The Brightwood Code

Starred review from March 4, 2024
This gripping psychological thriller features a little-known chapter of WWI history: the story of the Hello Girls, individuals employed by the U.S. Army to operate phone lines in France. In 1918, 18-year-old Edda returns home from her station in France, haunted by a mistake she made that cost her job—and possibly others’ lives. Now, she resides in her aunt’s boardinghouse in Washington, D.C., and works night shifts as an American Bell Telephone operator. One night, she gets a call: “You have to tell the truth before it’s too late,” followed by the ominous secret code, “Brightwood.” Hesse (They Went Left) skillfully portrays Edda’s heightened emotional state and post-traumatic stress, as well as her urgency to untangle a mystery and resolve her guilt. As Edda gathers clues and tracks down possible callers, her sympathetic boardinghouse neighbor Theo joins her search, which adds friendship
and romantic tension that brightens her solitary existence. Narrative flashbacks to the harrowing WWI battle zone, interspersed throughout Edda’s richly drawn present day in D.C. and Baltimore (complete with marches for women’s suffrage), tease out the mystery in this worthwhile historical novel. Characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary.

March 15, 2024
A World War I story that shines a light on a little-known group of heroic young women is the latest from noted historical fiction author Hesse. It's 1918, and 18-year-old Edda St. James works the overnight shift as an operator at Bell System's Washington, D.C., Central switchboard. The hours suit her: She can sleep the day away, trying to escape memories of her months in France. Flashbacks to her experiences near the front lines gradually disclose details of how those months shaped her. Edda shocked her Baltimore socialite parents when she applied to be a Hello Girl for the American Expeditionary Forces. She proved to be a natural in memorizing codes, connecting calls, and conversing in French. But her confidence in her abilities was swept away in a single night when, unable to remember the code, she could not put a connection through--and 34 American soldiers died. Back in the States, Edda blames herself--and when a voice on the other end of the switchboard line demands she tell the truth, she realizes that someone knows about her deadly mistake. Edda takes Theo, a fellow tenant at her aunt's boardinghouse, into her confidence, and together they try to determine what the anonymous voice wants. The large cast of characters, who are cued white, are fully developed, and the short chapters and engaging writing will have readers racing to discover the secret. A well-researched work that stands out for its explorations of guilt and trauma. (author's note) (Historical mystery. 14-18)

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May 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 Edda, a former Hello Girl working to connect calls on the front in France during WWI, is haunted by a deadly mistake that cost a whole ship of soldiers their lives. Her grief has followed her back home to the States, where she works in Washington, DC, as a telephone operator. But now the war is over, and a mysterious voice has been calling her line begging for her help. Edda has very little to go on, but the caller's pleas seem to be connected to her work in France. Now Edda must go through the list of the soldiers she couldn't save and find their families to unravel the mystery that even she doesn't understand. Jumping back and forth between war-torn France and the bustle of the U.S. capital, the narrative detail's Edda determination to right her wrongs and set her ghosts to rest. Hesse's historical mystery details the stress, responsibility, and power of those who worked behind the scenes during WWI. Fans of Hesse's impeccably crafted WWII novels (They Went Left, 2020) will devour this.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from May 3, 2024

Gr 8 Up-Set against the backdrop of post-WW I America, this is a suspenseful mystery with a rich historical narrative. The story follows Edda, a former Hello Girl who operated switchboards, translated, and passed code on the frontlines. Now Edda is living in Washington D.C., struggling through the aftermath of her wartime experiences and what we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder. While Edda tries to navigate civilian life, working as an American Bell telephone operator, she is thrust into a web of intrigue when a coworker dies and she receives a call demanding that she reveal the truth about "Brightwood." With the help of her charismatic neighbor Theo, Edda embarks on a journey that will force her to confront her past. Hesse's writing is compelling, drawing readers into Edda's world and keeping them enthralled until the very end. The novel is a gentle exploration of trauma and the power of confronting one's past in order to find healing and redemption. Additionally, this novel highlights the nearly forgotten endeavors of women whose wartime sacrifices have been largely disregarded; women whom, despite their patriotism, were denied veteran status and largely omitted from history. VERDICT An evocative novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, history, and psychology, this is a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking puzzle that explores the lasting impacts of war. Highly recommended for any collection but particularly for libraries where Alan Gratz or Elizabeth Wein books are popular.-Claire Covington

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2024
In 1918 Washington, DC, eighteen-year-old Edda St. James is working as a switchboard operator for the Bell telephone company while living in her aunt's boarding house. Though she is grateful for the job, she still suffers fear and anxiety from her recent stint as a Hello Girl operator on the WWI French front, where she patched through coded messages under extreme pressure. Now an anonymous caller has taken her right back with the mention of one word: Brightwood. The word she forgot in a crucial moment, the word she is convinced got the entire Forty-Eighth Regiment from Baltimore killed in battle. Edda is terrified. Who is the caller, and what do they want? With the help of her handsome neighbor, Theo, Edda sets out to discover the caller's identity and somehow atone for her devastating mistake. Hesse maintains steady suspense by alternating between Edda's recent past in France and her present. Red herrings abound as the chapters race toward a climax, and readers may believe that several different characters could be responsible for Edda's torment until the truth, shockingly personal and close to home (and involving a serial sexual abuser), is finally revealed. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this illuminating look at a little-known aspect of WWI. Jennifer Hubert Swan

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
In 1918 Washington, DC, eighteen-year-old Edda St. James is working as a switchboard operator for the Bell telephone company while living in her aunt's boarding house. Though she is grateful for the job, she still suffers fear and anxiety from her recent stint as a Hello Girl operator on the WWI French front, where she patched through coded messages under extreme pressure. Now an anonymous caller has taken her right back with the mention of one word: Brightwood. The word she forgot in a crucial moment, the word she is convinced got the entire Forty-Eighth Regiment from Baltimore killed in battle. Edda is terrified. Who is the caller, and what do they want? With the help of her handsome neighbor, Theo, Edda sets out to discover the caller's identity and somehow atone for her devastating mistake. Hesse maintains steady suspense by alternating between Edda's recent past in France and her present. Red herrings abound as the chapters race toward a climax, and readers may believe that several different characters could be responsible for Edda's torment until the truth, shockingly personal and close to home (and involving a serial sexual abuser), is finally revealed. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this illuminating look at a little-known aspect of WWI.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)