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The Brightwood Code
Seven months ago Edda was on the World War I front lines as one of two hundred “Hello Girls,” female switchboard operators employed by the US Army. She spent her nights memorizing secret connection codes to stay ahead of spying enemies and her days connecting calls between platoons and bases and generals, all trying to survive—and win—a brutal war. Their lives were in Edda’s hands, and one day, in fateful seconds, everything went wrong.
Now Edda is back in Washington, D.C., working as an American Bell Telephone operator, the picture of respectability. But when her shift ends, she is barely hanging on, desperate to forget the circumstances that cut her time overseas short. When Edda receives a panicked phone call from someone who utters the fateful code word “Brightwood,” she has no choice but to confront her past.
Now Edda is back in Washington, D.C., working as an American Bell Telephone operator, the picture of respectability. But when her shift ends, she is barely hanging on, desperate to forget the circumstances that cut her time overseas short. When Edda receives a panicked phone call from someone who utters the fateful code word “Brightwood,” she has no choice but to confront her past.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
About the author
Monica Hesse
9 books1,120 followersMonica Hesse is the national bestselling author of the true crime love story American Fire, and the historical mystery novel Girl in the Blue Coat, which has been translated into a dozen languages and won the 2017 Edgar award in the Young Adult category. She is a feature writer for the Washington Post, where she has been a winner of the Society for Feature Journalism's Narrative Storytelling award, and a finalist for a Livingston Award and a James Beard Award. Monica lives in Maryland. with her husband and a brainiac dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 26, 2024
4.5
I started this book after work one day, intending to read just a couple of chapters before doing other things. I ended up reading about 85% before I'd even realized it, and decided to push through the last bit before the end of the day. It's been a long time since I've read a full length book in a few hours, but this book was so gripping I couldn't stop.
This book follows Edda, a former Hello Girl during World War I. I didn't know much about the Hello Girls, as I'm not well-versed in much of WWI. They were bilingual English/French switchboard operators who helped connect the different American and French troops, and were essential to the war effort. Edda was discharged from her duty early and returned to the US, intending to forget her mistake which she believes cost the lives of the entire Forty-Eighth Baltimore Regiment. As we follow Edda, we learn more about how she became a Hello Girl, and what led up to the tragedy that caused her to return home. This book brilliantly crafts another aspect of the war that many people didn't give much thought to and didn't have words for - PTSD. Edda's struggles with her PTSD are woven throughout the tale and offer great insight into her character.
I do have to say that I wasn't expecting the ending at all. Everything is not as it seems, as Edda isn't always the most reliable narrator due to her trauma. However, once you get to the end, you understand completely why Edda is suffering the way she is. There is a second part to the ending, which weaves in another thread of the story that packs an emotional punch. This story moves at a fast pace, with very few unnecessary words or scenes. It's easy to get pulled in by the narration and even easier to keep flipping the pages to find out what really happened. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of mystery involved. Just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I started this book after work one day, intending to read just a couple of chapters before doing other things. I ended up reading about 85% before I'd even realized it, and decided to push through the last bit before the end of the day. It's been a long time since I've read a full length book in a few hours, but this book was so gripping I couldn't stop.
This book follows Edda, a former Hello Girl during World War I. I didn't know much about the Hello Girls, as I'm not well-versed in much of WWI. They were bilingual English/French switchboard operators who helped connect the different American and French troops, and were essential to the war effort. Edda was discharged from her duty early and returned to the US, intending to forget her mistake which she believes cost the lives of the entire Forty-Eighth Baltimore Regiment. As we follow Edda, we learn more about how she became a Hello Girl, and what led up to the tragedy that caused her to return home. This book brilliantly crafts another aspect of the war that many people didn't give much thought to and didn't have words for - PTSD. Edda's struggles with her PTSD are woven throughout the tale and offer great insight into her character.
I do have to say that I wasn't expecting the ending at all. Everything is not as it seems, as Edda isn't always the most reliable narrator due to her trauma. However, once you get to the end, you understand completely why Edda is suffering the way she is. There is a second part to the ending, which weaves in another thread of the story that packs an emotional punch. This story moves at a fast pace, with very few unnecessary words or scenes. It's easy to get pulled in by the narration and even easier to keep flipping the pages to find out what really happened. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of mystery involved. Just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2024
An Examination of Trauma and Historical Omissions in Monica Hesse's "The Brightwood Code"
Monica Hesse's "The Brightwood Code" offers a deftly crafted historical mystery intertwined with a nuanced interrogation of trauma and the systematic erasure of women's wartime contributions. The novel centers on Edda, a former "Hello Girl" – one of the courageous female switchboard operators whose skills were indispensable on the World War I frontlines. Hesse meticulously reconstructs the harrowing atmosphere of the war, juxtaposing the relentless tension of Edda's past with the stifling expectations of post-war America.
In portraying Edda's psychological struggles, Hesse transcends the conventions of historical fiction. The novel delves into the complexities of a condition that would not be fully recognized for decades: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Edda's flashbacks, hypervigilance, and desperate attempts to numb her pain are rendered with both visceral immediacy and profound sensitivity. Hesse illustrates the profound isolation experienced by those whose trauma is invisible and often dismissed, particularly within the historical context of a society ill-equipped to acknowledge the psychological cost of war.
"The Brightwood Code" also exposes the historical injustice perpetrated against the "Hello Girls." Despite their undeniable role in the Allied war effort, their service was denied veteran status and largely omitted from official narratives. Hesse weaves a compelling thread of righteous anger through the narrative, highlighting the systemic silencing of women whose wartime sacrifices were deemed inconvenient. The novel thus serves as a corrective, amplifying a hidden history while simultaneously indicting the mechanisms of erasure.
Beyond its thematic depth, "The Brightwood Code" succeeds as a captivating thriller. The central mystery involving the cryptic code word "Brightwood" propels the narrative forward, engaging the reader in the unraveling of secrets and the pursuit of truth. Hesse's prose possesses a historical sensibility that transports readers to the era, yet remains unburdened by archaisms, ensuring a seamless reading experience.
This multifaceted novel offers profound insights into both individual wartime experiences and the broader societal consequences of downplaying women's contributions. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of historical fiction to both illuminate forgotten corners of the past and resonate with the ongoing human struggle to heal from unseen wounds.
Monica Hesse's "The Brightwood Code" offers a deftly crafted historical mystery intertwined with a nuanced interrogation of trauma and the systematic erasure of women's wartime contributions. The novel centers on Edda, a former "Hello Girl" – one of the courageous female switchboard operators whose skills were indispensable on the World War I frontlines. Hesse meticulously reconstructs the harrowing atmosphere of the war, juxtaposing the relentless tension of Edda's past with the stifling expectations of post-war America.
In portraying Edda's psychological struggles, Hesse transcends the conventions of historical fiction. The novel delves into the complexities of a condition that would not be fully recognized for decades: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Edda's flashbacks, hypervigilance, and desperate attempts to numb her pain are rendered with both visceral immediacy and profound sensitivity. Hesse illustrates the profound isolation experienced by those whose trauma is invisible and often dismissed, particularly within the historical context of a society ill-equipped to acknowledge the psychological cost of war.
"The Brightwood Code" also exposes the historical injustice perpetrated against the "Hello Girls." Despite their undeniable role in the Allied war effort, their service was denied veteran status and largely omitted from official narratives. Hesse weaves a compelling thread of righteous anger through the narrative, highlighting the systemic silencing of women whose wartime sacrifices were deemed inconvenient. The novel thus serves as a corrective, amplifying a hidden history while simultaneously indicting the mechanisms of erasure.
Beyond its thematic depth, "The Brightwood Code" succeeds as a captivating thriller. The central mystery involving the cryptic code word "Brightwood" propels the narrative forward, engaging the reader in the unraveling of secrets and the pursuit of truth. Hesse's prose possesses a historical sensibility that transports readers to the era, yet remains unburdened by archaisms, ensuring a seamless reading experience.
This multifaceted novel offers profound insights into both individual wartime experiences and the broader societal consequences of downplaying women's contributions. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of historical fiction to both illuminate forgotten corners of the past and resonate with the ongoing human struggle to heal from unseen wounds.
May 20, 2024
3.5*
I flew through this book and enjoyed learning about the Hello Girls. Monica Hesse is a great author.
I liked the concept and the conflict of the story a lot, but the resolution kind of fell short for me.
I flew through this book and enjoyed learning about the Hello Girls. Monica Hesse is a great author.
I liked the concept and the conflict of the story a lot, but the resolution kind of fell short for me.
May 17, 2024
Read this if you love:
🤍 well-researched historical fiction
🔎 mysteries that keep you guessing
🩶 unreliable narrators
Since I had a hard time putting down The Brightwood Code, 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. Each 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 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 it’s due. I had no idea that dozens of women were sent to the front lines in France to operate military switchboards and 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.
🤍 well-researched historical fiction
🔎 mysteries that keep you guessing
🩶 unreliable narrators
Since I had a hard time putting down The Brightwood Code, 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. Each 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 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 it’s due. I had no idea that dozens of women were sent to the front lines in France to operate military switchboards and 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.
April 30, 2024
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***
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***
May 21, 2024
Years ago, I attended Monica Hesse’s wedding. It was an outdoor affair, accompanied by touch football and other games in the yard adjacent to the wedding site, her backyard. She had been one of several of my son’s roommates for a time when he was working in Washington and getting established as a photographer. He later abandoned photography as a career, opting for a series of jobs in the movies. He has remained friends with Monica and Rob, her husband ever since. Monica has moved on from her job as a Washington Post reporter and columnist, where she still hangs her daily job hat. That she branched out into novel writing is no surprise since she always had a large and active sense of humor and humanity. Several of her novels have been YA novels, but I have been most interested in her adult novels, of which this is the latest. Edda St. James was one of the Hello Girls of WWI. They were sent to the front to operate switchboards and had to be the very best operators around and bilingual. Their job was to connect the front lines with the rear echelons for support, information about the exact construction and location of the front and the enemy. We see Edda on the frontline and back in DC in the years after the war. She is haunted by a mistake she thinks she made at one point, involving a password unknown to her: Brightwood. The boys of the Forty-Eighth Regiment died, she believes, because of her hesitancy caused by ignorance of the meaning of “Brightwood.” She is so haunted by it that she needs to know what happened to them and what Brightwood means that she loses sleep and adjusts to a friendless life in a DC boarding house. One of the fellow-residents of the house is an aspiring young man named Theo, who soon becomes her best friend, without benefits. She is still absorbed inn a wartime romance with Luc, the French officer who supervised the Hello Girls. He encourages her career as an operator and turns out to be somewhat of an operator himself, though not of the telephonic type. So, the story begins as a mystery, includes a lot of history, about the Hello Girls as well as the operations at early AT&T and telephony in general. It turns into a bit of a romance only to turn back to mystery again in the final third. It is thoroughly delightful reading and enough to make an old friend proud. The best thing about the book is that, since Monica is in her early 40s, there are decades more in which she can write more good fiction, or even non-fiction. Did I mention that she has a wicked sense of humor? That is a genre she has yet to explore I’m glad that I genuinely enjoyed her work in The Brightwood Code and I look forward to more from her.
May 9, 2024
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.
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.
March 8, 2024
Thank you to Little Brown and NetGalley for the arc!
I have to say, for someone who doesn't have an interest in YA historical fiction, this book makes me want to dive into the field. Monica Hesse keeps the story going by having the ability to execute working in two different timelines. I enjoyed following along our characters and the mysteries behind what had happened in their pasts. I will say, there were moments regarding our main character, Edda's, past that I really would have liked to see fleshed out more towards the beginning of the story. I felt like I was so focused on the mystery aspect to really focus on the most important part, which is the hardships that women have (and still) face in times of war. Overall, I highly enjoyed the novel and can't wait to see more people read it.
Anyway on to the fun part. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Before I start: Hey Luc, you suck!!! Karma is real b**ch, isn't she! I wish he didn't get a "Lovely Bones" type of death, but he's dead so whatever!! BYE!
Now that that is out of my system, I would love to share a more spoiler filled review on "The Brightwood Code". I love how each chapter is dedicated to the soldiers that died in the Brightwood incident. I thought it was very clever. I do think that Edda is great as our main character, but I do think that all the stuff between her and Luc (and between the other Hello Girls) should have been our storyline. Instead, we followed along as Edda and Theo (<3) tried to solve this mystery about a the soldiers who died. I would have loved to see more of Louisa and of Miss Genovese and maybe have gotten a chapter from their POV's. They are as important to the story as everyone else, yet received little to none page time.
I have to say, for someone who doesn't have an interest in YA historical fiction, this book makes me want to dive into the field. Monica Hesse keeps the story going by having the ability to execute working in two different timelines. I enjoyed following along our characters and the mysteries behind what had happened in their pasts. I will say, there were moments regarding our main character, Edda's, past that I really would have liked to see fleshed out more towards the beginning of the story. I felt like I was so focused on the mystery aspect to really focus on the most important part, which is the hardships that women have (and still) face in times of war. Overall, I highly enjoyed the novel and can't wait to see more people read it.
Anyway on to the fun part. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Before I start: Hey Luc, you suck!!! Karma is real b**ch, isn't she! I wish he didn't get a "Lovely Bones" type of death, but he's dead so whatever!! BYE!
Now that that is out of my system, I would love to share a more spoiler filled review on "The Brightwood Code". I love how each chapter is dedicated to the soldiers that died in the Brightwood incident. I thought it was very clever. I do think that Edda is great as our main character, but I do think that all the stuff between her and Luc (and between the other Hello Girls) should have been our storyline. Instead, we followed along as Edda and Theo (<3) tried to solve this mystery about a the soldiers who died. I would have loved to see more of Louisa and of Miss Genovese and maybe have gotten a chapter from their POV's. They are as important to the story as everyone else, yet received little to none page time.
May 16, 2024
Book Review: The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse
The Brightwood Code is a young adult historical novel and mystery about a young woman haunted by her past as a “Hello Girl” during World War I.
Etta is back in the U.S. after her service in France as one of the switchboard operators for the army. This group of women had to translate calls in French and English and memorize the many changing military code words used in both languages. She is haunted by what happened over there, especially the memory of a group of young men killed during an operation on her last day. But during a shift at her new job as a Bell operator in Washington D.C., a whispered voice comes over the line saying the word “Brightwood”. Only a small group of people on the other side of the ocean know that word, and her fear is that her mistake on her last day in France has caught up with her.
This is an intriguing mystery and historical novel that captures a time when young women were placed in impossible situations both in their work and personal life yet still didn’t have fundamental rights. Etta is clearly suffering, and Monica Hesse does a great job showing that to the reader without giving too much away. I also enjoyed the small romantic storyline between Etta and her neighbor Theo and his attempts to help her solve the mystery caller.
I highly recommend The Brightwood Code and look forward to reading more from Monica Hesse.
4.5 stars
The Brightwood Code is a young adult historical novel and mystery about a young woman haunted by her past as a “Hello Girl” during World War I.
Etta is back in the U.S. after her service in France as one of the switchboard operators for the army. This group of women had to translate calls in French and English and memorize the many changing military code words used in both languages. She is haunted by what happened over there, especially the memory of a group of young men killed during an operation on her last day. But during a shift at her new job as a Bell operator in Washington D.C., a whispered voice comes over the line saying the word “Brightwood”. Only a small group of people on the other side of the ocean know that word, and her fear is that her mistake on her last day in France has caught up with her.
This is an intriguing mystery and historical novel that captures a time when young women were placed in impossible situations both in their work and personal life yet still didn’t have fundamental rights. Etta is clearly suffering, and Monica Hesse does a great job showing that to the reader without giving too much away. I also enjoyed the small romantic storyline between Etta and her neighbor Theo and his attempts to help her solve the mystery caller.
I highly recommend The Brightwood Code and look forward to reading more from Monica Hesse.
4.5 stars
April 18, 2024
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.
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.
April 25, 2024
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.
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.
April 27, 2024
Trigger Warnings: PTSD, suicide, sexual assault (all very well handled, but deep and heavy topics that readers should be aware of going in)
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!
** I received an advance copy of this book from the publish via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my rating. **
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!
** I received an advance copy of this book from the publish via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my rating. **
May 14, 2024
*Trigger Warning for rape*
*Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book*
"I'm no longer wondering what endings can be made. I am wondering whether endings exist at all, or whether life is merely a series of pauses, breaths we take in before we move on, things we lose and things we carry. Life that gets bigger. Life that grows big enough to carry it all."
Monica Hesse knows how to write a good YA Historical Fiction book. This one is no different. Following one of the Hello Girls in World War I, this book deals with the challenges of coming home after trauma, both physical and emotional.
Edda is a flawed girl confronted with the end of the world as she knew it in the face of the Great War. When she comes home from France, she must learn to live with the decisions she made and the consequences she experienced. This is a challenging read and features not only war violence but interpersonal violence as well. Hesse deals with all of these complicated issues deftly and satisfyingly without giving any easy answers, while also telling the fascinating story of the women who took on these incredibly important wartime duties often without proper recognition.
Readers should take care of themselves, but if they can read this one, they definitely should.
*Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book*
"I'm no longer wondering what endings can be made. I am wondering whether endings exist at all, or whether life is merely a series of pauses, breaths we take in before we move on, things we lose and things we carry. Life that gets bigger. Life that grows big enough to carry it all."
Monica Hesse knows how to write a good YA Historical Fiction book. This one is no different. Following one of the Hello Girls in World War I, this book deals with the challenges of coming home after trauma, both physical and emotional.
Edda is a flawed girl confronted with the end of the world as she knew it in the face of the Great War. When she comes home from France, she must learn to live with the decisions she made and the consequences she experienced. This is a challenging read and features not only war violence but interpersonal violence as well. Hesse deals with all of these complicated issues deftly and satisfyingly without giving any easy answers, while also telling the fascinating story of the women who took on these incredibly important wartime duties often without proper recognition.
Readers should take care of themselves, but if they can read this one, they definitely should.
March 12, 2024
4.5 stars
Monica Hesse has once more written a historical novel, ostensibly YA, that brought this not-young adult close to tears. Unlike her three most recent novels ("They Went Left," "The War Outside," and "Girl in the Blue Coat"), "The Brightwood Code" takes place during the First World War, not the Second. Here, Edda has returned to the States after a brief, and apparently traumatic, stint as a Hello Girl, one of several dozen young American women employed by the U.S. Army as switchboard operators in France.
In trying to solve one mystery—the identity of a caller urging her to "tell the truth" about a project dubbed Brightwood—Edda reveals to us another, while discovering truths she never expected. It's a fast, tight read, with no wasted words or passages, several unanticipated reveals, and a final act that sucker-punched me. War is hell, in ways one might never imagine, and sometimes everyday life can be too—but as Edda learns, "you expect that as time passes grief will get small, but grief doesn't get smaller. It's just that life gets bigger."
Thank you, Little, Brown Books and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy is exchange for an honest review.
Monica Hesse has once more written a historical novel, ostensibly YA, that brought this not-young adult close to tears. Unlike her three most recent novels ("They Went Left," "The War Outside," and "Girl in the Blue Coat"), "The Brightwood Code" takes place during the First World War, not the Second. Here, Edda has returned to the States after a brief, and apparently traumatic, stint as a Hello Girl, one of several dozen young American women employed by the U.S. Army as switchboard operators in France.
In trying to solve one mystery—the identity of a caller urging her to "tell the truth" about a project dubbed Brightwood—Edda reveals to us another, while discovering truths she never expected. It's a fast, tight read, with no wasted words or passages, several unanticipated reveals, and a final act that sucker-punched me. War is hell, in ways one might never imagine, and sometimes everyday life can be too—but as Edda learns, "you expect that as time passes grief will get small, but grief doesn't get smaller. It's just that life gets bigger."
Thank you, Little, Brown Books and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy is exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2024
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.
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.
May 11, 2024
In 1918 a daughter from a well-to-do Washington DC family should be married soon after she finishes school, but Edda is eager for a different future. Bell, the phone company, is hiring Hello Girls to be trained as switchboard operators on the front in France, where every night the operators must memorize a new set of location codes. That's where Edda serves, until she has a mental lapse at work that she believes causes the deaths of over thirty soldiers from Baltimore. Tormented by guilt, she leaves her war work and tries to escape her memories by living in her aunt’s boarding house and working the night shift at a switchboard. Mysterious phone calls from someone who seems to know about a code she was using when the soldiers were lost compel Edda to seek out the families of the boys who died. She’s helped by fellow boarder Theo, who has war secrets of his own. Engagingly told in a series of flashbacks. EARC from Edelweiss.
May 26, 2024
Eda is an American Bell Telephone Operator, but right before this she was on the front lines of WW1 as a hello girl. Her time on the front lines was cut short because she froze once and she believes it got a bunch of soldiers killed. When some one calls her line and says the old code Brightwood now that she is in the states she thinks someone else knows of her mistake and their consequences. So, Eda with the help of her friend Theo vow to get to the bottom of it all. But were either of them ready for the stories each has to tell?
This was a great historical fiction book where again women are at the forefront of war, another ware where everyone thought there were no girls. This was an exciting book full of suspense that is so thick it will surprise you each time you poke through. Eda and Theo’s characters are wonderful together. This is such a good book for people of all ages.
Review copy provided by netgalley
This was a great historical fiction book where again women are at the forefront of war, another ware where everyone thought there were no girls. This was an exciting book full of suspense that is so thick it will surprise you each time you poke through. Eda and Theo’s characters are wonderful together. This is such a good book for people of all ages.
Review copy provided by netgalley
June 5, 2024
Monica Hesse is making a career out of illuminating little-known details of history. In this novel, she teaches us about the Hello Girls from WWI. A group of young women are sent to France during the war to be telephone switchboard operators, learning new code words every night so they can put callers in touch with each other during crucial moments. The Hello Girls were required to also be fluent in French so that they can easily translate calls as necessary. And this during a time when most men didn't think women were smart enough to vote let alone be critical linchpins in the war machine. Edda comes home early from her stint in France and takes a job with Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator. Her past comes back to haunt her when a mystery caller announces himself with the code word Brightwood. Edda confides in her neighbor Theo who helps her resolve the mystery. This is a really enjoyable read.
April 11, 2024
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.
April 18, 2024
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.
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.
May 27, 2024
monica hesse’s dedication to bringing to light parts of history that have been overlooked is one of the reasons why she has been one of my favorite authors for several years now.
the other is that her books can simply be described as emotional gut punches that live in your brain forever.
so not only did the brightwood code teach me about the female ww1 operators AND make me cry multiple times, it also gave me one of my favorite character dynamics ever. edda and theo!! they have my heart!!
hesse is a genius at writing an unreliable narrator, and edda’s characterization was developed at the perfect pace. i stayed up all night reading this one.
i recommend this one for fans of:
- and they were roommates!
- women making history!
the other is that her books can simply be described as emotional gut punches that live in your brain forever.
so not only did the brightwood code teach me about the female ww1 operators AND make me cry multiple times, it also gave me one of my favorite character dynamics ever. edda and theo!! they have my heart!!
hesse is a genius at writing an unreliable narrator, and edda’s characterization was developed at the perfect pace. i stayed up all night reading this one.
i recommend this one for fans of:
- and they were roommates!
- women making history!
March 9, 2024
I completely expected this to be wonderful, because every book I’ve read by her has been wonderful. And I was not let down, as this was a unique book by her, but no less well researched and well written. I love how the story unwound throughout and you start with this incredibly broken young woman and you find out why she’s broken by the end. She could’ve done this in such a different way if it gone in a linear fashion. I’m really glad she chose not to, because watching Edda unravel was much more compelling.
April 1, 2024
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.
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.
April 22, 2024
I planned on reading only a few chapters but found myself drawn in so quickly that the next thing I knew I was almost done with the book. What I loved about this story was that I could not for the life of me figure out if the main character of the book was trustworthy in her memory of the facts. Even she doubted herself so of course I doubted her too. That is what made this book such a page turner. At the end, after the "big reveal" when I sat and thought about it you could kind of see the clues the author sprinkled about. This reminded me a little of The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.
May 11, 2024
The Brightwood Code kept me hooked from beginning to end. At first, I did not like the style of writing, but then I realized it was to reflect Edda's mindset as she struggled with PTSD. I enjoyed piecing together the clues of Edda's time in France and how it relates to her being back in the US. The exploration of PTSD was accurately portrayed as Edda learned that we never receive the endings that we deserve and/or expect. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC, I really loved learning about the Hello Girls in World War I.
February 18, 2024
Thank you to Little Brown for the ARC!
I can confidently say I never would have picked this book out for myself, but I’m glad I read it! It sheds light on the Hello Girls, women in WWI who were telephone operators extraordinarily close to the front lines, who I’d never heard of before this book. My only complaint is that there were characters with the last name Danneman and others with the name Dannenburg. Too similar.
I can confidently say I never would have picked this book out for myself, but I’m glad I read it! It sheds light on the Hello Girls, women in WWI who were telephone operators extraordinarily close to the front lines, who I’d never heard of before this book. My only complaint is that there were characters with the last name Danneman and others with the name Dannenburg. Too similar.
June 3, 2024
Ranges between 3.0 and 2.5 for me. I was straight up bored with this at times. I wished there was more historical content. It felt more like a mystery-drama plopped into a historical setting. I didn’t always think the sense of the time period was consistent.. the mystery didn’t play out as expected iin a way that neither seemed realistic or interesting. If I had to give this a one word rating it would be MEH.
June 6, 2024
As a mystery, The Brightwood Code should probably be considered more of a young-adult novel. As a work of historical fiction, everyone adult should read it. General knowledge about the role of communication technology in WWI is overshadowed by what happened in WWII. Also, the important roles that women played in both wars don't get enough attention in fiction. The Brightwood Code manages to address both of these topics without being preachy, boring, or unrealistic. It's an all-around great.
March 22, 2024
3.75 rounded up to 4.
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, the beginning, and the ending. The middle seemed to drag a little bit and some sub-plots seemed a bit forced. Some of the historical information was new for me, so I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect!
Not recommended for younger teens.
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, the beginning, and the ending. The middle seemed to drag a little bit and some sub-plots seemed a bit forced. Some of the historical information was new for me, so I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect!
Not recommended for younger teens.
May 5, 2024
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.
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