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juller's review against another edition
4.0
A captivating and heartbreaking story about two teen girls. It is also a historical fiction that seems well researched.
luliii's review against another edition
2.75
„[…] Ich habe das wohl gründlich missverstanden. Was wir waren.“
„Was wir waren?“ Meine Hände kribbeln, das Gespräch bringt meinen ganzen Körper in Aufruhr. Ich gehe ein paar Schritte auf sie zu. „Margot, bitte sag mir, was du denkst, was wir waren.“
„Was wir waren?“ Meine Hände kribbeln, das Gespräch bringt meinen ganzen Körper in Aufruhr. Ich gehe ein paar Schritte auf sie zu. „Margot, bitte sag mir, was du denkst, was wir waren.“
trix21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
did not really like the ending. other than that, not monica hesse’s best work (that would be they went left or girl in the blue coat) but still a great read. recommended.
allison_sirovy's review against another edition
5.0
I’m surprised this book doesn’t have a rating of 4. Readers either loved it or thought it was okay, but I loved it. Again, I knew that the U.S. had internment camps during WWII, but I did not know they had different internment camps for Germans and Japanese who were actually considered enemies - had done something to warrant them being labeled enemies. Crystal City was a real place that held both Japanese and German “enemies.” Haruko and Margot are both stuck in this camp because of their fathers, and they become friends. Twist at the end. Still thinking about this book.
kerryk8's review against another edition
4.0
This book tore my heart out and put it back together. It ravaged my emotions and filled my soul. This book twisted my mindset inside and out. I cried, I laughed, I smiled. I bawled my eyes out at the end of this book, and sadness filled my heart even though the ending is realistic. I so wished their friendship had lasted. I need closure for them!!
mdpbernal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.25
thebookberrie's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know what I was thinking. When it comes down to it I just don't like books that take place during WWII but I figured, hey, I really liked this author's other book [b:Girl in the Blue Coat|40726583|Girl in the Blue Coat|Monica Hesse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530813419l/40726583._SY75_.jpg|45956859] so maybe I could like this one! I did not.
The War Outside is about two girls who meet in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for German and Japanese-Americans families that are accused of siding with the enemy in 1944. Haruko and Margot meet at the high school and learn they are complete opposites, but end up forming a secret friendship anyway. Haruko is worried about her solider brother and her father that is hiding something. Margot is trying to keep her family together while her mother's health fails and her father fraternizes with nazis.
This book deals with a topic in history that isn't really talked about enough and for that, good. But for the rest? I was just bored. I'm going to be honest but the only part that really did it for me was the author's note on history in the back where she talks about the real people she took inspiration from and the history of the camp.
Everything about this story itself and these fictional characters was just so bland and the ending is so disappointing. The plot is just people living in an internment camp and how everyone tried to move on with their lives behind bars, just doing basic day to day things. It isn't really building to anything and it had such a slow pace for being such a short book. I still don't feel like much even happened. It's called the war outside and yet we never get to see any of it. I never even really felt the time period.
This has a secret friendship and even teases at it being something more but nothing has time to develop so I just didn't care enough. Literally everything in this book just felt underdeveloped.
While I would still recommend [b:Girl in the Blue Coat|40726583|Girl in the Blue Coat|Monica Hesse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530813419l/40726583._SY75_.jpg|45956859], this book just wasn't for me.
The War Outside is about two girls who meet in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for German and Japanese-Americans families that are accused of siding with the enemy in 1944. Haruko and Margot meet at the high school and learn they are complete opposites, but end up forming a secret friendship anyway. Haruko is worried about her solider brother and her father that is hiding something. Margot is trying to keep her family together while her mother's health fails and her father fraternizes with nazis.
This book deals with a topic in history that isn't really talked about enough and for that, good. But for the rest? I was just bored. I'm going to be honest but the only part that really did it for me was the author's note on history in the back where she talks about the real people she took inspiration from and the history of the camp.
Everything about this story itself and these fictional characters was just so bland and the ending is so disappointing. The plot is just people living in an internment camp and how everyone tried to move on with their lives behind bars, just doing basic day to day things. It isn't really building to anything and it had such a slow pace for being such a short book. I still don't feel like much even happened. It's called the war outside and yet we never get to see any of it. I never even really felt the time period.
This has a secret friendship and even teases at it being something more but nothing has time to develop so I just didn't care enough. Literally everything in this book just felt underdeveloped.
While I would still recommend [b:Girl in the Blue Coat|40726583|Girl in the Blue Coat|Monica Hesse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530813419l/40726583._SY75_.jpg|45956859], this book just wasn't for me.
grecia_r's review against another edition
5.0
Straightforward historical fiction read. I loved the story, the research. Not really a topic much covered. I'm interested in the fact that the author herself mentions having unanswered questions at the end of the book, because I know I sure did. There are some things I still don't really understand. Nor could I say I would not have chosen differently, or similarly.
clittleford3's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Deportation
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse