A review by alitza724
Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko

4.0

Set in 1939, Lucy and three other children escape the Home for Friendless Children. With the help of some kind, former orphans, the four find themselves searching for apprenticeships with a travelling circus. But Lucy is mute, and not speaking is not an option in circus work. Lucy used to speak and sing, so why won't she now? And why are the matrons of the orphanage so insistent on bringing her back, but not the others?

This mystery and Lucy's spirit made it hard for me to put this book down. The themes of love, family, friendship, loyalty, and resilience are heartwarming.

The trauma that Lucy suffers is based on experiments that were done on children in the 1930's and it's infuriating to think that children went through this. Choldenko appears to have done in her homework in researching the historical aspects of this novel.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this review.