I agree that fans of The Night Circus and Water for Elephants will enjoy this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it and always appreciate when historical fiction novels show me a different side of things. There's just something about the circus that I find mesmerizing!

From the fanciful world of a traveling circus to the unrelenting misery of the Jewish camps in WWII, through this whole book runs a thread of the most human of emotions - hope.

Crippled by an illness shortly after birth, Lena fights to emerge from the shadows the world tries to push her into. Growing up the daughter of a famed illusionist traveling with a circus, everyone is polite to her because of her dad, but no one is her friend until Lena finds Alexandre, a starving Jewish orphan with traumas of his own. Alexandre is her world, her best friend and her first kiss, until a betrayal rips away both Alexandre and Lena's dad, found guilty by the Germans of nothing more than being Jews. Lena believes them dead and begins building a life beyond them, while they fight to find their way back to her - alive.

This book brings to life a span of twenty years, from Lena's childhood puppy love to adulthood and mature love. Lena's courage carries the book, as she learns to trust Alexandre, fights through physical therapy to walk again and gives herself permission to follow her heart, no matter what.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE CIRCUS TRAIN by Amita Parikh is a work of historical fiction and an international best seller. The debut novel was chosen as the #1 LibraryReads selection for December. The suspenseful story of survival takes place in Europe during the 1930s (and later) at a touring circus named the World of Wonders. The main characters are Theo Papadopoulos, a talented illusionist and over-protective father to Lena, who had polio as an infant and must use a wheelchair; and Alexandre, a young Jewish orphan who becomes Theo's apprentice and Lena's close friend. A key theme of the novel is persistence and resilience; it is reflected in Lena's efforts to learn to walk and the later descriptions of conditions in a concentration camp when the trio are separated. Parikh writes, "Your greatest achievements often grow out of the worst circumstances" and uses her research to accurately depict disability and hardship at that time, all while developing empathy and concern for her realistic characters. Booklist recommended THE CIRCUS TRAIN for teens, saying "Teens who enjoy coming-of-age journeys will be drawn to Lena's story and the intriguing traveling-circus setting." Of course, comparisons will be made to Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, but the time period and adolescent characters are also reminiscent of WWII titles by Ruth Sepetys (like Salt to the Sea) or Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity; Rose Under Fire).

What a beautifully told story. This is a must read. Add it to your list. It covers quite a bit of history that you may not have known about. I didn't. It's so worth reading.

This story starts out with you meeting Theo Papadopoulos. Horace is a circus train owner and when he meets Theo he wants him to come work for his circus. Theo is an illusionist. He and his wife agree to join the train after she gives birth to their child. Things don't work out to great though. Theo's wife dies soon after she gives birth to Lena, their baby girl.

Months later Theo and Lena become part of World of Wonders circus train with certain understandings. Lena contracted Polio as a baby and will need full care. A doctor and a governess. Horace had a great doctor on board and agreed to pay for a governess and full time care for Lena. Lena was in a wheelchair. She could not walk or run. Could not do any of the things the other children could. But she was smart. She was very smart. She loved learning and spent a lot of time with the doctor. She loved watching him work and seemed to absorb the things she saw. The mixing of ingredients for sick people. The books the doctor had. She spent time in the library also.

You'll meet Alexandre also. He was found by Lena and they became fast friends. The story takes off about them and you'll fall in love with their characters. Then WW2 breaks out and some things change. Alexandre is terrified of being found out. He has secrets that he won't share with anyone. Yes he is Jewish but he has an even deeper secret. Theo befriends him too and they are like a family. Theo has a few secrets of his own and thus the story goes. When Theo decides to take his family away where they will be safe Horace finds out and things take a bad turn. Alexandre and Horace are separated from Lena. Theo tells her that he will find her no matter where she is.

Many years go by and lots of changes are made. Both from the war and from the circus train. You'll learn a bit about Horace and how he came to make this circus. What made him the way he is. I felt so sorry for him while reading his story. I felt a lot of feelings while reading this book. It's a very touching and honestly a beautifully written book. This author did a magnificent job of pulling me in and the descriptions she uses are perfection. The way things play out is truly great. You will get answers to all your questions. Why did Horace do things he did. What secrets do Theo and Alexandre have. Will Lena ever find peace and happiness. Will she find the love she most desperately deserves. And the all important question: Will Lena ever walk?

There are lots of ups and downs in this book. A lot going one. Told in three parts and over several decades you will hear what happened to each of the main characters. Where they went and what they did. How they survived if they did. This book will keep you turning the pages until the very ending and you'll feel happy that you read it. And do not skip past the Author's note. It contains a lot of information that you should enjoy. The research that was put into this book is great. Though this is a fiction book it's steeped in a lot of history. Actual history.

This was a hard review to write because you can't give anything away or you ruin it for others. I am telling you that it's so worth reading and it is. It's one that you certainly do not want to miss. Have tissues handy though as you will need them.

Thank you #NetGalley, #AmitaParikh and #PenguinGroupPutnam for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. I just hope I did it justice.

5 huge stars and a very high recommendation. Read it. Savor it. Enjoy it.

4.25? 4.5? - I really enjoyed this! I loved the whole cast of characters and seeing our main few persevere through so much. This story is sprawling, literally as it covers decades, but it also touches on so much. Maybe tries to do too much? I don’t know. I really did love and felt connected to and hooked by the story. It’s so beautiful and detailed, but I honestly wasn’t bored. And a HF debut?! Blown away. I can’t wait to see what else Parikh does.

The Circus Train, a debut story, by Amita Parihn is a gorgeous novel spanning decades. Set during World War II, the book follows Lena Papadopoulos, Theo Alexandre, and Clara – all characters from the renowned World of Wonders.

The main character Lena is a lonely girl, who as a child contracted polio. Shunned by the other children because of her wheelchair, she escapes by reading books. That is, until she finds a friend in Alexandre, a Jewish orphan on the run. Lena’s father, master illusionist Theo, takes Alexandre under his wing as an apprentice and the two develop a fantastical act, until they are captured by the Nazis.

This book spans decades that takes you through Lena’s journey of isolation, education, loss and perseverance. She is a strong female character and one I won’t soon forget.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Amita Parikh for giving us a young heroine we can all love and showing us that family can be found in the most unconventional places.

Polio trauma. A traveling circus. A world war.
Helena Papadopoulos is living her childhood in the complicated mix of all three.

This is not just another WWII novel. Amita Parikh has painted a blue and gold wonder in the midst of horrific history. Her characters, especially Lena, reach through the pages looking for stability.
While I hoped for further detail concerning Lena's disabilities and the circus dailies, in the end, the story wouldn't have changed.
I am thankful I have not lived through the struggles of this unique story, but I appreciated the experience of The Circus Train.

I was looking for a book to fulfill the 'book with a circus or carnival' requirement for the Extreme Booknerd Challenge through my library and then I came across this one on #netgalley. It's a mashup of a circus setting, WWII, forbidden love and mystery. I loved it.

There are definitely WWII themes but it does not overpower the rest. Plus, the WWII aspect was new and different of what I'd read before. I had not known of the ghetto, Theresiendstadt, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia that was marketed as a "spa town" for the privileged and jamous Jews of Europe.

Highly recommend for HF lovers.

A wonderful coming of age story full of hope, tragedy, determination and perseverance. Lena is a force to be reckoned with and I admired her spirit. I loved how this was a story about a traveling circus during WWII but at the epicenter is a story about young love with a heroine who you can’t help but root for.

I would have liked a little less atmosphere and more character development. I also felt the chapter with Harry “5 Months later” in India was un necessary. It felt disjointed to me.

Even still, with those minor flaws I still really enjoyed the book and was so happy to see it be picked up for Book of The Month.

4 stars. Recommend to readers who like their historical fiction with a little bit of magic.

It felt like the author was trying to take on too much and didn't really do any of it justice. The Holocaust felt like a blip, I only slightly got an impression of circus life, and Lena's disability seemed so quickly overcome that it lost relevance a third of the way through the book. I never really felt like I was in the moment with the characters - I couldn't picture all these interconnected train cars (wouldn't the train have to be a straight line?) and I often couldn't tell from the narration whether Lena was using her wheelchair, braces or a cane at any given moment, which made it hard to experience the progression of her learning to walk. Even the relationship between Alexandre and Lena never really came to life, it just felt like we were told they loved each other and that was that.

✨𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰✨⁣⁣
The Circus Train by Amita Parikh ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Historical fiction lovers, you must read this book! If historical fiction isn’t your genre, you can absolutely still love this breathtaking story. Especially fans of The Night Circus & Water for Elephants. ⁣⁣
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Lena has grown up inside the dazzling World of Wonders traveling circus train. Her father, Theo, is an illusionist and Lena’s whole world. Having been infected with polio as a baby, Lena is wheelchair bound and finds herself lonely and desperate for a friend who sees beyond her restraints. Enter Alexandre, the Jewish orphan who will win her heart. ⁣⁣
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There were so many elements to this story that drew me in. First, historical circus yes please! A sweeping love story spanning 20 years, found family, secrets spilled, a depiction of WWII different from anything else I’ve read, and life with a disability were a few of the other components I loved. ⁣⁣
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I am truly blown away that this is a debut novel. Parikh is one to watch, I can not wait to see what she does next. The characters from this story will live inside my head and my heart for a very long time. ⁣⁣
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Thank you @netgalley and @penguingroupputnam for this DRC.

Sometimes in the middle of the very darkest days of your life, when hope seems like a fairy tale and happiness a dream you can find a spark of magic that ignites your destiny such a moment is where we find Lena.

In this beautiful coming of age in a time of uncertainty the world over, a young girl living in a wheelchair might seem like a tragedy but for Lena, Papadopoulos life is nothing short of magical.

Living on board the World of Wonders Circus train is really the only life Lena has ever known, with her Father Theo an illusionist, and her tutor Claire she thinks she has it all, well almost, the one thing she wants is a friend that accepts her for who she is.

Then one night she finds Alexander, a stowaway, half frozen and barely alive. Theo talks Horace the Circus' owner and designer into letting him stay, heal, and become an apprentice for Theo's illusionist act.

That one decision will change all of their lives forever, there was no way to know what was to come or how much they should appreciate what they had.

With moments that are both breathtaking and heartbreaking, The Circus Train feels like a world of fantasy and fairy tales, but like most stories, there will be tragedy and dread wrapped in hope and magic.

Lena's life began before we understood very much about polio and as a result she was confined to a wheelchair. Her father was a prominent illusionist with a circus train and her father insisted she become educated so her books became the focus of her life since other children had no time for a person in a wheelchair.. That changed when she helped to rescue Alexander because they became soulmates. Then came the war and she lost Alexander and her father to a round up of Jews. The story gives an important description about what happened at Theresienstadt and also about the attitude of men toward women when they tried to break into academia; I would recommend this book even though I always felt like an outsider looking in and never became emotionaly bonded to Lena.

Ramona Thompson

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Penguin Group in exchange for my honest opinion. My thanks go to them and the author.

Genre: General Fiction, Historical Fiction, perhaps romance
Trigger warnings: I didn't feel like this one needs warnings because the worst tragedies of WWII are not front and center on the page.

I enjoyed this book immensely!

The characters are interesting and fully-fleshed out. No one is squeaky clean except for Lena who has led a sheltered life from living in a wheelchair and being isolated. Lena was born premature and contracted polio as an infant—her situation was handled with great care and sensitivity by the author for historical context and to honor modern readers' feelings about disability. Alexandre is Lena's love interest when she's a child, so this historical novel could also be seen as a romance. Alexandre is a great foil for Lena because of his upbringing on the streets with an abusive father. My heart was drawn to both of these characters.

Each choice made by the characters lead to another twist that can't be foreseen. But the twists are foreshadowed. The one issue I had with the book the short chapter when the character is only addressed as "he" to keep us tenterhooks. I felt like that was a bit too "tricky" as a story device. Each chapter drew me to the next one, wanting to know more. I wanted things to turn out for Lena. Her strength was admirable and is a good role model for everyone to reach for their dreams even in the face of rejection.

After reading this book, I wanted to know more about circuses during WWII. I was so grateful there was back matter about this. That's a sign of a good historical fiction novel—that you want to know more. The LGBTQ community is represented through background characters, but it's not a major thread through the story.

Get ready because, I think this book will win awards for 2022.

Anyone with an interest in WWII, social issues, representation of marginalized communities, and romance will enjoy this book.

I highly recommend it!

A great story of love and compassion triumphing over hate and discrimination. I found it interesting that both the hero and heroine in this book were outcasts from the circus and society and able to understand each other so well, and in the end, live their dreams.

This was highly anticipated for me this winter! The author has a beautiful way with words and perfectly wove a story that felt as though it was being played out in front of me. It was clearly well researched as well. The Circus Train brought all the emotions out… heartbreak, hope, longing, sadness, excitement, etc. A great debut!

{3.5 stars}

Lena is a young girl who survived polio as a baby. Because of this, her life is limited. She travels with her father as he performs with a traveling circus. She has safety, security and love but longs for more. She wants to be a normal kid. As WWII begins to break out in Europe, the train’s movements are limited and her father seizes an opportunity when a Jewish orphan is thrust in their path. Lena is transformed until the war breaks them apart. She must go on with her life without her father and her best friend. She is left to decide how to forge a path forward.

I liked this story. There is nothing more energizing than a plucky young heroine. In this case her “limitations” formed the springboard for the direction which her life took. I know WWII fiction has been done to death but it’s role here is not the star of the story. We get huge swaths of life before and after. I felt the ending was a bit predictable but I enjoyed the journey.

Check this one out if you liked The Whalebone Theatre.

Thanks to GP Putnam and Sons for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

This may very well be an absolutely beautiful book but I found it so sad that I was unable to finish it. Thank you for the opportunity and your consideration.

The Circus Train is about "The Beddington and Sterling World of Wonders" which travels through Europe in the years preceding and following WWII. Directed by Horace Beddington, the circus is known far and wide for its splendor and unique and fascinating acts. The three main characters in the story are Theodore Papadapolous, an illusionist; his daughter, Lena, who had polio as an infant and is wheelchair bound; and Alexandre, an orphan 2 years older than Lena, who is found hiding on the train and is taken in by Theo. Theo then trains him to be an illusionist.

The story spans fourteen years, and readers are privy to all the changes in each of the characters as well as the world situation during that time. This debut book is a good read on many levels. The characters are complex and fully human and life as a young disabled person is thoughtfully portrayed. There's a sense of family, of love, and adventure throughout the story.

Two of the things I liked best about the book is that it explores how often and how much we can be held back by how others view us, taking their limited view of our abilities and of the possibilities for our life as true. Second, the powerful, rippling impact one person can have on our life, a person who believes in us, who sees us not as we currently are, but as we may become.

Phrases from the book that stuck with me are:

"Lena's disability had taught her a harsh truth: she was different, and people didn't like different."

"If I only did or watched what was expected of me, I wouldn't have survived."

"Your greatest achievements often grow out of the worst circumstances."

"No matter what anyone tells you. You can always be who you were meant to be."

"After thirty years of practicing medicine, the only thing I know for certain is that in the absence if evidence, we have to have blind faith."

I look forward to reading more from this author!

My thanks to GP Putnam's Sons for letting me read an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. The book is set for publication on 12/6/22. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given..

The Circus Train was such an unexpected delight! I fell in love with all of the characters instantaneously and was eager to learn more about their stories. There were numerous historical components embedded in the story but I found some of the most prolific elements involved the secrets the characters withheld from each other and the strong relationships that were developed. The characters were brought to life with the impeccable writing and I was easily able to visualize the various settings, good and bad. It was a slow burn that lead up to quite an exciting finale that kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, I thought this was a great debut novel! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.