The Orphan's Tale discussion

In the book “The Orphan’s Tale” It talks about two women living in closely/ in Nazi Germany, and their stories. First, Noa is a 16 year old girl currently living at a train station, and working there to make ends meet. She was kicked out of her house for getting pregnant with a german soldier, and after having her baby, they took it away from her. While at the station a train pulls up, and inside one of the cars are a whole bunch of infants. Jewish infants, and almost all are not alive. Then Noa finds one who is still barely breathing, and without thinking she snatches him from the car. Then after hiding him from the soldiers, she runs away in the freezing cold and ends up passing out in the snow.
Noa then wakes up to many people surrounding her and the baby. She is then told in order to stay there, she has to become part of this traveling circus and learn how to do the trapeze. Her instructer, Astrid, who is a jew has to teach her the ways. It then goes on through all the struggles of the circus, hiding from the police (the baby Theo is also a jew), and overall the war. These two women become the best of friends, and learn that trust and hope are two things that will get them through these awful times. I really enjoyed reading this book, even though it was super sad. It opened my eyes to some of the struggles that people had to go through back then.
The reviews varied on the book, but most loved it and were very positive. Like a girl named Lindsay said it was one of her favorites, because she has read a lot of holocaust books, and this one was in a totally new perspective with the traveling circus and all. Some people thought it was really over dramatic, like RoseMary Achey. She described it as a melodrama, which I sort of agree with cause the book was super dramatic, but I really enjoyed it. I think the drama was kind of necessary, and went along with how intense the book was. So I both disagree and agree with the reviews on this book.

This book sounds great and I would love to read it! I really like your detailed summary, it sounds like it would be a hard but exciting read. And an interesting story with the traveling circus in it! I really like how you talked about the drama of the book but said that you felt it was necessary. I agree that in some books, in order to make the story feel more real, it needs to be written in a sort of dramatic manner. I also really like how you talked about the importance of trust and hope, I agree that these things can help you to get through hard things and the importance of fighting through hard things. Would you say that this was book with a lot of graphic violence?

Jenavieve wrote: "This book sounds great and I would love to read it! I really like your detailed summary, it sounds like it would be a hard but exciting read. And an interesting story with the traveling circus in i..."
Thanks for responding, and totally agree with the idea that drama makes the book seem more realistic. Also to answer your question, this book does have some violence, but it is very minimal and non graphic. There are some graphic details throughout the book, but when violence comes into play there is barely anything. At least non that bothered me or stuck out at all. Its a really good amount and doesn't make me feel uncomfortable ever or grossed out. Its a really great but and you should give it a try!

It has been many months since I read this book, but I would definitely recommend it. It's one of those books that stays with you for a while after you've finished it. As a librarian, and a huge fan of historical fiction, I have read a lot of books about the Holocaust! This one does give you a different view of somethings and made me think. This book and Mischling would be my top picks of Holocaust Historical Fiction from 2017.

This book was unforgettable, one of the those that will stay in your memory in hearts forever. Great description. And will captivate the reader attention from the beginning to the end.

I would recommend this for almost anyone who appreciates Historical fiction.

I read this book a few weeks ago. I have been devouring WWII books lately and this was a new point of view
. Different. I cared deeply about the characters. Definitely not too much drama in my humble opinion. It was WWII for heavens sake! Highly recommend. Just finished Pam Jenoff's "Lost Girl's Of Paris." Love this author!

this books is fab..i am reading it nw, aand aboutnto finish it,,,a/peg

I think the book was really interesting at first and SO SO unique. But then the drama just took over and I was shocked at how fast it ended. I had expectations that it would go on for longer (like maybe Luc and Noa would try to find and save Peter) and I didn't see the end coming (and that is rarely the case for me when I read), mind you I'm not inluding the epilouge because for me that is post-end.
So I am ambivalent. Huge thumbs up for the beginning premisis, but the scene on the day of the wedding (you know which one) had me sighing on the inside because it seemed so over the top dramatic and extreme. Maybe that's what needed to happen for the plot to work out and not what would have happened in a real scenario.