Book 1- The Orphan's Tale

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff

342 pages. Started on January 08, 2024 and finished on January 14, 2024. Chosen by none other than The Queen herself, my Grandma Emily.

A solid seven days to finish a tale of two women during one of the world's most deadly wars. My personal rating of this novel is a solid 5 stars. 

Summary (spoiler alert)

    Two women just trying to survive in a time in history where it's dangerous to just be who you are. if can get you killed OR it can get you killed.

    Noa was cast out by her parents when they learned she is pregnant; one, out of wedlock. Two, the child's father is a German soldier. She leaves home with nowhere to go. She finds sanctuary in a girl's home for women who's children will be sent to live and be raised by German families. A shed of hope gives Noa the strength to say goodbye to her child if she must. When the child is undoubtly born with features unwelcomed to society, he is takem from her and never seen again. She cannot fathom living in a place where there is a memory of her child she cannot have, so she leaves. She leaves and finds a job cleaning a train station.

    Astrid (previously known as Ingrid) is married to a German soldier, Erich. She believes that her marriage will keep her safe from the mistreatment of Jews, but then she learns otherwise. Erich is promoted and with that, he must divorce his Jewish wife. Astrid leaves their apartment and makes the journey to her home in hopes that her parents are still there after her letters to them remain unanswered. She is from a family business that is surprisingly still in full swing, the circus. Unfortunately, her father's circus has joined with a competing circus group and they are living near her home and the family practice grounds. The ringmaster, Herr Neuhoff, recognizes Astrid and offers her a job as an aerialist in the circus act.

    While working at the train station, Noa unintentially finds a boxcar full of babies, Jewish babies taken from their parents and families. In an emotional frenzy, she grabs a child amid the dead and dying children and runs. She and the child nearly escape into the wilderness during a snowstorm, and she comes to find out that the child is a circumcised baby boy, Jewish. She knows she cannot go back, only forward. she collapses in the snow with the infant, ready to meet their fates.

    A friend of Astrid's, Peter, a clown; finds Noa and the infant in the woods unexpectedly and brings them back to the grounds. Herr Neuoff puts Noa and Astrid together for the trapeze act. Astrid is hesitant because they know nothing of Noa's past and that could put them in danger. She reluctantly agrees to train Noa and she is given shelter for herself, whom she introduces as, her baby brother.

    In the weeks that pass, Noa reveals that she fled a terrible situation with her father after her mother died giving birth to the baby, now named Theo. Astrid doesn't believe it, and thinks that she is actually the boy's mother. Noa doesn't say that he isn't biologically hers or that he is a Jew. An unexpected police inspection reveals that Theo is not the only Jew seeking refuge in the circus, but that Astrid is also.

    At their first circus location, Theirs, Noa takes some big steps in the act and succeeds despite her insecurities. Unfortunately, the integrity of the circus and Astrid may be in jeopardy when during the first night an SS soldier in attendance is recognized by Astrid as her ex-husband's colleague. She shares this in confidence with Noa. Noa reveals to Astrid that Peter's act that mocks the German army is also causing unnecessary judgment upon the circus and she believes that his drinking may be getting out of hand.

    Herr Neuoff makes the unfortunate decision to remove Astrid from the act to keep suspicions at bay. In their time in Theirs, many things transpire; Theo gets sick, a gentleman named Luc becomes close to Noa, Astrid becomes pregnant, she and Peter marry, Herr Neuoff dies, and Peter is arrested.

    A light of hope comes to Noa, Astrid, and Theo. Hope that they could survive outside the circus, beyond the safety of the big top. Luc's presence is a light at the end of the tunnel, bringing good and bad news to Astid when he follows the circus. Astrid learns that her entire family is just about gone, with only a brother who was fortunate enough to find sanctuary in America.

    Herr Neuoff's death puts the circus in jeopardy and now decisions must be made. Do they all stay? Do they try to flee? If they are to leave, will they make it with having a young child to take care of?

Just... WOW

I leave it at that because the fates of Astrid, Noa, and Theo make this story feel so incomplete. Happy endings should have been easier to come by. But the unexpected friendships and relationships make you hope for the best. It has a bittersweet ending, one that can leave you unsatisfied, but still a bit joyous.

Happy reading, everyone.