A GREAT GROUP READS Selection of the Women’s National Book Association and National Reading Group Month A GOODREADS Best of the Month Selection “A powerful, poignant novel.” —In Touch, Grade A From the internationally bestselling author of The Orphan Collector comes a beautifully written and moving tale of family secrets and the importance of a mother’s love—and how it can shape a life—even in … of family secrets and the importance of a mother’s love—and how it can shape a life—even in the most shocking ways. A painful saga of strength and reinvention perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Lisa Wingate—set in two different times, as two young women come of age and uncover the mysteries of their families, and find their own ways in the world…
On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn’t allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She’s never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it’s for Lilly’s own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time—and sold to the circus sideshow.
More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents’ estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl.
At first, The Barlow Brothers’ Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus’s biggest attraction…until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly’s fate and her family’s shocking betrayal, and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last.
Moving between Julia and Lilly’s stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that, while tender and heartbreaking, offers moments of joy and indomitable hope.
“Perfect for book clubs and readers who admired Sara Gruen’s Like Water for Elephants.”
—Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“A vibrant maze of desires.”
—ForeWord Reviews
“Seamlessly blends mystery and history with compelling and well-researched details.”
—The Historical Novels Review
“Vividly drawn and complex…Fans of Karen White and Sara Gruen will be drawn in by the drama and mystery of Wiseman’s novel.”
—BookPage
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A difficult topic, beautifully written.
Although I needed tissues during this story, I came away with a strong feeling of “Love yourself and forgive those who cannot, for they cannot love themselves.”
I enjoyed how each chapter was told from Lily’s story and then to Julia’s story.
The heartbreak, anger and sadness I felt as I continued on thru the book, made me love this wonderful novel.
I read it in 2 days and it will stay with me a long time.
Very well written, kept me engaged, disappointing ending. Too much tragedy. It actually is worth the read, but be prepared for a “not what you had hoped for” ending.
Good story and true to the times, but the end threw me for a loop. It took me time to figure it out.
I can only explain my reaction to this book as unprecedented. The closer I was to the ending, the more I had to stop reading and regain emotional strength to continue. The moving writing in this book even exceeds EMW’s previous novels. The story covers two female characters lives and how they come together at last is something you have to read for yourselves. By far the most touching and yet heart-wrenching book I’ve ever read. Incredible writing.
SPOILER ALERT!
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are wonderful. The author made me have strong feelings about these characters. Dislike for the parents; frustration that justice just didn’t seem to be in the cards; pity for others. A very enjoyable but sad read for me.
I can’t say enough about this book. I was gripped from the moment I started reading it. And insight into the circuses and some of the things that happened there but also a story about children locked into an attic and their tragic tale. I couldn’t stop reading this book. Highly recommend especially for book clubs.
I wanted to like this and the book. Originally it was really interesting, then it meandered so much I just couldn’t stay with it. The characters, esp the mother, were underdeveloped. I was disappointed.
Odd book but well written and terrible things like the premise of the story did happen in that era.
It was interesting throughout. Best book I’ve read in a good while.
Loved
Intriguing
The description of scenes, setting and voice makes the story original and a page turner. It graphically describes the injustice put upon children which to a large extent still exist. The challenge of being different makes and individual forever vulnerable to mistreatment.
What an incredible story. Heartwarming & sad at the same time. I found this book hard to put down. Wanting to read more & to find out what happens next. I really enjoyed this book. It’s definitely a must to read.
If you like books with animal cruelty this one is for you. Spoiler alert-the elephant suffered a horrible death and the companion cat left in the attic starved to death. There was an abysmal ending leaving a sense of what was the author wanting to convey. The book stayed with me, not in a good way. This is the first bad review I have ever written and I hope my last.
This is a story of a young albino girl named Lily whose mother felt was a monster. This young girl was kept in the attic of her home – locked away from the world – until she was 10 years old. At that time, her mother snuck her out into the night and sold her to the circus that was visiting town.
For the next decade, Lily was part of the circus. First in the freak show, and soon working with the elephants. She had a gift with animals that no one had ever seen. She never saw her mother or father again, and the circus became her family.
The other half of this story is about a girl named Julia. Several decades into the future from Lily’s story, Julia has come home to settle her parents affairs. Her mother has recently died and left the house and a horse farm to Julia. Julia- who was never close with her alcoholic father and God fearing mother – comes home to find that there are several secrets her parents kept from her. As she tries to piece together her parent’s past, she discovers a secret about herself.
This was an okay book. The story was really depressing from beginning to end. The writing was only fair. There is a big twist in this book, but it is easy to figure out pretty early in the book. The characters were not well developed. I never really saw Lily grow up in the book, even though the book covers almost a decade of her life. The ending seemed to wrap up quickly without much depth.
I would say skip it. I did not find it an enjoyable read.
After turning the last page, all I could think was, what a miserable story.