I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Set in world war 2 this book tells the story of a young Dutch girl, impregrenated by a German soldier, her baby taken away from her and thrown out by her family. Living above a German rail station to earn her keep, she finds a Jewish baby boy in a box art and takes him to make up for having to give her own baby up for adoption. Running away with him she is found by a travelling circus who take her and the baby in. She is trained to be part of the flying trapeze act by Astrid, the lead aerialist who is Jewish. Initially their relationship is difficult but what develops between them is a strong bond of friendship, strengthened by their pasts.
Pam Jenoff writes exceptional books and I have loved all the ones I have read. This one is beautifully written, with lots of descriptive narratives which makes it so real. Not my favourite by this author book but still a lovely, emotional read that I would highly recommend.
4.5****

Inspired by a true story, the story begins in 1940s Germany with Noa, a young Danish girl, working as a cleaner in railway station. Noa has been through a tough time, banished by her father after she became pregnant, her baby has been taken and adopted through the Nazi's lebensborn programme. Noa finds a cattle truck full of babies, unclothed and freezing to death, heading East. On an impulse she takes a baby boy, determined to save him, but she is now on the run! Can she protect and feed the baby boy without any papers or ration cards?
The fear and the threat that many people were living under during this period is clear and well written, and the authors description of the way in which they tried to protect themselves really brings it home.
Noa finds protection within a circus, but only on condition that she earns her keep by working as a trapeze artist. Noa has to learn how to fly on the trapeze and quickly!
The story follows the circus as they set off to France on tour, performing to the local people and the German soldiers deployed there. Noa is not the only person being protected by the circus, and many are at risk if caught.
Full of fascinating detail and based on real events, this book is intriguing, thrilling and horrifying in equal parts. I particularly enjoyed the description of life in the circus during the war. Circus people were not highly regarded by the Nazi party, the majority ended up being sent to concentration camps.
A must read for anyone interested in life in Europe during the 1940s under the Nazis or the lives of circus folk. A gripping story that you won't be able to put down!

Another gem from the masterful author, Pam Jenoff. I am always excited when I come across another of her books to read. With The Orphan's Tale, she doesn't disappoint.

Utterly compelling, heartbreaking and demonstrates the power of relationships. I am lost to find adequate words to describe this tale, which blends the horrors of the Second World War with the thrills and spills of the circus. It does make you look at circus folk from another perspective - behind the glamour and thrills, they all have their stories.

As the blurb says this is a tale "of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II". True, but the novel is so much more - it is the story of Noa and Astrid, told alternately in their voices and is about love, friendship and courageousness in the face of adversity, against the backdrop of one of the darkest periods in modern history.
The story is well written, reads well and keeps the reader hooked from the first page until the last. I cannot say that it is enjoyable to read about the Holocaust; Pam Jenoff engulfs the reader in the period but the horror is not hugely overt and the description of the circus and the scenery transports the reader to 1940's Germany and France and the life of the circus family so the reader feels all the emotions of the characters.
For those who enjoy historical fiction or just like a really good book with a cast full of interesting characters, I highly recommend this one.
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

A wonderfully written book in a most unusual setting, absolutely loved this emotional read.

I love books set during WW2 and this beautiful book did not disappoint. Set in a completely different environment from all my previous reads making it even more fascinating as it is based on some true stories from this era and the traveling circus families. A gripping story of love, friendship, loyalty and betrayal set against the brutal, terrifying background of the Nazi regime in Germany and Occupied France. I enjoyed this very much. Thank you for the advanced review copy.

Pam Jenoff is the most extrodinary writer. i have loved all her books. The Orphans Tale was beautiful.
2 women both very different in their backgrounds and views are pushed together, their story is of hope and friendship
I could not put this book down as I was desperate to know how they survived.
Excellent book. Recommended

4.5*. Heartbreaking and unforgettable. Set during WW2, this is a beautifully written book that will stay with you. My proof copy was very badly formatted but it didn't make any difference. Brilliant characters, so well written. Just loved it. One most certainly to recommend.
My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Orphan's Tale is a WW2 novel with a little bit of a different perspective to the usual of its genre. That of Astrid (Ingrid) and Noa. A Jew and a Dutch refugee both fleeing from the horrors of the war around them.

Having left her Nazi Officer husband (upon his orders), Ingrid returns to her home town to find her family gone. Herr Neuroff agrees to recruit her, his famous circus was once the arch rival of her family's troupe, but now they have gone, Ingrid has no one.

Renaming herself Astrid in attempt to convince herself that her new life will be better, she throws herself back into circus life. When Noa appears with a baby in tow, Astrid is reluctant at first to help the young woman.

Noa herself has a tragic past. An affair with a Nazi soldier and a resulting pregnancy saw her cast out of her family home. But the baby she now carries with her is not her own, and she knows that each day she looks after him, the danger grows.

If Noa is to stay with the circus then she must learn the trapeze. It is second nature to Astrid, and she is at first impatient and unkind to Noa. Until a close encounter with some Nazi officers brings the two closer together. Both realise that they have secrets to keep, which must be kept in order for them to remain safe.

The two slowly become friends, and look out for one another as the Circus makes its way out of Germany into France. It is here that it becomes clear that no matter how careful the circus are those acts that are hiding something amongst the greasepaint and the animals all have something to fear.

The occupied country is a dangerous place and the Circus can't leave town soon enough. But is leaving France the answer? Very soon both Noa and Astrid will have their friendship and loyalties put to the test, as the fight to survive the War becomes tougher for those who do not fit in with the Nazi regime.