This is such a great book. It’s really well written and the characters’ development are top notch. It’s a very entertaining historical fiction and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the in exchange for a review.

This book caught me by surprise. I read a lot of books set in WWII era and many of them are so similar. This was different.

We follow Lena, a young girl who is in a wheelchair. She got polio as a young child and was never able to walk. Her father, Theo is an illusionist for a famous Circus that travels around Europe. Lena is a very bright child and since she spends so much time with the dr. on the circus train, she grows to love science and is a very good student. She has a private tutor named Clara that is inspires Lena that she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. To add some interest, a young Jewish boy stubbles onto the train and Lena finds him and they decide to keep him aboard and he becomes an apprentice to Theo and a friend to Lena.

While the author does try to cover many issues in this book, I feel she does a great job of letting the reader feel the emotions of our characters without getting too bogged down in every issue that comes up. Lena is so defined by her medical condition that it is a huge part of the novel, but we see her struggle in all stages as she tries other things that may help her walk. Her inner strength throughout this book is great to read about.
Each of our characters have some secret and for that reason alone it kept me turning the pages.

It does take place during WWII but that is very much a back drop. While most of the time the war is not an issue for our characters, there is a time when it does take center stage. I was thankful for that in the sense, that I have read many books about the horrors that happened and I was glad that we did not get into too much detail with that in this book.

The only part that I really felt was misplaced and didn't add to the story too much was toward the end when we see Harry taking pictures in India. While it would have been great if he was still an integral part of the story but he really wasn't so it felt out of place.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the storyline each one of them had on their own and together as a group. I liked the secrets that are revealed and the sweet romance that we see.
I am excited to follow this author and see what else she writes in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of The Circus Train by Amita Parikh. It's a incredible story of survival and friendship. I definitely want reread this and own it.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The Circus Train by Amita Parikh.
This is a beautiful story of love and relationships. A story of secrets and family. A story of survival and friendship. Well written with incredible detail. This is a story that I will recommend to others!

The Circus Train is a book that absolutely took me by surprise and had me in tears by the end. This book follows a young girl living with her father and traveling through different countries with the circus during the war. Lena is wheelchair bound after suffering from polio at a young age. One unexpected day Lena comes in contact with a young boy who is passed out after stealing food from the train. Lena's life may never be the same after.

If you are reluctant to pick up a book that has circus in the title, don't be. This book centers more on the characters than on aspects of the circus. The characters were an absolute delight and I enjoyed Lena's fierce independence and optimism throughout.

The ending is also one of my all time favorites now. k

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for allowing me to read an early copy. Loved it and have already passed it to my reader group.

Lena Papadopoulos has grown up as part of the World of Wonders, a traveling circus where her father is a performer. Although she's intelligent and curious, her physical abilities after suffering from polio as an infant which leaves her feeling as an outsider among the other children. When a young boy is found on board and he befriends her, much of her life changes for the better. Lena goes from a young girl to a young women who pursues all the dreams of her childhood.

The Circus Train was a great book! This book is not just historical fiction but a love story, coming of age, the struggle for the Jews and how a girl with polio tries to fit in.
From the first chapter you can’t wait to find out what happens and it doesn’t disappoint. It is very well written and the characters feel like you know them.
Lena has polio, wheelchair bound and feels very left out as no one really wants to be her friend. She lives with her father, who is a magician/ illusionist with the circus. She has everything she could want. . Her father is doting but protective and she longs for companionship. She studies and reads and documents for the circus doctor. She discovers science and realizes so much about life. The book moves quickly and Lena’s life changes.
There is so much to this book
I throughly enjoyed his book and highly recommend it.

I am extremely surprised at all the wonderful debut novels that have been coming out and this is no exception. This historical fictional book touches upon family, love, and hope and is filled with magic!

I loved the three characters, Lena Papadopoulos, Theo, and Alexandre. The characters were well-developed! Their friendship is touching and I dare you not to have a tear or two as you read this novel, as I found it to be emotional. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Predictable and full of cliches: 3.75/5
Entertainment - 4/5
Recommend: 5/5

Triggers ⚠️: Child abuse, Holocaust.

Dear The Circus Train,
You are a bookstagram made me do it book. And as usual, bookstagram didn't steer me wrong. I lost myself in your beautiful and heartbreaking story. I loved watching Lena blossom as she fought her way to her feet and into herself. Her and Theo's tender relationship, and her and Alexander's friendship were beautifully written. I loved the concept of a circus on a train, but had a difficult time visualizing how it would all function. There was a magical realism feeling to the whole circus a fantastical element that I enjoyed. The villainy of Horace made him wonderful to hate, and added even more tension to the story. While you were not perfect, I enjoyed losing myself in your world.

I absolutely loved reading this book. It was well written and enjoyable. Great job! Thank you for the arc!

3.5/5 stars, really emotional story but also just long

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Going into this, I knew this was a historical fiction book, with hints about World War II, but the circus aspect in history was so interesting. I have not read many books with a story centered around a circus, especially in modern history. That was my favorite part of the book, how unique this felt, but after the first part of the story, this aspect faded a bit into the background. As the story progressed the World War II conflict grew, as well as in general it was just a story of Lena's growth as a young woman in this time period.

This was a very complicated story, and I'm not really sure how to talk about it. One thing that I think dampened my enjoyment of the story was that it felt like it was trying to take on too many things at once. This included things like disabilities, family conflict/what it means to be a family, the World War II impact, and being a woman in this time period. Obviously, all these things that were depicted could have really happened to someone, but it made me disconnect a bit. I'm not really sure what message this was trying to send, or what themes it wanted to point out more specifically, so it wasn't effective in my opinion as it could've been if it had focused on a few fewer things/themes.

Lena as a main character was actually very fun to follow, she's a young girl who has a disability that doesn't allow her to walk on her own, or really at all. This book jumps around to some other characters' perspectives like Alexandre, but at its core, this book is about her. It's about her growth and how she fights for her own rights and what she wants in life, and how she overcomes everything that is thrown at her. However, when the book focuses on Alexandre and their connection as well, more emphasis is placed on overcoming obstacles like the war.

The ending for this book left me feeling a little disappointed, I can't really explain why without revealing spoilers but I was left wanting more. It was in a way a happy ending, but nothing that happened really overjoyed me. I do however recommend this to historical fiction lovers, who are looking for something around the World War II era that doesn't just focus solely on the war.

[TW: death of a mother, disability -> unable to walk, child abuse (physical), childhood polio, war themes, beating, blood and gore, smoking, kidnapping, slum and less than livable conditions, beatings, pregnancy mentioned, cheating mentioned]

I’m such a fan of historical fiction, especially set in WWII and The Circus Train is none like I’ve read before. Parikh really makes you fall in love with the main characters - Lena, Theo, and Alexandre - so much so that once I got going, I couldn’t put this
book down. This story has so many elements weaved in, which is what makes it so enjoyable. This is story of love, courage, and sacrifice and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction - it won’t be like anything you’ve read before!

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Amita Parikh tells a haunting story full of adventure and intrigue. Her seamless portrayal of a young Jew and his protector during the Nazi genocide interspersed with a girl suffering the aftereffects of polio is riveting.

I loved how the scenery always changed with the traveling circus, yet the story also seemed grounded through the perpetual movement. The maze that Theo built for Lena is nothing short of amazing, and I want one for myself.

Young Alexandre stole my heart though. The poor boy ran from a past he couldn't forget into a future full of doubt and imprisonment. I truly loved Alexandre with all my heart. I was devastated when he and Theo were torn from Lena.

The ending of The Circus Train is what clinched it for me though. I cried so hard with joy that it took me days to pick up another book. The hangover was intense.

I award The Circus Train 4 out of 5 stars. I urge everyone to read this heartwarming tale of love and loss and love again.

I have and will continue to enjoy historical fiction around the Holocaust. Not because what happened wasn't horrific, but because I find the stories around these events fascinating and horrifying. The Circus Train is very much a different take on the Holocaust and WWII than a lot of the books that have been getting traction these days - a lot of those are focused on bookstores and spies - and spends a good portion of the book actually dealing with something other than the Holocaust in how it builds the story of the circus and Lena's struggle with her disability.

The first part of the book is a bit slower in terms of plot, because the bulk is focused on the circus and how it is such a unique space. But at the same time, there are moments where the rest of the book creeps in with the fact that Alexandre is Jewish and the train encounters more and more challenges as the war progresses. I also found it fascinating that the train could move between both sides of the war with what seemed like little resistance because it was a form of entertainment.

The latter parts of the book moved very quickly with the concentration camp and the characters growing up. I don't want to introduce any spoilers, so that's all I'm going to say about the plot. I will say that I really wanted to know the secrets being kept and it was really annoying that I had to wait as long as I did.

The characters are well developed, especially Lena. I did find Alexandre and Theo not as developed for sure and, in parts, I struggled with the fact that the middle section seemed rushed. But all in all the story moves well and is satisfying. I was also happy with how it ended, although no real surprises.

I love reading historical fiction about the circus. I love how much passion there is for both performers and patrons.

The Circus Train stole my heart because it incorporated the circus, romance, and World War II. It's hard to imagine everything they went through or the loneliness Lena endures at the end. But maybe that's why I love it so much - this book took me to another world and allowed me to escape 2023.

This was a beautiful heartwarming story. The author did a wonderful job in developing the characters over time and giving beautiful imagery of the World of Wonders circus during WWII while also showing the realities of Lena who was a survivor of polio. The book is a story of perseverance, redemption, and romance.

I highly recommend this book. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Although, this is out my normal genre choice, I did enjoy this story. The author did a good job with the writing and keeping me entertained.

This was a great book and had many themes that I love to read about such as circuses and WWII. I loved Lena's character and it was amazing to read her story and growth throughout this book. It was heavy and emotional at times, but also hopeful. The circus moments were magical and glittery and I loved that. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

Beautifully written historical fiction. Very atmospheric and immersive. Set in the 30s, the story follows the leader of a circus and the daughter that contracted polio as a baby. A story that spans over years, strong characters prop up this inspiring and captivating novel. An engaging and entertaining read.

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh is an historical fiction novel about two people who grew up in a traveling circus during WWII. Lena’s father Theo is the circus’ illusionist. As a child Lena had polio and has lived most of her life in a wheelchair. One day she stumbles upon a boy who has snuck onto the train. Alexandre is of jewish descent and has no family. Theo decides to hide Alexandre’s identity and make Alexandre his protege if he agrees to be friends with Lena.

I love historical fiction books, and gravitate towards those set during WWII and I also love books about circuses, so this was immediately added to my TBR when I came across it. It did not disappoint! I loved Lena and Alexandre’s friendship. I also thought including a character who had Polio, which I’ve never read about in a book before, was an interesting addition to the story. Apparently it was very prominent during this time, but I have never come across a character whose life was impacted by Polio. This WWII historical fiction book is definitely unique enough to be distinguished from the many other books set during this time period.