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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:"A fresh, delightful romp of a novel."�??Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code * SheReads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction of Summer 2021 pick * Book Reporter Summer Reading pick * BiblioLifestyle Most Anticipated Summer 2021 Historical Fiction Books selection * Greatist Best Historical Fiction Books pick * An extraordinary story inspired by the real Women's Air Raid Defense, where an unlikely recruit and her sisters-in-arms forge their place in WWII history. Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time. Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies. But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side by side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way. With America's future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she's falling for out on the front lines, she cannot fail. From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she'll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought�??and won�??together. This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman's call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood. "A wow of a book...[that is] a captivating story of friendship, heartbreak and true love. Highly recommend!" �??Karen Robards, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan of Par… (more)
User reviews
Radar Girls was a highly researched novel ( from what I could find out) and helped me understand more of what was possible for women in those years. Too bad it didn't last all that long, right? Well, we have it all now!
For anyone interested in the historical fiction genre, this will be a superb summer read.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley. Thank you. (less)
I had no idea about this military utilization of women in the Pacific during WW2. Amazing
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada)/MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy is 23 year-old woman who loves working with the horses on the estate of a local wealthy landowner. Horses are her lifeblood. She cares for her mother, who hasn't gotten over the accidental shooting death of her husband. Daisy is the sole financial and emotional support for her mother.
When the Japanese bombs devastate Pearl Harbor, everything changes on the islands. Similar to what happened in England during the war, the men went off to fight in the war, leaving the women behind to do the jobs the men previously did. In England, many women were recruited to try to break the German coded communications in Bletchley Park.
In Radar Girls, Kate is recruited with other island women to join the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD) to learn how to read radar signals. Kate surprises herself by scoring high on the test, and she and the other women painstakingly learn all about the new technology of radar. They pinpoint planes in the air, both friendly and enemy planes, and help guide the pilots back home.
They undergo intensive training, including learning how to shoot and fight fires. They are doing top-secret work, and must hide their real job from family and friends. It is a stressful occupation, and as in England, the women are housed on the base. Daisy bunks with Betty, whose husband is a pilot, and Fluff, an innocent young woman who catches the eye of one of her superior officers.
Daisy becomes friendly with Walker, the son of the owner of the horse stables where she worked and a hero pilot. All the women have eyes for Walker, including one woman who believes herself to be his fianceé, but Walker begins to spend more and more time with Daisy.
I didn't know anything about WARD, and the women who learned a new technology to read radar. I found that part of the story most fascinating. The story is told from Daisy's perspective, so we really only see the other women from through Daisy's eyes. Hawaii has such a diverse population- Japanese, Chinese, Philippino- it was interesting to see how they were treated differently than the Japanese-Americans in California, for example.
If you read and enjoyed Kate Quinn's The Rose Code about the women in Bletchley Park, pick up Radar Girls.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer 2021 Historical Fiction tour.
Daisy is a character I fell in love with. Her situation pulls at your heartstrings. She is very strong and smart. But, she has no idea she is all of those things, this is what makes her so endearing.
The setting of Hawaii and WWII make this story almost irresistible. Add in all the wonderful women and their interactions and you will not want to stop reading. The only reason I gave this 4 stars….it is just so neat and tidy. As a reader, you know how it is going to turn out.
Need a good WWII thriller with a wonderful setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Radar Girls is based on reality. The Women's Air Raid Defense was created in the Hawaiian Islands following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Stations were formed on every island and the women staffing them were local,
Daisy Wilder is the protagonist in Ackerman's novel. A native islander, she has been making her living as a horse trainer when she is recruited for the WARDs. Having dropped out of school in grade ten, she's determined to prove to herself, and to the other women, that she can do this. She's very likable. I'm always looking forward to meeting the supporting cast in these WWII novels - having a team is (IMO), a mandatory element. Ackerman's supporting group of 'gals' is perfect. (There are some mean 'gals' too, but isn't there always?) I admit to having a soft spot for the bubbly Fluff. I think it's the 'can do' attitudes, the camaraderie of the women and their determination to help the war effort that really appeals to me. There's a romantic storyline as well for Daisy, but it doesn't overwhelm the work these trail blazing women are doing. Many of the other women also have their own matters of the heart.
There's lots of detail about how the radar actually worked. It seems so rudimentary compared to today's technology. But it worked and saved many lives. As well, her descriptions of the beaches had me wanting to visit Hawaii! The other settings are just as well drawn and I was able to easily imagine them.
I chose to listen to Radar Girls, especially after seeing that it was read by one of my favorite narrators - Cassandra Campbell. Her voice is quite pleasant to listen to - she has a smooth polished tone to her voice. Her speaking is well enunciated, easy to understand and the pacing is just right. She captures the female characters with different voices that perfectly suited each one. Daisy's voice was a little hesitant in the beginning, but as she builds her confidence it get stronger. The voice for Fluff was fun and sassy. She does male voices very well too, lowering the tone and cadence. The male voice for Daisy's love interest is believable. I've said it before and I'll say it again - listening to a book completely immerses me in the story. An excellent performance from Campbell.
Radar Girls is an excellent entry in the WWII fiction genre and one I would easily recommend! Well done Sara Ackerman!
I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Daisy Wilder grew up loving horses, and loving life on the Hawaiian islands. She is riding a borrowed horse on the beach one morning when a squadron of Japanese planes flies overhead, spooking the horse and causing him to runaway. Daisy
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The audiobooks was fantastic, especially with all the Hawaiian place names that I wouldn't have know how to say. Some of the descriptions when they were flying or driving around the island were so picturesque, and I felt like I was taking a little vacation as I listened.
I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially if they like books where women band together and form lifelong friendships.
If you're a fan of WWII historical fiction, this is a must read.
I
I have never read a first chapter that caught my eye as much as this one did. It starts with a lovely horse ride and time spent underwater and then out of nowhere there is suddenly the overhead sound of a plane, flying low, being chased by another. It is an energetic scene that helps you understand the seriousness of what happened on December 7, 1941, and how quickly it changed the lives of those who lived on the island. I was drawn in from the first chapter and it held my attention throughout. Despite taking a class on the topic of World War II, I had never heard of the WARDS and felt compelled to do a little research and learn more about these amazing women. Sara Ackerman has done a wonderful job giving credit to women who may have otherwise drifted into history without her beautifully told story.
This isn’t as harrowing as the WWII fiction of
Her father had taught her at a young age to pay attention not only to a horse's eyes, but postures and gestures and subtle cues they sent off. Humans were no different from horses. In that respect at least. She imagined herself in a room full of horses. Nixon would be the stallion with twitchy ears and tension around his eyes while Dunn would be the one flehmening and sniffing for pheromones. The girls would all be in various states of relaxation, with some, like Thelma, having their heads high and ears turned back, keenly listening in on others’ conversations.
I like reading about WWII and I knew little about the WARDs, so I was looking forward to this novel. It was a little light for my taste, but it's not badly written; more entertaining than enlightening.
I loved this story. I had never heard of WARD, so I learned something new. I liked the characters a lot. There were a few that were jerks but, on the whole, these were hard working people who wanted to win the work. There is heartbreak. There is humor. There is learning about the past so you can move onto the future. There is love and friendship. Everything I want in a novel was there including romance.
The story was good. It was easy enough to understand what the women did and how they learned it as well as the different jobs there were in the radar corps. I appreciate that the book Ms. Ackerman used was referenced so I can get it and read it. I like WWII stories and how the people lived day by day--from dealing with worry over their soldiers being overseas, dealing with rationing, worrying about attacks on their homes.
I look forward to reading more of this author. She's good.
I was hoping for more information about what a WARD actually does, their day to day jobs, difficulties, but the author mostly skip over that outside of few paragraphs, here and there. Plotlines were dropped (Peg's sickness/Asthma), timelines not adequately explained (when was the horse found compared to the time the book ended?) and people acting in a way that didn't make sense.
The book ended on a good note, everybody is happy and has their man and their dream job. The end.
This is not a book I would have picked up to read on my own, and I am NOT the target reader for this genre. Its a cozy historical fiction and while it is based on a real group, I don't think its very realistic.
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