The Orphan's Tale

Ingrid grew up in a Jewish German circus family. She had been a star aerialist along with her brothers since a very young age. As her late twenties approached she married a German officer and moved to Berlin leaving her performing life behind. When war became unavoidable, and the fact she was Jewish impossible to hide, her husband Erich sent her away. Finding any of her family proves impossible and Ingrid is embraced by a rival circus family and changes her name to Astrid. One day Noa, a 17 yr old Dutch girl appears near their practice tent. She is scared, cold and holding a small infant she claims is her brother. And so begins a most unexpected friendship as the two very different women form an unbreakable connection so deep, their very lives depend on it. Endlessly trying to help the other - each thinking they don’t need any help at all. At the heart of it, their desire for family, love and acceptance trumps all the brutality and cruelness that the war brings to their lives. I was completely and unexpectedly immersed into this magical story. Astrid, Noa and a beautiful cast of character’s fight for each other and the futures they so desperately dream of. Highly recommend this UNPUTDOWNABLE novel by incredible, author Pam Jenoff. This very original story brought my imagination to life of a circus life I had no idea existed - and new meaning to the childhood tune “fly through the air with the greatest of ease, that daring young man on the flying trapeze.”