Thank you to @penguinbooks and @netgalley for the eARC of this book. Too bad I'm almost 2 months late reviewing it. That's how I roll lately, it seems.

Every time I pick up a really good historical fiction book, I remember why it's my favorite genre. Lena is the daughter of the headline illusionist in a circus back in 1938. She lives her life in a wheelchair after having polio as a small child. Struggling to fit in with the other circus children, Lena finds her chance when she meets Alexandre and rescues him. An orphaned urchin from the streets, he quickly is nursed back to health by the circus doctor.

The story of these two children's blossoming friendship is beautiful. Then, as the two approach puberty things get interesting, especially considering this time frame of history…..hello WWII

This is Anita Paring's debut novel and I can't wait to read more! I loved this one and highly recommend for anyone who loves a fantastic historical fiction.

I liked the straight forward writing style and was intrigued by the premise. The story initially failed to pull me in, but did get more interesting as I stuck with it. However, the story never quite reached the depth the topics called for.

Despite maybe not a perfect match for me, I would still be intrigued to check out this author’s work in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Circus Train follows two children, Lena and Alexandre, as they grow up in a magically extravagant circus at the beginning of WWII.
I really liked the premise of this book and the beginning, but I feel like it lost it's way in the middle and end. I think the turning point of the book where Horace turns Alexandre and Theo in to the Germans was very out of nowhere and out of character for him. Alexandre and Theo's journey after that doesn't hit anywhere near as hard as it should have and seems very light given the circumstances they're supposed to be in. A lot of the characters become unnecessarily melodramatic out of nowhere which makes it hard to relate to them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The World of Wonders was the famous circus group that travelled across Europe. Among the performers were the great and renowned illusionist Theo. Traveling with Theo was his daughter Lena. Lena grew up with the circus, but she was not a performer. Lena was handicapped due to polio and was tied to a wheel chair all her life. Lena longs to be normal and her secluded life is making her sad until the day Alexandre came to the train and became Lena’s friend.

I really like how this book was a different uptake on a WWII representation. Though this book was a bit slow burn for me, I can’t deny the very detailed and intricate narratives of the writing. It is very long to my liking but no worries there because the ending makes the book worth it’s every page. I love the characters, they were all packaged well. Its a good mix of a coming-of-age story in a historical fiction set up. I did have questions in my mind as I was reading but the author’s note in the end is a section not to miss. Albeit lengthy, its a good book over all!

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-copy to read in exchange of my honest review.

A true coming of age story and a tale of star crossed lovers, The Circus Train brings the whimsy and wonder of the circus and the torment and anguish of World War II into a gripping tale of perseverance, grit, family, and love. The cast of characters is so lovable (with a few exceptions that become obvious in time) and you will find yourself rooting for everyone in the end. Told in four parts, the natural breaks in the story drive the plot forward. This book made me laugh and cry, and was a very unique perspective for a historical fiction piece.

I liked this book a lot. It combined three of my favorite settings: the circus, a train & World War II & was full of interesting characters. The writing felt a little simplistic but I was willing to overlook it since I was enjoying the story so much.

This is a very unique novel. It is a war story, a love story, and a look at a perilous time in the world! The three main characters are a part of a circus train that goes from country to country
And tries to hide the fact that a lot of Jewish performers are hiding from the Nazis. You will be hooked on the story from the first page and you will learn a lot about the time period. Enjoy ...

I rarely give 5 stars but this has earned 5 stars in my eyes. I'm so excited for others to read this book. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Lena has grown up traveling through Europe with the World of Wonders, a luxurious circus where her father performed as an illusionist. Disabled from polio as an infant, Lena is friendless until she discovers Alexandre, a stowaway who recently lost his parents. Told against the backdrop of World War II, this story travels from the circus to the horrible Theresienstadt Ghetto to post-war London and Paris. I was completely immersed in this debut and look forward to reading more from the author.

Historical fiction has long been an Achilles heel for me, especially if it’s good historical fiction. I love this story. With little Lena, who is but 6 or 7 years old at the start of the story. Afflicted by Polio as a baby and unable to walk she has grown accustomed to living her life as an outsider. She is surrounded by loving and caring adults who see to it that she has the best care, and with her brilliant scientific mind, she flourishes. Until Alexander, a Jewish boy with a shady past, crosses paths with Lena, no one in her life seems to think Lena may have a life possible one day where she could not only walk but walk without aids. Alexander see’s a spark in Lena, and so begins a remarkable friendship, in which Lena does the impossible, graduating from a wheelchair to walking with a cane. With their lives in the traveling circus, things are magical, but no one can escape the horrors of WW11 forever, and the traveling circus that has been her home proves to be no safe refuge. When Lena is separated from her father and the boy she has come to have more than friendly feelings for, Lena must find her own path without knowing if she will see Alexander and her father again. This story evolves on two different tracks, as Lena grows into a woman and continues to defy every limitation placed on her, and Lena’s father and Alexander face Nazi horrors head on. Many edge of the seat moments left wondering if these characters make it to the end. This is called the Circus Train, but it was more like an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. Many compliments to the author for painting this remarkable world of magical circuses, and magical people living in an extraordinary time. Review posted to Amazon, Litsy, LibraryThing, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads.

As somebody who is not a fan of circus based plots, I took time to start this one but Lena's story got me engrossed and the historical timeperiod made it absolutely beautiful. I was completely invested in Lena's life and I needed to know how she handles with her relationship when her friend, Alexandre, a Jew has to face the Nazis in WW2. I liked her passion towards education and becoming a physican inspite of her handicap that makes her father coddle her all the time. It was a beautiful read but I felt it could have been even better with a trim.

Wow, I loved this book! A circus, the amazing circus acts and performers, WWII. I have never read such a combination. Amazing story which held my interest right from the start.

The World of Wonders is a travelling circus sure to invite and delight.

Lena Papadopoulos is unique in one respect- she lives her life in a wheelchair. As a polio survivor when a baby, she has no movement in her legs and while that was a novelty as a young child, it has shown to be prohibitive as she and her friends got older. But living the life in the circus circuit has given her a place to belong with her governess and father. Her father, Theo, is an illusionist and the encore of each show. It is through him that she has such a comfortable and safe life. But maybe he's sometimes a little too confining to what she is allowed to do.

At one stop, orphan Alexandre joins the troupe and is given the responsibility of being Lena's friend. A natural friendship ensues and we get to watch the relationship of these best friends grow. But life in the circus never feels enough for Lena. When Theo and Alexandre go missing, Lena must create her own life and live to her fullest.

I thought this was overall a very inspiring story. The Polio aspects were well researched and an interesting part of this story. The ending felt a little rushed, which I am sad about, but overall a very enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Absolutely and completely adored this book. Perfect amount of fantasy, scenery, storylines, gut wrenching reality, and absolutely amazing characters. Had trouble putting it down. Thanks for the opportunity

What an exquisite historical fiction! Such rich detail and beautiful prose. I appreciate the attention to detail. I was sucked into the world and beauty of this book.

I loved this book so much! It was so well written, and I loved the way the story developed. The characters were so well done and there was a lot of growth. I really liked the historical fiction aspect with WWII in the background of the traveling circus. There was also a mysterious aspect which I wasn't expecting but brought a different aspect to the story that I enjoyed. Fans of The Night Circus and WWII historical will enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced read of The Circus Train by Amita Parikh.

This is a historical fiction centering on one girl's the coming-of-age during WWII. What really sets it apart from so many other WWII historical fiction books is the setting - a travelling circus moving all throughout Europe.

Lena Papadopoulos is the daughter of Theo, the lead illusionist. She is brilliant, curious, but lonely. Due to childhood polio, Lena is confined to a wheelchair and seemingly endless stretches in the infirmary carriage. However, her whole world shifts when she meets and befriends a runaway (and stowaway) orphan Alexandre, who pushes her to question the limits of both her condition and her own abilities.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Lena and following her from meek little girl to a strong and courageous woman. And I loved reading about a completely different side of WWII. The character development was very well done, each person having their own secrets and flaws that ultimately resulted in heartbreak, suffering, and eventually growth and forgiveness. I absolutely recommend reading this book!

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh. Pub Date: December 6, 2022. Rating: 3.5 stars. Set against the backdrop of WWII, this story takes the reader on a ride of the World of Wonders, a traveling circus through Europe. In this story, Lena is the daughter of Theo, a famous illusionist. She travels with him on the circus, but lives a secluded life due to being disabled. She yearns for human connection and when she rescues an orphan named Alexandre she is opened to a new world of possibilities. This novel reads lyrically with beautiful scenery and imagery throughout. I did feel this book was slow in some parts, but I appreciated a new spin on the WWII historical fiction genre. Overall, a solid historical fiction read. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #thecircustrain

As a historical fiction fan, the second I read that it was set in the pre, during, and post World War II era I knew that I was going to love this book. Little did I know, it didn’t have much to do with the war BUT that did not take away from my love for this book.

The Circus Train was a beautiful tale of a young girl on the train of an exclusive traveling circus. Her father is an illusionist hired by the circus after Lena’s mother dies of child birth leaving her to grow up on the circus train. As a young child Lena catches polio which left her unwell and ultimately chair bound the rest of yer life. Though her legs didn’t work, her mind was sharp! As she gets older she explores the world, finds new friends, experiences great loss, and with the help of the circus doctor she finds out that with some therapy she learns that she actually has the ability to walk.

This was a beautiful story of friendship, adventure, personal growth, empowerment, and romance. If you are a historical fiction fan, this is right up your alley! I high recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam books for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

While some of the circumstances in the story seem a tad too convenient, and some of the drama a bit melodramatic, if you're looking for a soapy historical drama, this book might be right up your alley.