who USED to talk and sing. So what changed for a Lucy?

The orphans find work and new friends at a traveling circus. Lucy loves caring for the elephants, and the elephants have taken to her. But, the selfish and unkind orphan matrons are searching for Lucy, and her puzzling past is about to catch up with her.

The story began a little slowly for me, but as the plot began to unfold, the story became fascinating and thrilling. There are so many people to pull for in this story and those you just want to smack!

Put this on on your list, 2021 Newbery Committee.

Thank you Netgally and Random House Children’s Books for granting me the privilege to read the ARC by this remarkable author.