Publishers Weekly
★ 03/04/2024
This gripping psychological thriller features a little-known chapter of WWI history: the story of the Hello Girls, individuals employed by the U.S. Army to operate phone lines in France. In 1918, 18-year-old Edda returns home from her station in France, haunted by a mistake she made that cost her job—and possibly others’ lives. Now, she resides in her aunt’s boardinghouse in Washington, D.C., and works night shifts as an American Bell Telephone operator. One night, she gets a call: “You have to tell the truth before it’s too late,” followed by the ominous secret code, “Brightwood.” Hesse (They Went Left) skillfully portrays Edda’s heightened emotional state and post-traumatic stress, as well as her urgency to untangle a mystery and resolve her guilt. As Edda gathers clues and tracks down possible callers, her sympathetic boardinghouse neighbor Theo joins her search, which adds friendship and romantic tension that brightens her solitary existence. Narrative flashbacks to the harrowing WWI battle zone, interspersed throughout Edda’s richly drawn present day in D.C. and Baltimore (complete with marches for women’s suffrage), tease out the mystery in this worthwhile historical novel. Characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (May)
From the Publisher
The Brightwood Code has everything I love in a book, an overlooked history woven into a fascinating narrative, and a strong heroine forging her own path forward.” —Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Reese’s Book Club pick The Downstairs Girl
“I finished this book in one sitting, and I still can’t stop thinking about Monica Hesse’s stunning exploration of women’s trauma (and their undervalued roles!) in the First World War. The Brightwood Code is a gripping historical mystery, with powerful feminist themes and a perfectly complex resolution that feel as relevant today as ever.” —Jordyn Taylor, award-winning author of The Paper Girl of Paris, Don’t Breathe a Word, and The Revenge Game
“Readers biting their nails over Edda’s fictional journey will come up for air amazed by the real heroism of the Hello Girls. Monica Hesse has a genius for illuminating the darker corners of history with a kaleidoscope of heartbreaking characters and astonishing plot twists.” —Elizabeth Wein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity and Stateless
* "[A] gripping historical thriller." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Hesse yet again proves herself to be a master in matching a compelling mystery with a vividly detailed historical setting [in] a book that is an absolute page-turner…This easily deserves a spot next to Wein’s Code Name Verity as an exemplar of the wartime drama." —BCCB, starred review
* “An evocative novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, history, and psychology, this is a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking puzzle that explores the lasting impacts of war. Highly recommended.” —SLJ, starred review
“This page-turning narrative, with its flashbacks to Edda’s time overseas, its solid sense of wartime D.C. and the strong characterization of the protagonist, will resonate with readers.”—The Washington Post
“Engaging writing will have readers racing to discover the secret. A well-researched work that stands out for its explorations of guilt and trauma.”—Kirkus
School Library Journal
★ 05/03/2024
Gr 8 Up—Set against the backdrop of post-WW I America, this is a suspenseful mystery with a rich historical narrative. The story follows Edda, a former Hello Girl who operated switchboards, translated, and passed code on the frontlines. Now Edda is living in Washington D.C., struggling through the aftermath of her wartime experiences and what we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder. While Edda tries to navigate civilian life, working as an American Bell telephone operator, she is thrust into a web of intrigue when a coworker dies and she receives a call demanding that she reveal the truth about "Brightwood." With the help of her charismatic neighbor Theo, Edda embarks on a journey that will force her to confront her past. Hesse's writing is compelling, drawing readers into Edda's world and keeping them enthralled until the very end. The novel is a gentle exploration of trauma and the power of confronting one's past in order to find healing and redemption. Additionally, this novel highlights the nearly forgotten endeavors of women whose wartime sacrifices have been largely disregarded; women whom, despite their patriotism, were denied veteran status and largely omitted from history. VERDICT An evocative novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, history, and psychology, this is a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking puzzle that explores the lasting impacts of war. Highly recommended for any collection but particularly for libraries where Alan Gratz or Elizabeth Wein books are popular.—Claire Covington
Kirkus Reviews
2024-02-17
A World War I story that shines a light on a little-known group of heroic young women is the latest from noted historical fiction author Hesse.
It’s 1918, and 18-year-old Edda St. James works the overnight shift as an operator at Bell System’s Washington, D.C., Central switchboard. The hours suit her: She can sleep the day away, trying to escape memories of her months in France. Flashbacks to her experiences near the front lines gradually disclose details of how those months shaped her. Edda shocked her Baltimore socialite parents when she applied to be a Hello Girl for the American Expeditionary Forces. She proved to be a natural in memorizing codes, connecting calls, and conversing in French. But her confidence in her abilities was swept away in a single night when, unable to remember the code, she could not put a connection through—and 34 American soldiers died. Back in the States, Edda blames herself—and when a voice on the other end of the switchboard line demands she tell the truth, she realizes that someone knows about her deadly mistake. Edda takes Theo, a fellow tenant at her aunt’s boardinghouse, into her confidence, and together they try to determine what the anonymous voice wants. The large cast of characters, who are cued white, are fully developed, and the short chapters and engaging writing will have readers racing to discover the secret.
A well-researched work that stands out for its explorations of guilt and trauma. (author’s note) (Historical mystery. 14-18)
