Pam Jenoff has authored many historical novels, several during the World War II era where she captures a variety of different perspectives and ways in which Jewish people were hidden, and transported to safety from war torn Europe. This story centers around two young women, Noa and Astrid, both with backgrounds of rejection by those who had loved them. They meet in Germany in 1944 and work at a German circus, Astrid from a Jewish circus family, and Noa with no circus experience...but hiding a Jewish baby she had discovered in a boxcar full of babies meant to be discarded by the German government. This was an entirely different storyline. Jenoff researched the circus aspect of sheltering Jews and based this book on the true story of Irene Danner. I so admire the courage it took for the German circus-owner to get involved by defying his country and saving those who came into his sphere of control.
As I get older the stories told about my parents' generation hold a special place in my heart. The history that was happening around them, the ways that they faced the challenges, and their ability to move ahead all make me so proud of them. This was a good read.
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