In Amsterdam, 1943, 18-year-old Hanneke spends her days finding and delivering sought after black market goods. While making a delivery to one of her regular clients Mrs Janssen, Hanneke is begged to find a missing Jewish teenager that Mrs Janssen had been hiding. After reluctantly taking on this massive task, Hanneke finds herself caught in a web of lies and mysteries which end up leading her to the Dutch resistance. This unexpected encounter opens Hanneke’s eyes to the true horror of the war and ultimatly leads her to take drastic action.
This powerful book took my breath away.
I knew nothing about this book when I picked it up and now I can’t stop talking about it. The Girl In The Coat is truly a masterpiece.
Heartbreakingly beautiful and expertly written, Monica Hesse take’s the reader on a haunting journey through Nazi occupied Amsterdam.
The characters Monica has created are so beautifully crafted that you cant help but feel for them.
With the Nazi occupation as the backdrop of this novel you can feel the fear and desperation radiating off the pages at all times.
Monica Hesse’s writing has such a cinematic quality to it, I feel like I was watching rather than reading this story.
Such a heartbreaking story being told through the eyes of a somewhat naive girl really draws the reader in and keeps you turning the pages.
Another great element of this book is the Author leads you down a road and just as you think you know where you are heading she changes direction. I really loved this aspect of the book, it kept me fully engaged in the story.
The one aspect I didn’t completely love was when we were shown things from the past, such as Hanneke’s first kiss, her best friend, etc. This tool was really well used at the start of the book but as the story became more desperate and fast paced I think it became unnecessary. Toward the end of the book I was already so invested in these characters I didn’t need the flashbacks to help me connect to them. That being said just because I didn’t need them doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy them.
I love books set during World War Two, and as such I have read quite a few. The Girl In The Blue Coat is definitely one of the best I have read. I have already passed it on and told everyone I know about it.
If you havent read this book, do it now. A book as beautiful as The Girl In The Blue Coat shouldnt be missed.
gemsbooknook 