The War Outside, Hardcover

Contributor(s):

• Author: Monica Hesse

A stunning novel of conviction, friendship, and betrayal from Monica Hesse, the Edgar Award-winning and bestselling author of Girl in the Blue Coat

It's 1944, and World War II is raging across Europe and the Pacific. The war seemed far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado--until they were uprooted to dusty Texas, all because of the places their parents once called home: Germany and Japan.

Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for those accused of colluding with the enemy. The teens discover that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all the others: the camp is changing them, day by day and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by fear for her soldier brother and distrust of her father, who she knows is keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family whole as her mother's health deteriorates and her rational, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis.

With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their growing, secret friendship. But in a prison the government has deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone--even each other?

 
Review citations

• Booklist / Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended - pg. 96 - 06/01/2018
• Booklist / Exceptional Presentation - pg. 96 - 06/01/2018
• Booklist / Book Of Special Distinction - pg. 96 - 06/01/2018
• Booklist / Top 15 Book Of The Year - pg. 96 - 06/01/2018
• Booklist / Highly Recommended - pg. 96 - 06/01/2018
• School Library Journal / Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended - pg. 73 - 07/01/2018
• School Library Journal / Exceptional Presentation - pg. 73 - 07/01/2018
• School Library Journal / Book Of Special Distinction - pg. 73 - 07/01/2018
• School Library Journal / Top 15 Book Of The Year - pg. 73 - 07/01/2018
• School Library Journal / Highly Recommended - pg. 73 - 07/01/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Exceptional Presentation - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Book Of Special Distinction - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Top 15 Book Of The Year - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Highly Recommended - 07/09/2018
• Kirkus Reviews - 07/15/2018
• Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks / Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended - 09/01/2018
• Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks / Exceptional Presentation - 09/01/2018
• Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks / Book Of Special Distinction - 09/01/2018
• Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks / Top 15 Book Of The Year - 09/01/2018
• Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks / Highly Recommended - 09/01/2018
• BookPage - 10/01/2018