They Went Left

beautifully tragic...an incredibly impressive novel about a timeframe and group of people that history often forgets. Their stories will stay with me forever. ----Hypable Zofia's harrowing journey to find Abek and the fellow survivors she meets along the way will stay with the reader--particularly the echoes of the present evoked in a narrative of the past. --Refinery29 Timely...[Hesse] again uses a well-researched historical backdrop to tell a powerful coming-of-age story. --Washington Post Taut and intelligent.... the historical setting is rendered the way only an expert can do it. --Washington Post Monica Hesse takes a setting we think we understand and shifts it in an important way...a tightly plotted exploration of the consequences of fear. --The New York Times Book Review Hesse writes with tenderness and insight about the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive and the ways we cobble together family with whatever we have. When the plot twists come, they are gut punches--some devastating, others offering hope... Crucial. --New York Times Book Review A tapestry of guilt and acceptance, growing responsibility, and reluctant heroism, Hanneke's coming-of-age under heartbreaking circumstances is a jarring reminder of how war consumes and transforms the passions of ordinary life. Every devastating moment of this beautiful novel is both poignant and powerful, and every word feels true. --Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Black Dove, White Raven; Rose Under Fire; and the Printz Honor-winning Code Name Verity A heartbreaking, gorgeously written story...The ending left me breathless and awed by its expression of enduring love. --Jewell Parker Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Boys * Superb.... A satisfying and bittersweet novel, perfect for those who enjoyed Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. --SLJ, starred review * Riveting.... A gripping historical mystery. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) * Hesse's meticulous research is evident on every page but never distracts from her propulsive plot. Combining history, romance and mystery, They Went Left is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of what it takes to survive after trauma. --BookPage, starred review * Hesse again proves to be a master of verisimilitude, bringing the realities of existence in the immediate postwar period to visceral life through painstaking detail. Her beautifully realized, highly empathetic characters come to life, too, in the pages of this superbly crafted novel...like real life, there is heartbreaking sadness here but also hope that life, finally, will be whole and fine, A to Z. --Booklist, starred review * Featuring factual locations and covering a period of time not often focused on, this is an excellent book to add to a Holocaust collection. ...This book would be valuable for all high schools and should be considered a must-purchase. --School Library Connection, starred review * Compelling. --Publishers Weekly, starred review * A heartbreaking and heartwarming story of survival, loss, and renewal. Sure to please a variety of readers; those interested in historical fiction, romance, and mystery will not be able to put this book down. --School Library Journal, starred review Select Praise for The War Outside A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018A 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults PickA 2018 BCCB Bulletin Blue Ribbon TitleA 2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People Once again, Monica Hesse delivers an incredibly compelling and beautifully researched novel. The War Outside vividly brings readers into an underrepresented and dark period of American history. A must-read for fans of historical fiction. --Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling author Praise for Girl in the Blue Coat The Edgar Award Winner for Best Young Adult Mystery Novel 2017 A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens of 2016 An Entertainment Weekly Best YA Book of 2016 A Booklist Best Young Adult Book of 2016 A Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Selection 2017 A 2017 Indies Choice Awards Finalist for Best Young Adult Book A YALSA 2017 Best Book for Young Adults A 2017 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year A 2017 Wyoming Soaring Eagle Book Award Nominee A 2017 Washington, D.C. Capitol Choices List recommended title A 2018 Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award Nominee 2018 All Iowa Young Adults Read ---