Book Review | One of Us by Dan Chaon

In 1915, 13-year-old twins Bolt and Eleanor, gifted with the ability to read each other’s thoughts, are left orphaned. They moved in with a man claiming to be their long-lost Uncle Charlie, only to discover his horrible true nature. Running for their lives, the twins are taken in by Mr Jengling, founder of the Emporium of Wonders. Their journey with the travelling carnival misfits drives a wedge between their bond, before they realise that Uncle Charlie is on their trail and they’re facing a terrifying nightmare.

Miss Sylvia Ferryman of London, England, was their leader, a powerful medium, who told their mother that twins were often gifted with Second Sight, and Phenomenal Powers of Mind-Reading, and they were encouraged to practice those skills from an early age.

Which – well. Whatever special abilities they might have been endowed with didn’t appear to help them that much in this world.

One of Us is a delightful and adventurous tale of two siblings who learn the true meaning of family, whatever the cost. The book is like a cross between the TV shows Carnivale and American Horror Story: Freak Show, so if you’ve seen them, you’ll understand the vibe! The book starts with the miserable history of Eleanor and Bolt, who have to do terrible things to escape danger and end up at a travelling carnival. This path slowly splits them apart as they find their place not just in this new company but also in the world. They meet fascinating marginalised characters (like the Strong Woman, the Dog-Boy, the Clown) who are seen as entertainment by the public, yet each has their own past and inner life.

At first, I felt warmer towards Bolt as he was more open to the carnival in his yearning for friends and connection. But slowly, I understood that Eleanor’s way of handling her trauma was to isolate herself and escape into her books. She’s protective of Bolt, but her protection also suffocates him. Their relationship goes through so much, and where it ends is an emotional gut punch. Uncle Charlie is a formidable antagonist, bringing fear even with the mere mention of his name. The carnival crew made me care for them and I was invested in their fates. While the story meanders at times, the short chapters help, and the way everything draws to a conclusion is fantastic.

One of Us is highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique, epic journey of strange horrors. This is out now!

I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes.

Photo by Davis Sherine

About the author: Dan Chaon