The Life She Was Given

A GREAT GROUP READS Selection of the WomenΓÇÖs National Book Association and National Reading Group Month A GOODREADS Best of the Month Selection ΓÇ£A powerful,poignant novel.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇöIn TouchGrade A From the internationally bestselling author of The Orphan Collector comes a beautifully written and moving tale of family secrets and the importance of a motherΓÇÖs loveΓÇöand how it can shape a lifeΓÇöeven in the most shocking ways. A painful saga of strength and reinvention perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Lisa WingateΓÇöset in two different timesas two young women come of age and uncover the mysteries of their familiesand find their own ways in the worldΓǪ On a summer evening in 1931Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isnΓÇÖt allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. SheΓÇÖs never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists itΓÇÖs for LillyΓÇÖs own protectionthat people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable nightLilly is taken outside for the first timeΓÇöand sold to the circus sideshow. More than two decades laternineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parentsΓÇÖ estate and horse farm. For Juliahome was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden roomsand she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Insteadshe becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl. At firstThe Barlow BrothersΓÇÖ Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tagsometimes brutal worldLilly discovers strengthfriendshipand a rare affinity for animals. Soonthanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handlerColeLilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circusΓÇÖs biggest attraction…until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about LillyΓÇÖs fate and her familyΓÇÖs shocking betrayaland find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last. Moving between Julia and LillyΓÇÖs storiesEllen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinaryvery different women in a novel thatwhile tender and heartbreakingoffers moments of joy and indomitable hope. ΓÇ£Perfect for book clubs and readers who admired Sara GruenΓÇÖs Like Water for Elephants.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇöLibrary JournalSTARRED REVIEW ΓÇ£A vibrant maze of desires.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇöForeWord Reviews ΓÇ£Seamlessly blends mystery and history with compelling and well-researched details.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇöThe Historical Novels Review ΓÇ£Vividly drawn and complexΓǪFans of Karen White and Sara Gruen will be drawn in by the drama and mystery of WisemanΓÇÖs novel.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇöBookPage