The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse –review

‘A beautifully written book with a heroine you are unlikely to forget’

This is a poignant, well-researched novel set against the backdrop of occupied Amsterdam during the second world war. It tells the story of Hanneke, a Dutch girl who makes a living making black market deliveries while trying to stifle painful memories of her dead lover. When one of her customers asks her to find a missing Jewish girl, she is drawn into a web of mystery, tragedy and impossible choices that will change her life.

The historical research in this book is exemplary. The resistance group who are a major feature of the novel are based on a real organisation: the Amsterdam Student Group (ASG). The ASG helped rescue thousands of Jewish children and place them in safe homes during the occupation of Amsterdam. I found this and many other smaller historical details absolutely fascinating. It was very interesting to read the author’s note at the back and find out what was true. There are very few historical inaccuracies, which I greatly admire in a historical novel. The vivid historical detail will transport readers to 1943 Amsterdam.

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about this book is the way Hanneke grows as a character over the course of the novel from someone distant, reserved and blinded by grief, to a courageous heroine who puts her own life in danger to save a girl she has never met. Hanneke’s narrative voice brilliantly captures the hopes, fears and indecisions of a girl who has been forced to grow up too fast. From the way she lies to her parents to protect them from her illegal activities, to the guilt she feels at Bas’ death, her heavy-hearted reluctance to join the resistance and her determination to save Mirjam. Hanneke is a well drawn and many faceted character.

The secondary characters are equally interesting: the brave group of underground resistance members are particularly memorable, many of them even more courageous than Hanneke. Although the novel is told from Hanneke’s point of view, it is easy to see outside her perspective and understand how other characters feel too. Hesse shows the way that the occupation of Amsterdam impacts different people in different ways, in beautiful and heart breaking detail.

The pacing of this story is near perfect, splicing Hanneke’s memories of Bas with her present tense narration as she tries to find out how a girl could possibly vanish from a locked room. There’s nothing radical about the story telling or the writing style but that’s a good thing, allowing the wonderful characters and interesting research to shine through. It is hopeful and sad, chilling and beautiful, well-written dialogue seamlessly blended with Hanneke’s internal monologue.

The Girl in the Blue Coat is a powerful, historical mystery. I would highly recommend it for anyone interested in history, particularly fans of Lydia Syson and Elizabeth Wein. It may not be as heart wrenchingly memorable as Elizabeth Wein’s, Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire but it’s still a beautifully written book with a heroine you are unlikely to forget.

• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop

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