The War Outside Audiobook (Free)

New from Monica Hesse, the bestselling and award-winning writer of Woman in the Blue Coat–an ‘important’ (NY Times Reserve Review), ‘remarkable’ (Booklist, starred review) novel of conviction, friendship, and betrayal

‘A must-read for followers of historical fiction.’ –Ruta Sepetys, #1 NY Times bestselling author

It’s 1944, and World War II is raging across Europe and the Pacific. The war seemed far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado–until they were uprooted to dusty about The Battle Outside Tx, all because of the areas their parents once called home: Germany and Japan.

Haruko and Margot meet up with at the senior high school in Crystal Town, a ‘family internment camp’ for those accused of colluding with the foe. The teens find that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all of the others: the camp is certainly changing them, daily and piece by piece. Haruko discovers herself consumed by dread for her soldier brother and distrust of her dad, who she knows can be keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family entire as her mother’s health deteriorates and her logical, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis.

With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace within their growing, secret friendship. However in a jail the government offers deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone–even one another?