ONE OF US by Dan Chaon
9781250175236
9/23/25
Henry Holt and Co.
Fiction / Family Life / Psychological
Prepare for a wildly thrilling adventure packed with misfits, found family, and the delightfully unexpected. Dan Choan’s darkly playful new novel, ONE OF US, sweeps you into the chaos of a bizarre traveling carnival full of dark turns behind every curtain.
It’s 1915, and thirteen-year-old twins Bolt and Eleanor—so close they can read each other’s minds—are thrown into chaos after their mother’s death. They soon find themselves in the care of a vicious man claiming to be their uncle and know that they must make an escape. After witnessing a deadly outburst they flee.
Their escape leads them to Mr. Jengling’s Emporium of Wonders, a traveling carnival filled with misfits and marvels: a three-legged woman, a towering doctor, a noseless clown, and a girl who predicts death. Welcomed into this strange new family, Bolt and Eleanor discover safety, purpose, and wonder. However, as Bolt bonds with the troupe, Eleanor begins to grow distant. And as Uncle Charlie closes in, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake, secrets begin to unravel within the carnival and from its enigmatic leader.
ONE OF US is vintage Dan Chaon: eerie, emotional, and impossible to put down. Every page reveals a new oddity and connection that feels like a twisted carousel—terrifyingly playful and complex. With multiple points of view offering a glimpse into the minds of each circus misfit and the reasons behind Mr. Jengling’s unusual adoptions, readers will be entranced with this dark and strange tale of a newfound family. I devoured this in one weekend and you will too!
Step right up to this immersive, darkly enchanting world and captivating story that will make you question what it truly means to belong. For those who enjoy a unique blend of historical fiction, mystery, horror, and a touch of the macabre, this traveling carnival is for you.
“Only in Dan Chaon’s hands does a rollicking tale of a traveling sideshow carnival, serial killer, and psychic orphaned twins become a complex, soaring elegy for an America that never was and never will be. ONE OF US is a brilliant novel and a beating heart in the darkness.”—Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of HORROR MOVIE and A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS
“ONE OF US is an immersive, thrilling, and wonderfully twisted funhouse mirror of a novel. Dan Chaon builds a reality just familiar enough to lure you in—then distorts it in the most unsettling, exhilarating ways. I couldn’t look away.”—Danielle Trussoni, New York Times bestselling author of THE PUZZLE BOX
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.
