The War Outside — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
Not found
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
Get the full theme breakdown in the app
Detailed evidence, confidence ratings, and source citations for every theme.
Download for iOSExample theme card
Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
"A must-read for fans of historical fiction." --Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York 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 Texas, all because of the places their parents once called home: Germany and Japan.
Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for those accused of colluding with the enemy. The teens discover that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all the others: the camp is changing them, day by day and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by fear for her soldier brother and distrust of her father, who she knows 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 has deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone--even each other?
Frequently asked questions
Is The War Outside appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book is set during World War II and involves themes of imprisonment and the emotional turmoil of the characters, which may include depictions of violence associated with the historical context of internment camps. No scary content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have violence?
The book is set during World War II and involves themes of imprisonment and the emotional turmoil of the characters, which may include depictions of violence associated with the historical context of internment camps.
Does The War Outside have scary content?
No scary content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have religious themes?
No religious content or themes detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have racial/cultural content?
The story centers on Japanese-American and German-American characters in the context of WWII internment camps, addressing themes of racial injustice and the impact of war on these communities.
Does The War Outside have profanity?
No profanity detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have climate change?
No climate-related themes detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have sexual identity?
No explicit sexual content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have gender roles?
No specific gender roles or themes related to gender expectations detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The War Outside have lgbtq+ themes?
The narrative features a dynamic between the characters Haruko and Margot that includes elements of homoeroticism, suggesting a romantic undertone. While not explicitly labeled as a romance, the relationship is portrayed with significant emotional depth.
