The War Outside

Reviews

"This heartbreaking story of terror and loss sweeps you into a time-is-running-out mystery that delivers plot twists and a shocking final punch that'll haunt you for days."—Justine Magazine * "A poignant, wonderfully crafted story of love and loss, courage and redemption."—Shelf Awareness (starred review) "Hesse's books are like time machines-vehicles that help us explore our past."—Mashable * "...a moving book that successfully describes an unjust aspect of U.S. History"—Publishers Weekly, starred review "It's no small feat to bring the past to life, especially a history as dark and desperate as World War II. Monica Hesse does just this with Hanneke's story. Brace yourself, dear reader, to have your heart bruised--and possibly even broken--in the most meaningful of ways."—Ryan Graudin, author of The Walled City and Wolf by Wolf * "...superb....A satisfying and bittersweet novel, perfect for those who enjoyed Markus Zusak's The Book Thief."—SLJ, starred review "[An] intelligent and humane historical mystery."—The Wall Street Journal * "Keeps readers guessing through the final pages."
—BCCB, starred review "Rich in content and emotion, this is a first-rate companion to the historical tales of the onderduikers, the hidden Jews of Holland, and a compelling read."—Kirkus Reviews * "Teens and adults interested in WWII books, especially situations that haven't been written about extensively,will want to experience this story."—SLC, starred review Praise for Girl in the Blue Coat:"Once again, Monica Hesse delivers an incredibly compelling and beautifully researched novel. The War Outside vividly brings readers into an underrepresented and dark period of American history. A must-read for fans of historical fiction."—Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Taut and intelligent... the historical setting is rendered the way only an expert can do it."—The Washington Post "In an occupied city, a young woman's daring transforms into true courage when she confronts a mystifying disappearance. From page one, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Enthralling."—Judy Blundell, New York Times bestselling author of Strings Attached and the National Book Award-winning What I Saw and How I Lied * "...an extraordinary novel of injustice and xenophobia based on real history."—Booklist, starred review * "Riveting... a gripping historical mystery."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) "timely...[Hesse] again uses a well-researched historical backdrop to tell a powerful coming-of-age story."—The Washington Post "The themes of love, betrayal, heroism, social responsibility, and atonement are beautifully intertwined with well-developed characters and a compelling story line. Thoroughly researched, this work brings history alive in a clear and concise way that rings true. A must-read for fans of historical fiction, especially stories set during World War II."—School Library Journal "Monica Hesse takes a setting we think we understand and shifts it in an important way...a tightly plotted exploration of the consequences of fear."—The New York Times Book Review Expand reviews