melps1611's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
paigedc's review against another edition
4.0
Billed as a mix between The Night Circus (one of my very favorite books!) and Water For Elephants (another decent story), I was highly intrigued by this Book of the Month selection. More historical fiction than magical mysticism, it gives you characters to love and an angle of WWII we don’t often hear about.
Lena and her father Theo have lived on the circus train since she was a baby. Since her mother died in childbirth and left her crippled by polio, Lena is dependent on Theo and his talents of illusion to provide for them. Though they travel the world and she wants for almost nothing, her existence is a lonely one. One day, they discover a stowaway on the train, the enigmatic Alexandre, and Theo agrees to take him in and apprentice him in the art of illusion. Lena’s and Alexandre’s friendship blossoms while the war in Europe rages. When the unthinkable happens and their family is torn apart, Lena must look for a courage she never knew she possessed. And Theo and Alexandre learn of a life of Jews and marginalized people during the war that is miles away from anything they experienced on the circus train. Their roads back to each other may be long, but it is full of heart.
This is a beautiful story, if not a little stilted at times. I loved Lena’s tenacity and the historical research that went into creating this world. The three main characters were all flawed but redeemable, and it was a story I felt compelled to keep reading each day. A win in my book!
Lena and her father Theo have lived on the circus train since she was a baby. Since her mother died in childbirth and left her crippled by polio, Lena is dependent on Theo and his talents of illusion to provide for them. Though they travel the world and she wants for almost nothing, her existence is a lonely one. One day, they discover a stowaway on the train, the enigmatic Alexandre, and Theo agrees to take him in and apprentice him in the art of illusion. Lena’s and Alexandre’s friendship blossoms while the war in Europe rages. When the unthinkable happens and their family is torn apart, Lena must look for a courage she never knew she possessed. And Theo and Alexandre learn of a life of Jews and marginalized people during the war that is miles away from anything they experienced on the circus train. Their roads back to each other may be long, but it is full of heart.
This is a beautiful story, if not a little stilted at times. I loved Lena’s tenacity and the historical research that went into creating this world. The three main characters were all flawed but redeemable, and it was a story I felt compelled to keep reading each day. A win in my book!
sandravs102383's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarah0003's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
duhig002's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lucyengland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
_reading_kelly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
WW2, traveling circus train, found family, disability/Polio representation, first love. This book had it all! I really enjoyed it and especially appreciated the author's note and explanations at the end.
krimor's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0