Look for Pam Jenoff’s new novel, The Woman with the Blue Star, an unforgettable story of courage and friendship during wartime.A New York Times bestseller!“Readers who enjoyed Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants will embrace this novel. “ —Library Journal“Secrets, lies, treachery, and passion…. I read this novel in a headlong rush.” —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New … Journal
“Secrets, lies, treachery, and passion…. I read this novel in a headlong rush.” —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train
A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan’s Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival.
Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep… When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night.
Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another—or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything.
Don’t Miss Pam Jenoff’s new novel, The Woman with the Blue Star, a riveting tale of unfathomable sacrifice and unlikely friendship during World War II.
Read these other sweeping epics from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff.
The Lost Girls of Paris
The Ambassador’s Daughter
The Diplomat’s Wife
The Kommandant’s Girl
The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach
The Winter Guest
more
Excellent read.
The subject matter touches the heart. The strength of the characters, the problems they overcome, are just part of what makes this book so worth reading. It will linger with you long after the last page.
Loved this book would recommend it to anyone. WWII when they are seeking out Jews and the Circus is on the move entertaining and protecting some Jews in their circus family. You will meet and follow the ups and downs the joys and love the sorrow and tragic of Astrid and Noa. Wonderful book . Well worth the read
I had no idea how the orphans were treated. Sad!
Made me cry over and over
Very informative.
Enjoyable book full of action and entertainment.
The Orphan’s Tale was this month’s choice for my neighborhood book club. While I tend to shy away (too depressing) from books about the dark parts of World War II in Europe (and, particularly, Germany), once I do read them, I find them immensely interesting and educational. Such was the case with this story. Noa and Astrid have different backgrounds, different life stories; yet, there are similarities that, finally, after much angst bind them together in a deep friendship. It took me a little over two days to read it, but I was tending grandkids at the same time.
I was intrigued by all of the intricate details that go into trapeze artistry and impressed by the research Pam Jenoff had to have done on it to write this.
Another interesting historical fiction on WWII…made me further investigate the plight of wartime circus in Europe
Reading this book made me believe that given the right circumstances, you can do anything.
Wonderful book!!
Very different approach to the tragedies of WWII. Unrealistic when it came to the care of the baby.
This is the best book i’ve read in months!
Many of the book’s characters are orphans in their own right. At times, the information is quite difficult to process. This book is a must read for any WWII historical fiction readers. Fabulous read.
Such sad history and powerful humanity
So well written I thought it was based on a true story . Made me wish there was more to the story
it was very good. I enjoyed reading it
This is the story of two women. Astrid – a nearly 40 year old woman who returns to life in the circus after her marriage falls apart. She is a Jewish woman during WWII, and the circus hides her from the Nazis. Noa – is a young teenager girl wbo finds herself pregnant and cast out from her family. Her baby is taken from her after his birth and she never sees him again. One day, while working in a train station, she hears a baby cry from a train car, and finds a car full of babies – some alive, some dead. She makes the decision to rescue just one, and runs.
She falters while running away and is discovered by the circus leader where Astrid is an acrobat. Noa is taken in and trained to be a member of the circus, and in return she and the baby are protected. An on and off again friendship develops between Astrid and Noa while the circus travels during the war.
Tragedy strikes and the women must make a choice. Do they flee, or save each other?
This book was not that great. I read it after I saw a few friends had enjoyed it, but I found the written awful. I rolled my eyes several times. The relationship between Astrid and Noa was juvenile at best. The story did not flow well, and I didn’t find a connection with any of the characters. It was wordy and repetitive, and down right poor.
I don’t recommend it. There are so many good historical fiction books out there about WWII, and this isn’t one of them.
Jenoff always knocks it out of the park and The Orphan’s Tale is no exception. Heart-breaking in places, inspiring in others, and stunningly based in truth about circuses performing in Europe during World War II — a ray of sunlight in a dark time, and a salve to the soul, just like this book.
An unusual story. Lots of happenings to keep me guessing.