Monica Hesse is an American author known for young adult historical fiction.
Her novels Girl in the Blue Coat and The War Outside highlight personal stories set against significant historical backdrops, resonating with readers through realistic characters and heartfelt storytelling.
If you enjoy reading books by Monica Hesse then you might also like the following authors:
Ruta Sepetys writes emotionally charged historical fiction that brings hidden histories to life. She crafts heartfelt stories focusing on resilience, family bonds, and personal courage.
Readers who enjoyed Monica Hesse may connect deeply with Between Shades of Gray, Sepetys's story about a Lithuanian girl's struggle during Stalin's oppression—a tale filled with hope even in dark times.
Elizabeth Wein weaves adventures set during troubling moments in history, with characters that feel authentic and powerful friendships at their core. Her novel Code Name Verity follows two young women, a spy and pilot, whose bravery is tested during World War II.
Fans of Monica Hesse's insightful historical fiction will appreciate Wein's ability to portray strong women and their remarkable courage under pressure.
Kate Quinn paints captivating portraits of courageous women in wartime, blending suspense, rich historical detail, and strong character voices.
Monica Hesse fans might particularly enjoy The Alice Network, where two fascinating characters—one a WWI spy, another a WWII orphan—team up to unravel a gripping mystery. Quinn's vivid storytelling brings women's hidden wartime contributions to life.
Markus Zusak's writing is poetic yet accessible, capturing the light and dark sides of human nature through unforgettable characters.
Readers who love Monica Hesse's emotionally resonant novels will likely appreciate Zusak's The Book Thief, the moving story of a young girl living with foster parents in Nazi Germany who finds comfort by stealing and reading banned books.
Jennifer A. Nielsen offers engaging, fast-paced storytelling with strong, resilient teenage protagonists in gripping historical situations.
Her novel A Night Divided tells the tense story of a family separated by the newly erected Berlin Wall, with a young girl's bravery highlighting themes of freedom and courage.
Nielsen's accessible writing and relatable characters will resonate with Monica Hesse's readers who enjoy history told through youthful eyes.
Stacey Lee brings historical fiction to life through engaging, vivid storytelling. Her stories often uncover lesser-known moments and characters from history, highlighting themes of identity, resilience, and cultural heritage.
In Outrun the Moon, Lee introduces readers to Mercy Wong, a determined Chinese-American teenager whose strength and bravery emerge amidst the devastation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Sharon Cameron crafts historical fiction characterized by a suspenseful atmosphere, relatable characters, and thought-provoking themes. Often inspired by true events, her novels tackle topics of courage, moral dilemmas, and humanity's darker and brighter moments.
The Light in Hidden Places tells the powerful true story of Stefania Podgórska, a Polish teenager who risks her life hiding Jewish families during World War II.
Julie Berry writes historical fiction that's both emotionally rich and full of memorable, strong characters. Her stories frequently explore themes of war, love, sacrifice, and friendship.
In Lovely War, Berry creatively weaves romance and historical realism, narrated by classical Greek gods observing the lives of four young adults during World War I.
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's novels compassionately bring to light difficult historical truths through her sensitive storytelling and relatable characters.
Her books explore important, often overlooked historical events, emphasizing themes like bravery in adversity, family, and the courage of ordinary people.
Making Bombs for Hitler follows Lida, a young Ukrainian girl taken prisoner during World War II and forced into grueling labor conditions.
Alan Gratz is known for his dynamic and accessible historical fiction that grips younger readers and adults alike.
He skillfully tells moving stories through the eyes of young characters, weaving gripping narratives around real historical events and themes like courage, family, and survival.
His novel, Refugee, follows parallel journeys of three children fleeing dangerous situations in Nazi Germany, Cuba, and modern-day Syria, revealing universal truths about displacement and hope.
Traci Chee writes engaging historical fiction with deep emotional impact and well-drawn characters. Readers who enjoyed Monica Hesse's thoughtful exploration of human experiences during challenging times might like Chee's novel We Are Not Free.
This powerful story follows the intertwined lives of young Japanese Americans whose lives are turned upside down by internment during World War II.
Kip Wilson creates heartfelt novels in verse that blend strong emotions with vivid historical contexts. Similar to the emotional intensity found in Monica Hesse's novels, Wilson focuses on young people caught up in difficult periods in history.
Her novel White Rose tells the moving story of Sophie Scholl, a courageous student who resisted Nazi Germany through peaceful activism and paid dearly for her ideals.
Matt Killeen's historical fiction combines suspenseful storytelling with themes of courage and identity set against wartime struggles.
Those who appreciated Monica Hesse's blend of gripping historical settings and relatable protagonists may find Killeen's Orphan Monster Spy fascinating. Set in Nazi Germany, the story follows a Jewish girl who becomes a spy, highlighting bravery, survival, and moral dilemmas.
Jennifer Donnelly crafts intriguing historical narratives with immersive storytelling and strong, independent protagonists. Readers who responded to Monica Hesse's thoughtful depiction of determined young women facing adversity may enjoy Donnelly's A Northern Light.
This engaging story, set in early 1900s America, follows a young woman navigating challenges of life, love, and society, interwoven with a captivating mystery.
Laura Amy Schlitz's historical fiction presents vivid characters, insightful writing, and richly drawn historical settings. Like Monica Hesse, Schlitz creates sensitive portrayals of young people's experiences in earlier eras.
In her novel The Hired Girl, readers encounter Joan Skraggs, a strong-willed teenager who runs away from her oppressive home to find freedom, opportunities, and a sense of her true self in early 20th-century Baltimore.