After a bout of polio when she was too young to remember, Lena uses a wheelchair to get around. Her father, Theo, is an illusionist in a traveling circus. So Lena spends most of her time on the train. She likes her life, but what she wants most is companionship. Sure, people on the train are nice to her, including her teacher Clara, but she wants a friend her own age. Enter Alexandre. Although he entered the train with less than honorable intentions, he might be the friend Lena has always longed for.

While I disagree with the blurb stating this is for fans of Water for Elephants and The Night Circus, this book can stand out on its own merit. With the story being WWII based historical fiction, and centering around a circus, this book ticks a lot of boxes. I appreciate that Parikh included a character in a wheelchair. I loved that there were no animals involved in this circus because I love books about the circus, but the parts that include animals always break my heart. With the war closing in around the circus, things will drastically change for our main trio of characters. I appreciate the author’s note at the end explaining some key points of the story. Overall, this is an enjoyable read. Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam, for sending this along.

A well written debut novel that follows the life of young Lena as she is raised by her father and their circus community. Having had infantile polio she needs to use a wheelchair, but she doesn’t let that keep her from pursuing her education and interest in medicine and science. As World War II grips Europe her life is changed when secrets of those she loves and trusts are divulged. I enjoyed the pacing of the book, the author wasn’t afraid to move the story line ahead, sometimes by several years at a time, to allow the characters to grow in both age and experiences. I also appreciated her note at the end about, among other things, polio and it’s treatment during the 1940’s and 50’s, and about Theresienstadt. I found the book uplifting despite the hardships faced by the characters, and thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy.

This book started out as interesting and then continued to build as it went on. I did not want to put it down during the second half and stayed up too late multiple nights reading it! The setting of the World of Wonders with a World War backdrop was intriguing and the many secrets that came out during the story were incredible.

I enjoyed the history of this and the anticipation. The searches and parts with the Nazis were very anxiety provoking and kept the pages turning. I was happy to see disability representation as well. The coming of age and friendship part of the story was a slower pace for me.

“In Greek we have a saying: Epimeno. It means ‘to persist.’ If you think about it, life is like one long maze. Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes we get stuck. But if you persist, if you can find it within you to endure the hardships, you will reach your goal.”

What a beautiful and enthralling debut novel! I don't typically love historical fiction but @amita_parikh wove a world that captivated me from the very start. I did not want this story to end! I absolutely loved the tender portrayal of strength and resiliency in Lena, Alexandre, and Theo. They were very relatable and struggled with so many things the rest of us do. This story is full of history and grace, magic and love. If you liked The Night Circus or Water for Elephants this is a book you’ll enjoy.

Thank you @putnambooks Penguin Group and @netgalley for the early copy.

4.5 stars

Definitely grab a copy out 12/6!

I love the concept, but I'm afraid I found the writing style wasn't as sumptuous or sophisticated as the story required. It was much more mechanical in nature (tab A in slot B, etc), to the point that I became convinced it was a young adult novel. I think this would best serve a younger audience or a reader who is just looking for a nice story and doesn't necessarily need to be swept away by it. I think this would be a good choice for many book clubs.

One expects circus-themed novels to be escapist entertainment filled with interesting characters. Parikh’s debut, a Canadian best-seller, satisfies on that score, and it also thoughtfully explores two young people’s connection and quests for belonging. In the 1930s, Lena Papadopoulos, whose overprotective father Theo is a brilliant illusionist, spends her childhood traveling across Europe with the World of Wonders. But as a polio survivor using a wheelchair, Lena doesn’t fit in, and her self-esteem suffers. At nine, she rescues an older Jewish boy, Alexandre, who becomes Theo’s apprentice. Alexandre and Lena become close friends, but secrets reside within both their families. As Europe grows darker, terrible circumstances force them apart and leave Lena to forge her path alone. The circus train is the novel’s backdrop, not the starring attraction, and much about its operation goes unexplained; at times, the story feels light on descriptive details. But by incorporating research into medical treatments for polio and the Theresienstadt camp’s role in Nazi propaganda, Parikh creates storytelling magic in her absorbing tale of a young woman discovering her own capabilities.

YA: Teens who enjoy coming-of-age journeys will be drawn to Lena’s story and the intriguing traveling-circus setting.
(Reviewed for Booklist, 11/15/2022 issue)

I love historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. If you are a fan of Water for Elephants and The Magic Circus this is the book for you. The main characters are strong but also human. The book takes place during WWII but that is not the focus. I loved this book and finished it in 2 days. I would highly recommend this.

Great story but I wanted more from the circus descriptions. Great story pace and character development. Ending was definitely satisfactory as it tied everything up nicely.

I love it so much!! It was such an interesting book and journey. Loved everything about it and how unique the characters were. Once I started reading it I could not put it down!

Lena (Helena Papadopoulos) she was born prematurely and had polio as a small child which left her in a wheelchair. Her father being a master illusionist, the big attraction to the circus has been allowed to bring her along while they travel through Europe on tour on a train. Lena find a young boy who is sick in the kitchen car and Alexandre ends up joining the show and becomes part of her family. Her father Theo trains him to be in his act and also asks him to be his lonely daughter's friend. The circus is just a small backdrop to this story of friendship, young love, resilience and so much more. When I started this novel I wasn't sure it was going to be for me so I put it aside, but something pulled me back to it and I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down. Lena's journey is so compelling and her drive and determination are something only heroes/heroines are made of!

4.5 stars!

For some unknown reason, books and movies about circuses & circus trains of old, have a special place in my heart. I have had Amita Parikh's "The Circus Train" on my list and could not read it because there were other books on that list that had to be read first. I was very excited to finally get to this one and I certainly was not disappointed.

Ms. Parikh's storytelling is mesmerizing and so descriptive that it pulls you right into the story from the first few pages. Her characters were kept to a minimum and were fully fleshed out which also kept you deeply involved with the story. I loved that there was also that little bit of mystery through the book. It would be somewhat hinted at several times, but that only helped to up the suspense until the point where most things were actually revealed.

I found "The Circus Train" to be an absolute joy to read & would recommend it to any historical fiction enthusiast, especially those interested in WWII, and also people like me who enjoy stories about circus trains from a bygone era. Amita Parikh will be an author I will continue to follow

We are traveling with the World of Wonders circus train, across Europe, in the early 20th century. The historical parts of the story take place before, during and after the war. The story has 3 main characters, Theo, Lena, and Alexandre. Lena had polio as an infant and was left crippled. My favorite part of the story was following her recovery and seeing medical advances become a reality for her. If you enjoyed Night Circus, or Water for Elephants, you'll enjoy this one as well. I'd say it's more entertaining than actual historical fictional facts but it's a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc ebook; to Amita Parikh, and to Harper Collins Publishers.

Loved it!!! Would a circus during WWII really make any money? It didn't seem plausible that a circus train could travel around Europe during a war, without getting caught in the fighting or bombs. I know this is a work of fiction, but that's what I kept thinking. Other than that tiny detail, I fell in love with the book. This was a completely different take on WWII historical fiction and was wonderful. Loved getting to know the characters. I was shocked when the truth about Gia and Theo was finally revealed because I wasn't expecting it at all. Theo was such a terrific father and did everything possible for Lena. He was a master illusionist and proved that in Theresienstadt with the help of Alexandre. Lena never gave up her dream of becoming a doctor, even when it seemed like it wouldn't happen. Loved the ending and finally finding out what happened to Alexandre and Theo after Theresienstadt. The story was magical and it was one circus I would have loved to see, especially the illusionists.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If this is the author’s debut? I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! This novel will take you on a journey that is both exotic and magical. You’ll find the characters are quite likable and their story will move you as it unfolds, evolves and brings them back together again.

This is unlike any other WWII Historical Fiction I have read and I am already looking forward to the author’s next work. You’ll definitely want to add this one to your cart and read it ASAP!

Lena begins her life shortly before her mother loses hers , with Lena’s father promising to keep her secret, I’ve kept yours, she said just before she dies. Lena’s father Theo is an illusionist with the circus and Lena doesn’t lack for anything, she has Clara who is her tutor, beautiful clothes and a sharp mind, the things she wishes for are friends her own age and to be able to walk, she contracted polio as a child. One day as she goes for a snack she stumbles upon a boy passed out on the floor of the food car, they get him to the infirmary so he and his bruises can heal, his name is Alexandre and he and Lena become fast friends, as he recuperates Theo pleads to Horace, who owns the circus, to let him train the boy as an illusionist, Alex has a secret that can’t be known or he will be taken by the Hitlers men as the war begins. Usually a show and dinner is put on when the gestapo shows up demanding to see everyone’s papers but Horace betrays Alex and Theo and they are taken. Lena is beside herself, doesn’t know where they are if even alive, she leaves for London to find Clara her old tutor, Clara welcomes Lena with open arms and Lena is able to get the education she craves. Theo and Alexandre are taken to a work camp that puts on shows for the guards and other prisioners. They are told after a year of hard labor they will have fulfilled their contract and can leave but a year down the road this is anything but true and they begin to plan their escape. Lena has no idea about what is going on until Alexandre seeks her out and reunites her with her father who comes clean about where they’ve been, what they had to do to survive and all the family secrets he has been hiding all these years so they can all have a new beginning.

A great book with a heroine who won't quit, a little girl who grows up into a bright, intelligent woman, with a hard disability, learning to make the best of what life gives her in a time when the world, at large, had so many hardships, she, binded by hers, learns to overcome, love and live, making a life for herself far beyond what was ever expected, teaches readers that a brain is far more important than anything and with it, most of all other faults can be overcome or, if not that, learned, accepted and able to live with. It was a really fun read, a look at the time during the Nazi occupation that we never get to hear about as readers, the author creating a magical circus world unlike one we have ever known, with upscale parties and performances that transport us to a rich world that we can only now dream about, that most people could only ever dream about, the author helps bring to the page for us to participate, get to glimpse inside and see for ourselves what this might have been like...really gives you that warm glow like what you feel during the best of a Christmas holiday and a great seasonal pick, I have to hope the release date is in time for Christmas this year, I have to check that out again, cause I'd love to put it in someone's Kindle for the holidays.

Having recently finished “The Circus Train” by Amita Parikh, I am happy to have had the chance for the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam!

“If you think about it, life is like one long maze. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes we get stuck. But if you persist, if you can find it within you to endure the hardships, you will reach your goal.”

For me, this quote speaks to the story between the pages of this entertaining debut novel.
A story filled with a lifetime of adventures and difficulties, with bits of magic (and evil) mixed throughout each of the three distinct parts. As the secrets were revealed in Lena’s world, this story became hard to set aside.

THIS Author’s Note was impressive and informative. Knowing how extensively researched Ms. Parikh’s first novel was, from Lena’s disability, the circus, the magic, and the horrific moments set in Theresienstadt, I am definitely on board to see where we will “travel back in time” to in her next novel!

A story about a young girl, Lena, who grew up on train for a travel magical circus during the 1940s in Europe. Lena grew up with her just her father, and thirst for knowledge and sadly did it from a wheelchair due to a childhood illness. All that changed when one day she finds a young Jewish boy unconscious on the train. They quickly form a bond and he changes her life.

All WWII era books have a ending that’s either sad, bittersweet, hard to imagine or just not great at pulling it all together fictionally. But then again, WWII is hard to imagine unless you were there and had to live through the terrible time of history and the unimaginable things that did happen. So often I read a book and want a happy ending, it’s rare you get that in WWII books. Thank you for that. And thank you for the ARC copy

Such a great story for the times! Welcome to the world of the circus, and probably a high dollar one at that! You will fall in love with the main character and feel her struggles to find friends, to find acceptance and find love. The circus owner is not a great guy, though he is portrayed at good guy, you will soon learn he is not. Read on to see the struggles and highs of all the characters in the book!