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

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

It’s 1944, and Globe War II is raging across Europe as well as the Pacific. The battle seemed a long way away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado–until these were uprooted to dusty about The War Outside Tx, all because of the places their parents once called house: Germany and Japan.

Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a ‘family internment camp’ for all those accused of colluding using the enemy. The teens discover that these are polar opposites in so many ways, aside from one that seems to override all of the others: the camp is definitely changing them, daily and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by dread on her behalf soldier sibling and distrust of her father, who she understands is keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family whole as her mother’s health deteriorates and her rational, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis.

With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their growing, secret friendship. But in a prison the government provides deemed filled with spies, can they trust anyone–even each other?