Name: Nabila Azahra's review of Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
Item: Girl in the Blue Coat
Rating: 4
Author: Nabila Azahra

Monica Hesse

The bestselling, "gripping" (Entertainment Weekly), "powerful" (Hypable), "utterly thrilling" (Paste.com) winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery, perfect for readers of Kristin Hannah and Ruta Sepetys Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion. On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman's frantic plea to find a person--a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work, but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of the Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary novel about bravery, grief, and love in impossible times. Don't miss The War Outside and They Went Left, two more gripping historical novels by Monica Hesse

Girl in the Blue Coat

Laura

An unforgettable story of bravery, grief, and love in impossible times "Girl in the Blue Coat is a powerful, compelling coming-of-age story set against the dark and dangerous backdrop of World War II. It's an important and page-turning look at the choices all of us-including young adults-have to make in wartime. A beautiful combination of heartbreak, loss, young love, and hope." -Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale "A tapestry of guilt and acceptance, growing responsibility, and reluctant heroism, Hanneke's coming-of-age under heartbreaking circumstances is a jarring reminder of how war consumes and transforms the passions of ordinary life. Every devastating moment of this beautiful novel is both poignant and powerful, and every word feels true." -Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion. On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman's frantic plea to find a person-a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work, but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of the Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary, gripping novel from a bright new voice.

Nabila Azahra

3,5 🌟

This book was pretty good! The first half was kinda slow but the rest is just amazing. The story line was really twisty and I love it. Character wise, I didn’t care any of them. I don’t like Hanneke as much.

Fatima Kadri 

An unforgettable story of bravery, grief, and love in impossible times "Girl in the Blue Coat is a powerful, compelling coming-of-age story set against the dark and dangerous backdrop of World War II. It's an important and page-turning look at the choices all of us--including young adults--have to make in wartime. A beautiful combination of heartbreak, loss, young love, and hope." -Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale "A tapestry of guilt and acceptance, growing responsibility, and reluctant heroism, Hanneke's coming-of-age under heartbreaking circumstances is a jarring reminder of how war consumes and transforms the passions of ordinary life. Every devastating moment of this beautiful novel is both poignant and powerful, and every word feels true." -Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion. On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman's frantic plea to find a person--a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work, but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of the Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary, gripping novel from a bright new voice.

Mark-Olivier

Good book. The story is great but a little predictable. I did not quite understand everything as if the author tried to make it less predictable yet predictable but it is still good. 
For an easy read yet complex, great book. It could have been better.

Kelsey Joëlle

I used to love books set in WWII because I love historical reads. Not really the biggest fan of the books anymore.

The book was good, the characters where very interesting and I love the fact that there was a homosexual character. Obviously, the book is very important, so I liked to read a book that was set in the Netherlands. I've traveled past the Hollandsche Schouwburg so many times without realising what happened there in WWII. 

But besides that, the book was pretty boring. I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. 

But, if you want to read a book that sets in WWII in Amsterdam, then this book is your thing!

Sydney Dennisseur 

This book was gorgeous. It really brought to life the realities of that time period. I loved the characters and the plots twist just sucked me in even more. Definitely 13+ just because I think anything surrounding WWII is for a more mature audience. I definitely recommend this book, though and I give it a 9/10 stars. I hope this becomes required reading one day ❤️

Meredith Boster

Pretty darn Gucci if I do say so myself. I love reading historical fiction based during World War II, so this was a pleasurable read. It threw a curve ball at me and I really enjoyed the ending. It was well written and the easy to follow. Monica Hesse is a good story teller and I really loved reading this book! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick historical fiction novel.

Emmie B.

Between 4 & 4.5 stars— this book was very well done! I felt transported into the past, & into Amsterdam while reading. The characters feel so realistic in the book and relatable, all helping (or not helping) with the resistance in their own ways. All with their own sets of distinct values. All dealing with the war in the way that makes sense to them, after being affected differently.
I felt very close to Hanneke (the protagonist) throughout the story, because I see a resemblance in her to someone I know very well. 
This was one of my first experiences with a true mystery novel in a long time, and I forgot how satisfying it is to see all of the loose ends skillfully tied together the way M. Hesse did with this book. 
Really, in many ways, this sort of book is the closest we can get to a Time Machine, when thorough research is completed and the right descriptions are used to transport readers into new worlds. 
I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a skillfully written mystery, set in WWII with amazing historical accuracy (despite, of course the specific mystery & characters). I would recommend this book to people who don’t want to feel alone in their lives, and just need something to make them feel reassured that there are people who care about them. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a hug.

Cerys

*4.5. This novel is exceptional. I am an avid reader of historical fiction, however, this is the only book that I have read that was set in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, or in the Netherlands in general. The writing style is gorgeous and the plot kept me reading. It is a heart-wrenching story that must be read if you are an enjoyer of historical fiction.

Amsterdam, 1943 Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black-market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the front line when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion. But one day Hanneke gets a very unusual request. One of her regular customers asks her to find a girl. A girl who has disappeared from the secret room in her house. A Jewish girl . . . As she searches for clues Hanneke is drawn into a dangerous web of lies, secrets and mysteries. Can she find the runaway before the Nazis do? Meticulously researched, intricately plotted and beautifully written, The Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinarily gripping novel from a bright new voice in YA fiction. 'a gripping historical mystery' Publishers Weekly, starred review

The Girl in the Blue Coat

This novel is exceptional. I am an avid reader of historical fiction, however, this is the only book that I have read that was set in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, or in the Netherlands in general. The writing style is gorgeous and the plot kept me reading. It is a heart-wrenching story that must be read if you are an enjoyer of historical fiction.

laura

Such a heartfelt read. One that def told a quite story but one that pack such a punched. I really loved the setting so much. The andersdam setting was one that opened my eyes to the impact of WW2 on other on other countries. I normally love books about quite resistance and also really loved the mystery at the hear of it. It was really engaging read and one that pulled at my hear strings and this book also had a strong grief element but also a book that focuses on hard choices and friendship. I really loved these characters and admire the lead characters bravery and her resistance.

Jeni Enjaian

I picked up this book after my overdrive loan for "Salt to the Sea" expired before I could finish that book. (I have to wait four more weeks to check it out again!)

I did not know what to expect having not read the synopsis. All I knew was that this book had a good rating on goodreads and had made it onto the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award list. Usually that's a winning combo. This book did not break that mold.

I found myself absolutely fascinated by every aspect of this book. Hesse wove a realistic mystery into an uncommon setting, Amsterdam during the German occupation. Although another famous book also takes place with that setting, "The Diary of Anne Frank," most World War II fiction centers itself in more "popular" areas such as England, France, German, or various concentration camps. Amsterdam, and the Netherlands as a whole, has such a powerful story to tell of this time of occupation. The Dutch had no idea what to expect having declared neutrality during World War I. After the total devastation of their army and the subsequent occupation for most of the years of the war, so many people endured horrific suffering and changed tremendously. Hesse fantastically weaves historical accuracy with real trauma and pain to create a character who tugs at your heart strings as she deals with the sorrow of losing the man she loves by becoming hardened to much of the suffering around her and dealing in the black market to provide for her family. Throughout this book, she encounters real suffering, the truth behind the Nazi occupation and many things she walked right past, seeing but not seeing, and like many of us would, struggles to fit this into her paradigm.

I highly recommend this book and have already purchased it for my classroom library.

Carly Boyer

Ainsley Lamont

Wow. My mind can't begin to wrap around everything that happened in this book. 
I love Historical Fiction (HF), and this is my favourite HF author, so I was prepared for an amazing book. I wasn't prepared though for this.
This book was beyond words; a lost love, a missing girl, black market, loyal citizens and traitors. It was miscommunication and words that shouldn't of been said that put this story into motion. Monica Hesse really showed how war can turn innocence into evil, and how war makes everyone grow up no matter how old. 
I loved this book so much and I recommend this book to everyone!

Rachel rowe

This book started off a little slow to me. I
When I have read books on WWII in the past it has always been from the point of view of someone in one of the concentration camps. This was my first time reading from a different point of view. Over all the book is well written and has a good story line. The ending(around the last 100 pages) really had me. So good and terribly sad at the same time.

This book felt like a bad Code Name Verity rip off. I hated the main character, I hated the twist ending, the mystery did not grab me at all, and it wasn’t very enjoyable to read. I feel like this book did not add anything to the historical fiction genre, and I think the reason why I didn’t like this book at all was because it represented in my head every trend I hate in YA historical fiction. Much like Salt to the Sea did the opposite and helped rekindle my hope in YA historical fiction, this helped me along in my decision to pick up more adult historical fiction. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Code Name Verity, I just don’t need to read it again. It also reminded me a bit of Tamar by Mal Peet, which did the Dutch Resistance much more justice in my opinion. In some parts, I felt as if the author was just telling us her research instead of showing it, and the actually interesting parts with the Dutch Resistance and the black market were brushed aside in favor of a mystery I really didn’t care about. As a historical fiction lover, this book did nothing for me.

Read more like this review on my blog, http://www.bookwormbasics.blogspot.com

"riveting... a gripping historical mystery." Publishers WeeklyMeticulously researched, intricately plotted and beautifully written, The Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinarily gripping novel from a bright new voice in YA fiction.Amsterdam, 1943 Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black-market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the front line when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion. But one day Hanneke gets a very unusual request. One of her regular customers asks her to find a girl. A girl who has disappeared from the secret room in her house. A Jewish girl . . .As she searches for clues Hanneke is drawn into a dangerous web of lies, secrets and mysteries. Can she find the runaway before the Nazis do?PRAISE FOR THE GIRL IN THE BLUE COAT"A powerful, compelling coming-of-age story set against the dark and dangerous backdrop of World War II."Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale"[An] affecting novel ... Hesse's pacing infuses her story with thriller suspense, enriching the narrative with dramatic surprises both small and large." Booklist "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" School Library Journal"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

Lisa Beasley

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Historical fiction isn't my favourite genre but I have enjoyed the odd one here and there but combined with the mystery aspect and I was suckered in straight away. I liked Hanneke as a character, I thought her motivations and thought processes were honest and accurate. I loved the supporting characters, especially Ollie and the flashbacks of Bas and that whole situation felt poignant. The resolution to the mystery felt somewhat convoluted at times but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. A solid 4 star read for me. I especially loved the voice narration in the audiobook.

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Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

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