This ‘wonderful’ story takes place in 1939 when the United States was recovering from a severe depression, world wars were raging, when gypsy encampments were common in towns, when traveling carnivals and freak shows went from town to town, when schools for ‘wayward’ girls existed (no foster care system) and human trafficking was common.  Ah, the good ol’ days—NOT!   Portia Remini grew up in a gypsy family and loved to learn old stories.  One by one, her family members left in order to scratch a traveling itch.  With only an aunt, her father’s sister, to care for her, Portia had become a true loner.  The townspeople didn’t understand her, but were afraid of her free spirit.  Then, finally, the day came when her aunt took her to the McGreavey Home for Wayward Girls; Portia wasn’t wayward, it was just that her aunt was tired of looking after her.  Mister McGreavey, who ran the home, used the girls for slave labor for his apple orchard.  His treatment of them was harsh and devoid of any humanism.  His goal was to sell girls to men who required dutiful, obedient girls.  After Portia had seen his evilness, she escaped one night on Mister’s bicycle, getting as far away as possible.  She knew he would try to find her.  Her goal was to find her father.  She came upon a traveling circus and sideshow and was allowed to stay with them.  She learned each person’s story, and they became her family, what she had been looking for.  This book is told in the third-person narrative, with a sideshow person and others, each given a turn to speak.  The chapters, their thoughts and histories, are short.  The result is that the reader feels that they, too, are learning about each person, just as Portia does.  Alas, Mister sends some goons to track Portia down and to bring her back, plus his bicycle.  He holds her prisoner and delights in tormenting her and telling her she’ll never leave again.  But, she has a family now and they are loyal and come to rescue her.  A truly beautiful story of hope and family.  The storyline was interesting and snappy, never a dull moment.  The only objection I have is the book jacket art–the scenes are too busy, even though they are meant to represent the sideshow freaks.  That would probably be better left to a reader’s imagination.