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.