A must-read for fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea

Monica Hesse’s Girl in the Blue Coat is one of the most underrated novels I have ever read. The story is set during World War II and when I picked it up, I thought I knew what I was getting into. From the excerpts, I knew I would be left in tears. I just did not expect to get chills.

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.

– Goodreads

Honestly, I didn’t have any issues with the novel, so let’s jump into what I loved:

Suspense

With a premise like this, I was worried that the novel’s conclusion would not deliver. However, I was proven wrong. Lies – both big and small were revealed and I did not predict any of them. The mystery aspect of Girl in the Blue Coat was so well-developed and satisfying, by the end I was sobbing, my heart was pounding, and I was a mess.

Unsung Heroism

I loved all aspects of this novel (character development, buildup of suspense, relationships between characters) but what was most fascinating was its historical accuracy. I was captivated by the heroics of many characters in the novel and learning that these details were true to history was inspiring.

The Nazis attempted to burn photographs and articles that detailed their gruesome acts of discrimination. Determined to preserve this evidence, many risked their lives by taking photographs of these scenes of violence. Every photo was a record – a record of the Nazi regime and evidence of the photographer’s treason. Saving these films was like placing a bounty on one’s head. Acts of unsung heroism like this is what make history such a fascinating field so I applaud Monica Hesse for her extensive research.

Admirable Characters

From this reality, Hesse also creates characters that readers can relate to. Hanneke is a breadwinner with so much to lose. She is only a teenager but she is held accountable for her actions in this war and several lives are at stake. Not only is she risking her life to save a stranger, she is risking her entire family’s future. Still, her courage prevails, proving that even in the most dire situations, goodness exists in everyone. 

Supporting characters also played a large role in this novel. In some ways, they brought out the best in Hanneke. Their traits complemented hers well and as members of the resistance, they were also putting their lives at stake every day. Despite their courageous roles in the resistance, Monica Hesse is still able to capture their youth; they’re young adults in the midst of a raging war, yet we never forget that they are still young – we see glimpses of it throughout the novel. This youth makes these characters even more admirable, and the story even more profound.

The Bottom Line

 

With meticulous research, beautiful prose, and thoughtful characterization, Monica Hesse crafts a page-turning thriller about one of the most infamous wars in history while also sharing a remarkable tale of betrayal, heroism, and sacrifice.

Cover image courtesy of NOVL