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
The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff follows Noa, a sixteen year old girl, who’s father kicks her out of the house for getting pregnant by a Nazi soldier, and we are given the story from Noa’s POV. We are later introduced to Astrid, a trapeze performer with the German circus, and we get the story from her POV. The story goes back and forth between the two women’s stories, which connect along the way creating a well written, dark and ominous, though thought provoking tale.
Jenoff does an excellent job bringing you into this story. She brings the characters to life, and you can’t help but let yourself be taken away.
This story has quite a bit of darkness, which portrays extremely well how life was for someone in these two women’s situations during WWII. Jenoff’s research adds to the darkness based on true events, which, for me, was very thought provoking. It is an intricate story of love and hate, resentment and acceptance, betrayal, fear, hope, and so much more . It is, by far, one of the best books that I have ever read.
An excellent read that draws you into a young woman’s adventures in the circus she eventually gets very much involved with. Is my book club selection for August 2018. Highly recommend!
A very soul-searing story. As stated on the front cover, “Secrets, lies, treachery, and passion…”
Great writing of a great story
A WWII tale told in the backdrop of a travelling German circus.
I loved it. Great read.
Part Water for Elephants and part Nightingale, (although not quite as good as either), a solid book for those interested in WWII and historical fiction
Excellent read.
I read this on vacation recently and absolutely loved it! A great read if you enjoy historical women’s fiction.
This book was written well and made me feel like I was there!
Well written
I read this book for my April bookclub. Everyone loved it including me. When finished I was left with an empty feeling that only a very good book creates.
Difficult subject matter, but one you can’t put down.
2 orphaned females, seeking protection from the Nazis in Germany, 1944, are taken in by the circus. Made to work and perform together they develop a bond that gets them through the most difficult situations. There is love, loss, compassion, survival, and hope…and most of all heroes. While there is some small level of predictability at times as the story unfolds, it also contains some elements that will surprise. It remains a noble fiction based on some factual truths, a very worthwhile story and thoroughly enjoyable to read.
I love historical fictional WWII stories & books about circus life. This book is a great combination of both!
Learn about the garment factory6 conditions in the early 1900s and follow the lives and loves of the main characters as they rise above their humble immigrant beginnings in America
It was intriguing to read about a circus entertaining in the middle of a terrible war and the perils they faced.
Pam Jenoff’s THE ORPHAN’S TALE was captivating — circus, nazis, rescued child . . . and well-written. I’m dealing with the two narrators by using different colored post-its for each.
“Circus is a great equalizer” “judged on talent”
“she can position me as surely as a marionette on strings” “Let go”
Misplaced babies . . . and people and connections . . . reminded of the starfish story, can’t save them all, won’t make a difference, “made a difference to that one.”
Great read. Enjoyed
Most enjoyable