The Circus Train is a thought provoking historical fiction that covers a variety of issues of disability, resilience, friendship, forbidden love, and a traveling circus. Lena Papadopoulos, the daughter of the famed illusionist, Theo Papadopoulos, contracted polio at an early age and has spent her life in a wheelchair watching her father perform on the World of Wonders Circus Train. Since Lena has been wheelchair bound, she has spent the majority of her time reading and studying with her governess, Clara. One night, Lena finds a starved Jewish orphan, Alexandre, passed out from starvation and the elements in the food car when she goes in search of a snack. Theo welcomes Alexandre into their world thinking he will be a good friend for Lena since the other children have shunned her as “other”. Theo knows he his taking a great risk hiding a Jewish orphan during World War
II.

In her debut novel, Amita Parikh does an amazing job of bringing this traveling train circus to life, writing a strong female character with lots of obstacles to overcome, and writing about Theresienstadt. Theresienstadt served as a ghetto, transit camp, and concentration camp, however, it was marketed to Jews as a “spa town”. If you are a fan of WWII historical fiction, circuses, or trains, then pick this one up!

I feel almost like this book was made for me specifically because it has everything I love in a novel. I found the writing style of this book and the story line almost magical and it was just like the author grabbed the reader and pulled them into her own imagination.  When this book was compared to Water for Elephants I knew that it was one I couldn't wait to get my hands on because that book was spectacular and this one definitely holds its own. This is a historical fiction which I usually pass on, however, getting the rich history with the refreshing and intriguing aspects of the circus makes this book one that I was completely unable to put down. I loved the characters in this story they were very well written and jumped right off the page at you. Not only that but as the book progresses you really get to see their relationships evolve and see the characters grow and change which isn't always shown in fiction novels. I loved how this book was mostly based on the circus so you got that magical feel but you also got the horrors of the Holocaust and the SS officers and their interactions within the story. This book was full of wonder and Im very glad I was able to check it out.

Amita Parikh’s The Circus Train follows the life of Lena, daughter of the great illusionist Theo Papadopoulos. Lena has polio and has spent her life in a wheelchair watching life happen around her on World of Wonders Circus Train. She finds Alexandre one night passed out from starvation and the elements. Theo and Lena welcome him into their world not knowing what dangers surround a young Jewish orphan during World War II.
Amita Parikh does a wonderful job for her debut novel. There are many different situations going on and it is evident that Parikh did her research on each topic. The treatments for Polio were being introduced, war, life on circus train, orphans and many more. It was almost overwhelming and each thing could have made its own story.
Thank you, NetGalley, Amita Parikh and Penguin Group Putnam, (G. P. Putnam's Sons) for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam through NetGalley.
Parikh's story begins with tragedy as readers see a new mother die and her child fight for life. Lena Papadopoulos is the central figure in this historical novel set in a time frame wrapped around World War II. Readers meet her as a child in a wheelchair after a devastating bout of Polio. Her father, Theo, spends his life making sure she is safe and cared for as they travel with The World of Wonders circus train. Is he overprotective? Possibly. Are there reasons? Parikh hints at this throughout the novel before revealing truths in the final few chapters.
Though Theo and Alexandre are important characters and readers see their grim storyline during the war, the main focus remains Leah and her battles to challenge herself and fight for what she wants. First, learning to walk with braces, then a cane, and finally on her own. The book also offers insight into how hard it was for a woman to build a career in male dominated fields and be seen as someone other than a daughter, wife, mother. Parikh weaves this through her story without hammering readers. She lets them absorb the scenes and process on for themselves.
A beautiful historical debut novel that unfolds in several parts and engages readers with the characters and the historical information shared.

The World of Wonders is exactly as it advertises—a wonder. Over the top performances by the very best from around the world, including Theo the illusionist whose tricks are the star of the show, bring audiences in craving a reprieve from the real world.

Theo’s life mirrors his tricks, as nothing is quite as it seems. His daughter, Lena, travels the continent with her dad and the circus, but mostly stays on the train due to her physical limitations from a bout with polio as an infant. Though she admires her father’s career, her interests are far more concrete. Lena longs to go to a real school with other kids and study to become a physician.

When Lena rescues Alexandre, an orphan, caught rummaging the food stores on the train, the odd pair become fast friends and in Lena’s case her only friend. Alexandre’s steadfast faith in Lena allows her to believe that she could become a doctor, and that her physical limitations shouldn’t hinder her ability to live life she wants. Alexandre finds that his unorthodox upbringing prior to losing his parents gives him an edge in the world of magic and he becomes Theo’s apprentice.

World War II does what it can to put a stop to the circus train, but they chug on bringing an escape to many during dark times. Only when the owner feels threatened, does the war have a real affect as Theo and Alexandre are cast out and sent to a model town for Jews. Their town like most of their lives is a mirage, and in fact a labor camp. The two illusionists sets themselves up for the ultimate trick in hopes of escaping their hell.

Lena having suddenly lost her father and her only friend turns to her tutor to help her move on. With nothing to distract her but school and time, Lena finds her dreams may not be as far fetched as she believed both professionally and personally. She vows to be the woman her father and Alexandre always believed her to be.

The Circus Train takes the readers across many years and countries to see how the human spirit thrives even amidst gut-wrenching tragedy. Theo, Lena, and Alexandre’s story is engrossing from page one to the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and of course Amita Parikh for the advanced copy of the book. The Circus Train is out on December 6th. All opinions are my own.

This book will go down as one of my favorites. I loved the characters, the setting, the story. It was historical fiction involving circus life, a young girl with polio, and an enduring sense of love and family. I enjoyed this book very much. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Circus Train started off slow for me. I enjoyed the subject of a traveling circus train and the many interesting characters involved but had a hard time developing any lasting feelings for the main characters. I think because a good bit of the story involves the time period when Lena was a pre-teen, I just didn't connect with her. The story lines were well researched and I liked that the author brought the story all together in the end but I was hoping for more. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this engaging story of a young woman determined to write her own destiny, despite a physical handicap, secrets from her family’s past, and a world at war. I think the story tapered off a bit at the end (and I am not crazy about love triangles *but* this one was handled well); however, I still enjoyed my ride on “The Circus Train.”

First of all, thank you NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous book. I have read several books about circuses lately and although they were very good, this was an excellent read. Lena and her father are with a traveling circus. Lena is a very young girl who was afflicted with polio and gets around in a wheelchair. Alexadre is found stealing food from the train one day - Lena finds him and with her help, he manages to stay with the circus train and they become great friends. World War II is at the beginning stages The story moves along at a pretty good pace - Lena and Alexandre although young find they are attracted to each other. She has finally found a friend. As the story moves along, so many things happen, good and bad. I believe this is a book worth pursuing - I could not put this book down for very long and picking it up again to find out what was happening. A lot of things happen later and not is all as it seems. I am sure you will enjoy it too.

The setting : A European travelling circus. A strong, young woman, Lena Papadopoulos who has physical limitations due to childhood polio. Theo, an illusionist and Lena's father. Alexandre, an orphan "...with his own secrets and a mysterious past." Add in World War II. Nazis/Theresienstadt. Other characters--Clara--Lena's governess/teacher and friend. Horace, owner of the circus--and more.

As billed: "A must-read for fans of The Night Circus and Water for Elephants, The Circus Train will take readers on a heart-wrenching and spectacular two-decade journey across Europe. When all is lost, how do you find the courage to keep moving forward?' Sign me up.

In a word: DISAPPOINTED [and in the distinct minority]. It had so much promise!

A plus: Lena's character.
Minuses--flat, predictable, and pedestrian and the "mush" derailed it for me. I saw another review said: Too much and not enough"--agreed! About half-way through I kept hoping, but it did not change/deliver. I just did not care enough.

The writing--ok--nothing more/nothing less. Surprises? Twists? Secrets? Many--but I no longer cared. I persevered but just plodded along to see what would transpire. Fast forward nearly 3/4 in, but the plot advances seemed almost meaningless and even out of place. So sorry.

Do read the Author's note.

2.5 but rounding up --not sure why.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Amita Parikh for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to love this book. I think Amita Parikh is a talented writer and that this story had a lot of promise, but the execution didn't live up to my expectations. Based on the books it was compared to, I was hoping for a bit more magic and whimsy. Additionally, while I applaud Parikh for her ambition, I believe there were too many sensitive topics she was trying to address all at once which not only diminishes their impact but prevents them from each being handled with the care they deserve. I also feel that because a lot of the story's focus was directed towards those issues, the characters weren't given enough depth for readers to really be able to connect with them. I will be interested to see how Parikh grows as a writer and what future stories she will dream up.

This book was a joy to read. I enjoyed it all. The writing was excellent and the storyline was filled with love, loss, determination and heart. Lena was a determined young lady that beat the odds in her favor with a lot of hard work. Theo and Alexandre also were fine characters that contributed so much to the story. A bit of mystery and intrigue also kept my interest. The ending was excellent.
I felt like I learned a lot about how a circus was run and was surprised at how much I had never thought of when I was a child when my parents took me. I highly recommend this historical fiction.
Received an ARC from Penguin Group and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with high 5 stars.

Unique setting for a historical fiction based during WWII. I liked the characters and found the story compelling. I was forced to put the story down for a hit to read another book which I think messed with the flow of this book for me.

This was super precious! It's crazy how much I want to work at a circus in one of the most dangerous times in Europe. It had a lot going on our heroine had polio as a child and has to cope with that while traversing through Europe before and during WW2 while hiding a Jewish boy. A Jewish boy who ends up being her soulmate is also carrying additional secrets and he’s not the only one, her father also isn’t quite who he seems. That being said Amita covers the detailed plot lines well and I absolutely loved it. Lena is a fun and the completely relatable character she has been through a lot and her drama and conflict make a lot of sense. I loved Lena and Alexandre and how naturally their relationship grows and how they quickly solve their relationship drama especially when they are older. I adored them together and while they seem like they could be happy apart they are def best together overall it was a super fun story. I love a circus story. overall I would recommend it.

Lena is fragile and often alone due to the polio she contracted as a child but since her dad is a famous illusionist with a traveling circus life is never boring. She prefers the quiet to the spotlight throwing herself into her books until the day she discovers a young boy almost frozen and by saving his life, he saves hers. Alexandre is a jewish orphan and with WWII looming on the horizon it is not safe unless they change his identity and Lena's father teaches him to be an illusionist insuring his place in the circus. Starting out as the best of friends Lena and Alexandre grow to feel much more for each other only to be torn apart when disaster strikes. One goes off to follow dreams, the other needs to survive and have the chance to repair the past but neither can really forget the other. This is a beautiful WWII story that mirrors the horrors of war with the innocence of young love and the wonders of modern medicine. A story of following your dreams and never losing hope even when it looks hopeless. Readers of WWII historical fiction will appreciate this as much as fans of circus stories like WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

ena is the daughter of the headlining illusionist Theo, of the travelling World of Wonders Circus (think Cirque de Soleil, no animals). Stricken from Polio when she was an infant, she feels ostracized from the other children because she’s different. Lena spends most days studying alone with her governess and yearns to be a doctor someday but feels limited by the restrictions the world puts on her and her fathers overprotectiveness because of her disabilities. Her life takes a turn when she stumbles upon Alexandre, an orphaned boy in one of the train cars. As WWII breaks out she because separated from those she loves and everything she knows.

I enjoyed the story overall and thought the writing was good however I would have liked more descriptions of the actual circus, the acts and the train they travelled on. The train sounded quite spacious and I could not picture how it would have fit on the tracks (one point stating it had 2 parallel aisles). Overall the pacing was good but did have some slower parts throughout. I liked the characters and their development throughout the book. The author did a great job of tying up all the main characters stories at the end and gave a brief glimpse into the future. I would definitely read another book by this author.

The Circus Train overall is a good story and the writing is engaging, but it feels like there was an effort to fit too much into the novel, making it disjointed and uneven. The novel opens in Europe just around the start of WWII. I cannot share too much about what I'm talking about because of spoilers. Lena, a nine year old girl who uses a wheelchair as a result of contracting polio as an infant, was born in Greece. Ten months of the year, she travels with her father, Theo, with the "World of Wonders." Theo is a fabulous illusionist with this circus, so talented that he could write his own ticket to work for Horace the owner. . In helping out a boy in trouble, Alexandre, Lena makes a friend. Horace reluctantly agrees to let him stay and apprentice to Theo. Alexander has recently been orphaned and his passport shows he is Jewish, a serious problem when the circus is traveling in Germany. Ultimately, the book suggests that various characters have backstories they are keeping as deep secrets, Lena begins to work toward walking with the help of the circus doctor and encouragement of Theo and Alexandre, the world is upside-down in chaos and the war ultimately affects the circus's finances and bad things happen to some of the characters and the backstories get exposed and resolved -- or not-- and then it is the early 1950s and more stuff happens and then it is over. Lena is super smart. Alexandre is very clever. Horace is a business man with mixed morals. The Nazis are bad. Theo remains unrivaled as an illusionist, except, arguably for Alexandre. I don't mind and often enjoy improbable stories that have almost an air of whimsy or gotcha. But Parikh is telling us to buy into too much in the various twists and turns of the book and I found that irritating at times. It is a strong 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to 4 because many segments of the book, standing alone are exceptional. Note: many people love this book.

The Traveling Circus was a traveling economy. Within its train cars was everything it needed to keep its performers and tenants functioning. Children were born, and children and adults alike were taken in. And to be THE guy on the posters was the big time of the big top.
Lena was in the shadow of her father's stage presence in a place she didn't quite fit in herself. Her time of self-reflection was snuffed out like so many other children's when the European roads her circus traveled were starting to be destroyed by the eve of WWII.
Author Amita Parikh has Lena come of age alongside Alexandre. This is a WWII novel, This is a YA coming-of-age novel. This is a novel of days long gone. Both the good and the bad. This novel, like the circus itself, is not just one thing and thus I have no idea how to categorize it. To me, it also falls into European History, European Literature, and sweeping Sagas.
Wherever it is placed on the bookstore shelf, it is a must-read.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Putnam Brothers. Which is an Imprint of Penguin Random House Publishing. This book will keep you guessing until the end! The story line had many feels happiness, anger, sadness ans hope. At what age do you know what love or possible true love is? Do the things that happen when we are younger make us weak or stronger ? I think the courage and strength that Theo, Lena and Alexandre took on to survive the things that happened to them in life was a miracle in some ways. The things that look glamorous in life can be an illusion. Just because something looks grand doesn't it make it true. This book can be read anywhere and by anyone.

Shortly before World War II the World of Wonders circus train sets off on tour. On board are Theo, a master illusionist, and his daughter, Lena, a polio survivor. Lena who is confined to a wheelchair is growing up in a restricted but magical world, the train itself with specialized cars and people. She is brilliant but lonely when she discovers a stowaway, Alexandre. The story takes places over the war years and beyond. We see growth, loyalty and betrayal. It is a lovely and original book.
This is a review of an eGalley provided by NetGalley.