I completely expected this to be wonderful, because every book I’ve read by her has been wonderful. And I was not let down, as this was a unique book by her, but no less well researched and well written. I love how the story unwound throughout and you start with this incredibly broken young woman and you find out why she’s broken by the end. She could’ve done this in such a different way if it gone in a linear fashion. I’m really glad she chose not to, because watching Edda unravel was much more compelling.

Thank you to Little Brown and NetGalley for the arc!

I have to say, for someone who doesn't have an interest in YA historical fiction, this book makes me want to dive into the field. Monica Hesse keeps the story going by having the ability to execute working in two different timelines. I enjoyed following along our characters and the mysteries behind what had happened in their pasts. I will say, there were moments regarding our main character, Edda's, past that I really would have liked to see fleshed out more towards the beginning of the story. I felt like I was so focused on the mystery aspect to really focus on the most important part, which is the hardships that women have (and still) face in times of war. Overall, I highly enjoyed the novel and can't wait to see more people read it.

As an educator, I would recommend this novel to my higher level students.

: This is an engaging read for YA historical fiction fans. I enjoyed the perspective of the “Hello Girls” angle of WWI and a little bit into the scope of their experiences. I actually wish it dived into the day to day just a little bit more than it did, but can understand the author not wanting to get too bogged down beyond the main plot. I did find the main character Edda to be a little annoying, but overall I enjoyed her story. This shares newly post-WWI Edda and her story in France from months earlier through flashbacks. Readers may find themselves slightly more interested in one view than the other, but it does pull together nicely in the end. I read through this one super fast, which may appeal to YA audiences who like historical fiction but don’t want something that will take a long time to get through. I will definitely be purchasing this one for our library.

The Brightwood Code by @monicahesse

PITCH: Cable Girls meets Citizen Kane with some women’s rights stirred in the pot

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Compact and well thought out, Hesse uses every word to her advantage. Perfect for someone who is non-committal to a series, this book promises heart and hope during World War I.

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