Another winner from Monica Hesse, who is becoming one of my "go to" authors for historical fiction when I recommend books to students. I've loved all of hers and this WWI thriller does not disappoint. Lots of intrigue and suspense kept me glued to this book for a whole rainy Sunday.. I appreciate the melding of WWI with suffragette history to really include lots of interesting little-known historical info along with a great story. I was especially fascinated with the focus of guilt and how that impacts someone who returns from war.

Edda was one of the girls who went to France to work the telephone system during WWI. She is consumed by guilt because she fears that a group of men died because she was not fast enough. When she came back home an anonymous caller keeps reminding her of the code for the operation that ended badly. With the help of Theo, her boarding house friend, they try to track down that caller. For a better picture of the girls in France workin the telephone lines, try Switchboard Soldiers. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc, and no pressure for a positive review.

This book is about a Hello Girl in France during World War I, who makes a devastating mistake that leaves her wallowing in guilt and shame. Once back home, she gets a job at Bell Telephone as an operator and receives a connection from someone who is begging her to tell the truth before it’s too late. As she races the clock to figure out who is reaching out to her, we learn of what happened in France and why she tried to leave it all behind.

When I began this story, I must admit, I was very frustrated. The main character, Edda, is obviously distraught over whatever happened in France. She gets a call from someone while at work who wants her to tell the truth before it’s too late, and the MC proceeds to spiral out of control with terror that what she did will be…I don’t actually know. Revealed? Sent to the press? Told to her co-workers and parents? It’s never really clear what she’s worried about. We learn of what happened when she reveals the info to her neighbor, Theo. At this point she even states that she has told him the “whole story.” But the reveal, her big mistake, was not anything that would require her reaction to the call she got. To me, it didn’t match up.

HOWEVER, as the story progresses, I feel like everything falls into place. At almost the half way point, it becomes apparent that what we’re being told wasn’t the whole story and her reaction makes more sense.

After that, the story picks up pace. I didn’t want to put the book down. It felt like something new was revealed every few chapters. At times, some of the connections seemed like ridiculous coincidences, like the author pushed it too far, but for the most part it was a very gripping read in the second half.

This is a young adult novel, so the writing is quick and easy to read, but because of some of the topics that are explored here, I would say this is more appropriate for older “young adults.”

The MC was developed quite well but she was about the only character who was. And, although I was irritated by her at the beginning, I empathized and even liked her at the end. Theo, however, needed to be developed more and I really wish we could
have learned a little more about Mae.

I really enjoyed learning about the Hello Girls. It wasn’t something I had ever heard of before. It was also refreshing to read about World War I instead of WWII.

Overall, the last half turned the book around for me and I will definitely be seeking out further books by this author.
***Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Monica Hesse for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review***

The Brightwood Code is my first disappointment from Hesse.
Our main character is a traumatized phone operator, attempting to re-enter civilian life after serving overseas. We're in the waning days of WW1, when Edda gets a strange/threatening phone call at work. She sets off to solve the mystery with the help of her boardinghouse neighbour, assuming it ties back to a failure in connecting a call back in Europe. The cover blurb of the story is a full bait and switch, and I don't feel that the bait and switch was properly executed. I had bought in to the mystery being about a failed phone connection and was disappointed when it all tied back to a sexual predator and miscommunication leading to the suicide of a side character. I'm not sure if the story would've benefitted from being more linear, rather than a flashback structure. The main issue for me, was that I could clock exactly what type of man the main (human) antagonist (the other antagonist is basically war/PTSD) was from his intro - so the sexual assault was basically a foregone conclusion from that point, and I was left waiting for it to occur.
At the same time, I'm a much older demo than the YA reader this book is aimed for, so their mileage may vary.
I did enjoy reading about an aspect of the war I was previously unaware of - in the Hello Girls - I just don't think the story was quite fully baked yet.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.

This is a heartbreaking story about terrible things like war, the things that happen in war, and other human atrocities. But, underneath all the pain, this story also weaves a beautiful message of healing, moving forward, and rekindled hope.
I really loved the author's prose, and she pulled off all the hidden secrets and revealing of information very well. I was very drawn into the story, need to know what happens next. I, however, did not expect some of the themes this books would address in the latter half because of how well hidden those secrets and themes were. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, I do think that one theme in particular should be foreshadowed in the book's description due to the potential of being triggering.
I am always appreciative of books that address mental health topics, and this book did a very good job portraying what PTSD can look like. I am excited for the release and hope to discuss the story with other readers when it becomes available!

This was my first time reading a book by Monica Hesse, but I enjoy YA historical fiction, especially when it has a touch of mystery, so I was eager to read The Brightwood Code. Edda has just returned to the states after a brief stint in France as part of the "Hello Girls," young American women who were hired as switchboard operators in France during World War I. Although employed by the US Army, they were not given any recognition or status as such.

At the beginning of the book, Edda is working for Bell Telephone having just recently returned from wartime France. It is clear that Edda has suffered some type of trauma, and she finds that someone else seems to know her story. We as readers are given hints and flashbacks until the whole story is finally revealed. I enjoyed the mystery aspect as much as I was fascinated by the history of the Hello Girls.

Monica Hesse knows how to write a compelling historical fiction that will appeal to adults as much as it appeals to teens.

I will recommend this to teen and adult readers who like wartime historical fiction featuring women.

Thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Edda is back from the front lines where she worked as a “Hello Girl”, as a switchboard operator. While at the front, she spent her nights memorizing connection codes to stay ahead of the enemy. Her days were spent connecting calls and vital lines between the front lines and bases. Now back in Washington, she works for American Bell Telephone as an operator. One night, just as her shift is ending, she gets a phone call and the caller utters a codeword “Brightwood” that sends her spiraling back to her time in France. She must confront her past and attempt to uncover the secrets that have followed her home.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book faster. I couldn’t put this down. The suspense and the writing easily pulled me in and kept me engaged. I eagerly flipped the pages, trying to figure out who was calling Edda and keeping her on edge. I was on edge while reading it and Monica Hesse is a fantastic writer who engages her readers with each page turned. I didn’t know anything about HR the Hello Girls prior to this story and now I cannot wait to read more about them. Highly recommend this for a unique WWI story.

A really interesting historical mystery about the Hello Girls of WWI. I will say, I wish we had more scenes of what happened on the front, but still a very compelling story.

thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Monica Hesse is the queen of YA historical novels in my opinion! The Brightwood Code is a step away from her usual WWII repertoire and dives into the "Hello Girls" of WWI. Edda is a switchboard operator in the US Army and is sent overseas to memorize secret codes. These codes are to relay messages back and forth between English and French front lines when something happens to make Edda second guess everything. Flashing back to her time in France and right before the war ends in Washington, The Brightwood Code has you second guessing everyone in Edda's path right up to the very end of the book.

I loved reading this novel about the Hello Girls (telephone operators during WWI) that I only know about because my school did a musical about them last year. This YA novel is fantastic! It explores a lesser known part of history while touching on some tougher topics (sexual abuse) that still resonate today. 4.5⭐

Edda comes home from Europe after serving as a Hello Girl during WWI. A Hello Girl was a telephone operator for the military. Edda is suffering from what we now would call PTSD from a couple of traumatic events that happened in the war. It is not clear what those are until toward the end of the book. The story feels chaotic, and I wasn’t sure I enjoyed it until the end; when it hit me, it was written in the way how Edda had been feeling being home and working as an operator when someone calls and uses the code word from the war.

The book does need a warning. There is a scene of assault on Edda.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown Books, for an ARC. This was on my “must-read list” for 2024.

Monica Hesse's compelling historical fiction novel "The Brightwood Code" brings readers to the early aftermath of World War I. Hesse does an excellent job of depicting the hardships women faced in that era's male-dominated culture. I as I read I also observed personally how important the woman's role as a switchboard operator was to the war effort. The author skillfully incorporates the female character's personal development, mystery, and intellect.

In this novel author Monica hesse explores the topics of resilience, identity, and the long-term impacts of conflict, all while encouraging serious and rigorous reading. I suggest it, especially if you enjoy mysteries, historical literature, and strong female characters; it is a fantastic book. Monica Hesse's storytelling skills kept me hooked in this novel till the last page.

Monica Hesse also ensures that the story is enjoyable, especially because it takes place in the postwar era. Not only does she provide precise information throughout the novel, but she also strives to make the characters as relatable as possible. I also admire her completing her homework before creating such a compelling novel back then.

Thank you netgalley and little brown books, for young readers for the ARC

Edda St. James was one of the Hello Girls, young American women who operated telephone switchboards in Europe during World War I. But after cutting her service short and returning to America, she’s working as a switchboard operator at Bell, living in a room at her aunt’s boarding house, and trying to hold herself together when her memories threaten to tear her apart.

One morning, as she’s wrapping up her night shift, she picks up her cord only to hear a voice beg, “Help. . . . You have to tell the truth. The fa— . . . Brightwood.”

Brightwood. The word sends Edda into a spiral: it was the code word for a group of US soldiers who died behind enemy lines when she froze, unable to remember the day’s codes, delaying an urgent message from reaching them.

She sets out to discover who it is that’s harassing her by visiting the families of the soldiers who died, aided by Theo, the young man who lives in the room next to hers at the boarding house. But Edda and Theo are both holding back parts of their past that threaten their partnership.

This is an engaging pageturner: we wanted to know what was going to happen and get to the bottom of the Brightwood incident (and we think students will, too). In some ways, the novel was frustrating because as a reader, we can see that Edda’s response is irrational: she’s taking far too much responsibility for a simple mistake. But as the novel comes to an end, it’s clear that this is part of Hesse’s purpose: Edda has a lot of healing to do from her experiences in the war, and part of that healing process is accepting that you won’t always get the endings and closure you want. The novel is ultimately about grief, guilt, and overcoming trauma, and it sheds light on a lesser known role women played in the war.

The novel is appropriate for a wide range of young adult audiences, but do be aware there is a scene of attempted rape.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

Review will be posted at https://threeheads.works/category/blog/ya-books/ on May 20, 2024.

I could not get engaged with this book. The premise was intriguing, but it took a long time to develope and the characters weren't sufficiently interesting.for me to invest the time.

Read this if you love:
🤍 well-researched historical fiction
🔎 mysteries that keep you guessing
🩶 unreliable narrators

Since I had a hard time putting The Brightwood Code down, I read it in a little over 24 hours. What a heart-pounding, tightly-plotted piece of historical fiction! Monica Hesse’s prose is electric. Every word packs a punch as we move between Edda’s past and present, slowly uncovering what exactly happened in France. As we get further into the story, you start to question who to believe and who can trusted.

Our main character, Edda St. James, has just returned from the front lines and works as telephone operator in D.C. She’s traumatized, depressed, and struggles with guilt from her time in France as a Hello Girl. Her only company is the occasional visit from her plucky architect neighbor Theo. Edda’s wears her past like an old coat, unable to move on from the thoughts that haunt her day and night. All of that changes when Edda receives a call referencing the code word that won’t leave her mind, the one that no one else was supposed to know: Brightwood.

The Brightwood Code is set during and shortly after the Great War. This is a period of history underrepresented in historical fiction (especially in YA!), so I appreciate the author giving the era its due. I had no idea that dozens of women were sent to the front lines in France to operate military switchboards, yet were not recognized as veterans until the 1970s. I glad that the author came across this piece of history and brought it to light in such a well-written manner.

If you enjoy books by Ruta Sepetys or Amanda McCrina, you’ll LOVE The Brightwood Code.

Thank you to Little, Brown and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5. Excellent historical fiction about the role of women in WWI. Compelling characters, and enough real details to pull the reader into the story. I could easily use this as a literature circle selection. There is so much to talk about here; WWI, the profound losses of war, grief, healing, PTSD, the draft, women’s suffrage. Every time I start a book set during war time, I brace myself, because war is horrible, but this is one of those stories that I found myself fully immersed in. High school students, particularly girls, will not be able to put this down. It’s great ‘herstory’—offering a unique pov on WWI. I really like that it focuses on the aftermath of war, on the hurt and healing that occurs. I really loved these characters, I’ll still be thinking about this book for awhile. A superb YA novel.

Edda wants to prove herself as a respectable young woman, which is the reason why she takes a job as a “Hello Girl” on the World War I frontlines. By operating the telephones overseas, she can actively assist in the war by connecting important calls. She finds herself feeling accomplished until a catastrophic event sends her back to Washington, DC, and reeling from the fallout.

At night, Edda operates the phones for American Bell Telephone, and by day she is haunted by the memories of what happened overseas; she cannot forgive herself for a lapse in judgment resulting in the deaths of many men. Now it would appear someone close to her knows where she failed and wants her to repent, and Edda must find a way to right her wrongs. As she tries to make amends, the truth behind what happened boils over, and Edda must come to terms with the real event she has been running from.  

The Brightwood Code is an interesting book because the direction it ends up taking feels far from how it begins. What seems to be an intriguing mystery is instead a complex story about processing trauma, and it takes many heartbreaking turns.

This book is well-written and compelling. The subject matter could be challenging for some readers and Edda’s relationship with her family could have been explored more, but overall this is a great piece of historical fiction.

An easy-to-read peice of historical fiction, this book read like a light mystery. Who is Edda running from? What happened while she was over-seas? There are not a lot of quality WWI novels around--and certainly none about the Hello Girls and their important part in the war. The author treated the subject in an interesting fashion. I think students will pick it up for the history and stay for the mystery.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of The Brightwood Code. Honestly, Monica Hesse never disappoints, and The Brightwood Code was riveting. Set in WWI (which I had to keep reminding myself of), this story focuses on one of the Hello Girls, American women who worked as telephone operators in the European theater, as she navigates undiagnosed PTSD following her return to the States. Nearly every reveal was surprising, and I enjoyed this glimpse into a piece of history not often shown in YA historical fiction.

My only quibble comes with Edda's reaction to learning how her fellow operator in DC passed. Her reaction to this news seemed less than I would have expected given her feelings toward other tragedies that occurred prior (if you know you know... I'm trying to avoid spoilers here!).

Overall, this was a great, engaging read that I'll look forward to adding to our Monica Hesse shelf. I'm sure it won't sit there long!

After her service as a Hello Girl is cut short, Edda returns home from France and works for the Bell Company. When she receives a call from a person who mentions Brightwood, Edda is forced to come face to face with her past. She embarks on a journey trying to solve the mystery of the curious caller.

This was such a hard book to put down. The story was engaging from beginning to end. There were so many twists and turns that it kept me sucked it. Every time I felt like I had the answer, the story line threw a wrench. It was great!

Thank you to Little Brown and NetGalley for the ARC.