Some reviews of The Freedom Circus;

‘A story of extraordinary bravery, resilience and love that needed to be told.’
Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

‘Smethurst is a compassionate, sharp writer, offering a unique angle of the war too often described only by men on the front line.’
Jessie Tu

‘The Freedom Circus has a cinematic quality, as the narrative pans across several continents while Smethurst creates a sharp contrast between the horrors unfurling outside the Big Top world and the high-octane stunts and escapism inside it. It is an extraordinary wartime story of survival, escape and ingenuity.’
Weekend Australian

‘There’s plenty to nourish us in The Freedom Circus, where we have Sue Smethurst’s persistence to thank. She cajoled her grandmother-in-law (with cakes from St Kilda) into telling her the story of her escape from Poland and across much of the world.’
Australian Jewish News

‘An enthralling tale of survival against the odds. Readers will find themselves totally caught up in the fate of Mindla and her family.’
Canberra Times

‘An incredible tale of love, loss, endurance, resilience, survival and determination.’
Townsville Bulletin

‘A wonderful, simple story of a family that escaped the Holocaust and their experiences through both Russia and Poland as the Nazis came into power. . . It is an insight into a simple story that alerts you to how different your life is when someone else dictates what you are and are not allowed to think even to yourself. Read it so you appreciate how lucky we are to live in democracies, read it to understand why people flock to live in Democracies both legally and illegally.’
Spectator

‘A true Australian holocaust story with a remarkable new angle. . . Reminiscent of The Greatest Showman and Schindler’s List, The Freedom Circus will have you gripped to the very last page and is an important new chapter in Australia’s Holocaust history. It is an amazing true story of hope, love, persecution and the power of laughter.’
Onya Magazine