Jacob Jankowski, a 90 year old, cranky, nursing home resident, reflects back on his life as a circus worker during the Great Depression. Jacob is the son of a vet, who was studying to follow in his fathers footsteps. After being orphaned by a car accident that took both of his parents lives, Jacob discovers that his parents were badly in debt from helping people during the difficult Great Depression era. Alone, broke and homeless, Jacob wanders aimlessly until he finds work with a traveling circus.
Jacob's relationship with the mistreated animals, poorly treated circus workers, the star of the marvelous equestrian act - Marlena, and the ill-tempered,circus director husband of Marlena, August, develops throughout the book. The story offers romance, friendship, murder, robbery, heroism, a fight to survive and a love of all living things.
I was reluctant to read this book just based on the title and summary alone because I typically am not drawn to historical fiction or anything really about circuses/animals... the story simply didn't interest me until I started reading it! It was such a great book - full of surprises and anticipation about what was going to happen next. It's one of those books where you feel like the character has no way out, and you wonder, "How will he ever be able to escape this?" The cruelties of August and other circus administrators is unfathomable. This story keeps you wondering until the end!
Highly recommended.
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