The story centers around Lena, daughter of the star performer of a circus. Most of the action will take place on the train the circus uses for transport. Lena had polio as a baby, this story will cover her progress in life. We begin in 1938, touring Europe with the train. People don't know how to treat Lena; she is mostly ignored. She is not content with that. She will work to break out of stereotypes. I only had one spot that disappointed me, but that was resolved nicely. There is historical information provided at the end. I read an electronic version provided by Net Galley for review purposes.

WOW!!! This has become one of my all-time favorite books. I cried through it and cheered through it and sadly saw the read come to an end. Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege and enjoyment of reading this novel.

What's difficult to fathom is that this masterpiece is the first novel from author Amita Parikh. While historical fiction at its best it is also a travel log of vivid scenes through Europe and Asia.

While the setting of the novel is pre and post war WWII, it is an uplifting read about the human spirit despite both political and physical limitations. One of the pieces I had never heard about was the "model" town of Theresienstadt where "elite" Jews were sent in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. From 1941 to 1945 it served as a ghetto, labor camp, and concentration camp.

There are numerous themes and storylines throughout this book that will hook you in as I was.

Kudos!

Lena spends much of her childhood with her father on a traveling circus train in the 1930 in Europe. She has many obstacles to overcome, but she is a strong and determined girl. These traits serve her well when war arrives and turns her world upside down and she has to figure out how to survive, and then thrive.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Splendid story of the circus train. Set during World War II and filled with mystery and magic, the story grabs you and enchants you with well developed characters and a plot that you can't put down.

This story had me from the prologue. So much sadness and heartbreak in those first few pages. But then the reader also finds out that there are some secrets that are not revealed as well. So intriguing.

And then the reader gets to become a part of the exciting world of the circus. But to the people who work in the circus, that is their normal, everyday life, with joy and plenty of struggles. The life of Lena is a hard one but she is a survivor and becomes close friends with a young boy who truly believes in her.

This is a wonderful historical fiction story that gives the reader a different look at life during World War II and the control that the Nazis had over so many people. It's a story of the struggles and strength of a group of people who had to do whatever they needed to do to survive. There are plenty of surprises along the way that made their story that much more interesting.

This book is touted as must-read for fans of The Night Circus and Water for Elephants. I loved both of those stories and I feel like The Circus Train one is right up there with those two books. Check it out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was excited when I first started this book, as it seemed to have a strong premise. However, the more I read it, the more I was let down. The writing style includes a lot of "telling" rather than "showing", and it causes the plot to drag quite a bit in addition to making it incredibly predictable. There were several points where I felt the book could have ended, but it kept going. The style also hurt the characterization of the various people who made up the story, and did not leave much room for their development.

Also, I had several issues with elements of the plot. I appreciate the author's attempt to write disability representation and discuss the atrocities of the Holocaust, but I felt that both of these discussions were watered down. In particular, the fact that Lena was able to magically overcome her disability was a bit off-putting. I additionally found aspects of the story out-of-place, such as the chapter towards the end that took place in India. It felt more like an attempt to include as much representation as possible rather than a constructive portion of the novel. Ultimately, I appreciate having the opportunity to read this book, but I unfortunately cannot recommend it.

Some Content Warnings: Holocaust/antisemitism, discussions of infidelity

What shines most in this book are the characters. The author does an excellent job of developing them over time. I read a fair amount of WW 2 fiction and was worried this might be similar to others that I have read. It stands out on its own. I quickly became absorbed in the plot and the characters. Any historical fiction fan is sure to enjoy it as well.

LOVED this book. I loved Lena, Theo and Alexandre. I adored Lena’s relationship with her father. It was so fun getting lost in the World of Wonders and envisioning this blue and gold traveling circus train and the performers and their acts.

Something I wasn’t expecting was the anxiety I would feel and the sense of urgency I would have to keep turning the pages during parts of the book — one in particular but I don’t want to give a spoiler! This specific part read like mystery, keeping me on the edge of my seat!

I highly recommend this one!

This was such a beautiful story that I got so absorbed in and loved💖 I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy strong character driven historical novels. This is an Incredible One.

It was terrific in many ways, but mostly through the three strong characters Lena Papadopoulos, her father Theo, and a boy who was found on the traveling circus train, Alexandre Robichaud. Each has secrets and flaws, but overall the characters are so well developed and ones you will route for every step of the way.

The story takes place over the span of 20 years. Lena has been born with Polio and this confines her to a wheelchair as a child. This was in 1938, and her father was a spectacular Illusionist that was part of a traveling circus. All of this made for a fascinating story. Life was hard for Lena since children her age treated her differently and she was lonely. Yet, her father, her governess, Clara, and Alexandre all see the incredible Spirit, Intellect, and Potential Lena has. Alexandre and Lena are best friends as children, but through time grow up and develop strong feeling for one another. Alexandre is Jewish and always in danger of having his true identity found out. Much of this takes place during WWII and he faces real danger.

The story flows so well and I was enthralled in the Circus Life, the Encouragement for Lena to continue her Education and make her Passion for Becoming a Physician her Most Important Goal, and the Developing Love Story between Lena and Alexandre. Having a disability was also an enormous obstacle, but it is not enough to stop her incredible resolve with the help of these people around her. Just a Wonderful Embracing of the Goodness that is possible in people and in life even when life has many difficult moments. I Loved 🥰 This Book!

Thank you NetGalley, Amita Parikh, and Penguin Group Putnam. I am always happy to leave my opinion.

The Circus Train is a rich story that takes place in WWII. The writing style captivates and the characters are well-developed.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Severn House in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful World War II historical fiction debut! Hard to put down. Momentous writing that combines history and magic and wonder throughout. Beautiful story. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

This book was a page-turner! Parikh's use of different character archetypes evokes empathy with the characters and their story arcs, which I find excellent. Our main protagonist is Lena Papadopoulos, whom I would qualify as the "orphan," followed by Alexandre Robichaud, the "hero," and finally Theo Papadopoulos (Lena's father) who is the "leader."

This book has a strong character-driven plot, and each one is richly developed. In the course of following the lives of these characters (over a period of about 20 years), you become enamored with their personalities and relationships.

Throughout the course of the book, there are elements of tragedy, love, loss, and hope. It was a pleasure reading this book, and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction with a hint of romance.

5 phenomenal stars! I enjoyed everything about this book! It was set in WWII era, but with a refreshing angle. The following is the books summary:
"1938. Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the circus, even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Theo. Brilliant and curious, Lena—who uses a wheelchair after a childhood bout with polio—yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, her mind stronger than the limitations placed on her by society. Then her unconventional life takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past.

As World War II escalates around them, their friendship blossoms into something deeper while Alexandre trains as the illusionist’s apprentice. But when Theo and Alexandre are arrested and made to perform in a town for Jews set up by the Nazis, Lena is separated from everything she knows. Forced to make her own way, Lena must confront her doubts and dare to believe in the impossible—herself."

The story had all the components of a heartwarming, exciting, survival story about love and loss. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about magic and the circus. I look forward to reading more books by Parikh.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This one is out now!

I absolutely LOVED this one!! This story follows a traveling circus in Europe with WWII as the setting. But, what I loved, was that this wasn't the main focus. Knowing the setting did help put a lot of things into perspective (like the treatment of Alexandre).

Following the main character, Leena's, story, was magical. Even though this was a fictional piece, it was still truly inspiring watching Leena learn and grow as a person. Not only did Leena's growth inspire me, but also Theo & Alexandre's growth too (especially through the end of the novel).

I would recommend this one for fans of Station Eleven by Emily St.John Mandel, and if you do grab this one, I absolutely recommend pairing it with the audio - it was fantastic!!

What a wonderful debut! I read a LOT of WWII fiction, and this was a unique storyline that brought something new to the table. It’s easy to root for Lena and feel invested in her life.

This book tells the story of Lena, a little girl who survived polio and as a result is wheelchair bound, as well as her father, a talented illusionist named Theo, a Jewish orphan named Alexandre, and a whole cast of circus train characters. It spans two decades of war, love and loss, secrets and perseverance. I read the entire book in one sitting!

The Circus Train kept me wanting to read more because it was written so well, the plot was a totally new one and the characters were very interesting. Most of the story took place on a traveling circus train and included many of the performers. I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy for my honest review.

Loved reading Lena's story from birth through young womanhood. This was a different type of historical fiction book in that it had the backdrop of the traveling circus through Europe pre-WW II and during the War. It is a coming-of-age story of triumph, overcoming hurdles, and the importance of family. It is a love story both of a daughter and father and a young couple. Totally delightful read.

This is a very interesting book that evolves into very different genres/books.

The book starts out as a dramatic fiction novel where the MC Lena is in a wheelchair, struggling to make friends and she is raised by her father.

Then the book transitions into a book similar to Water for Elephants. It has a circus charm and feel, but it is still pretty emotional.

Then the next part is like a tragic WWII story that is very intense. I will say, I kind of had no idea how this book would transition into so many different type of books, but it was nicely done without seeming clunky.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

a riveting storyline... but not at all what I was expecting. Not a lot of circus-ing. More of a romance. Started out super engaging then I felt it slowed down but still a captivating and unique story!