As you know, I rarely read or review traditionally published books.  I got tired of the consistently average stories coming from the big publishers.  This book has been sitting on my ‘to be read’ pile for almost 3 years.  My mother in law gave it to me.  That’s not why I was avoiding it!  My brother in law says he knows this author and thought this was one of her best books.  They both have been asking if I have read it – so guilt finally won out and I opened the book.

It is a very good story and I liked the weaving of chapters from the perspectives of the two main characters.  I had no problem finishing it in just 2 days.  Orphan’s Tale is a great choice for any book club; first, because they spoon feed you questions in the back but second and more importantly because the personalities and situations of the characters give a lot of discussion fodder.  Your group could spend an entire evening discussing the choices given to women of this era as well as their adaptive solutions. Or, what is an orphan and is everyone involved in the story considered an orphan?

Bottom line – I’m glad I read it and I enjoyed it. Will I read more from this author? – I’d definitely consider it.

For more about books by this author CLICK HERE.  

SUMMARY

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.