Readers love Radar Girls!
[A] thrilling work of historical fiction, inspired by true events from World War II, we loved the incredible development of the characters, who all grow in confidence and form tight bonds under these brutal circumstances…A deep dive into women’s history with a sprinkle of romance and friendship, Radar Girls is an unforgettable tale.—Apple Books Review
"A fascinating exploration of yet another group of amazing women that history elected to ignore and then forget. Fans of World War II historical fiction will definitely want to pick this one up." —Hypable
“Enthralling… A great addition to the current trend of tales illuminating little-known aspects of women’s lives during WWII.” —Booklist
“This historical fiction novel is empowering... Deliciously visceral, readers will be transported into the dreamy Hawaiian backdrop.” —Bookriot
"Radar Girls is a fresh, delightful romp of a novel featuring the little-known women of Hawaii recruited after Pearl Harbor to staff the islands' radar stations. Heroine Daisy is thrown into the deep end guiding in wounded Air Force pilots and listening for Japanese attacks, while juggling family troubles and a budding romance, but she and her radar-girl gang of irrepressible friends live up to their work, their duty, and their code name Rascal in sparkling fashion. Sara Ackerman never disappoints!" —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
"Once again Ackerman delivers a powerful story about a little-known piece of women's history with compassion and an unforgettable cast of characters. Daisy is a heroine to cheer for as she gives all she has for her country, the man she loves and, most importantly, herself." —Noelle Salazar, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Flight Girls
"Radar Girls is a transporting, evocative novel with a unique slant on Hawaii in the immediate aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ackerman skillfully tells an absorbing story while also crafting an ode to friendship and the strength of women faced with crisis, giving unsung heroes a triumphant and resonant voice." —Kaui Hart Hemmings, New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants
“Radar Girls is a wow of a book! I loved Daisy Wilder and her friends and this engaging look into a fascinating, little known slice of WW2 history, the creation of the Women’s Air Raid Defense (WARD). The lush tropical paradise of Hawaii, left reeling in the aftermath of the horrifying attack on Pearl Harbor, provides the perfect setting for this captivating story of friendship, heartbreak and true love. Highly recommend!” —Karen Robards, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan of Paris
“As warm as the Hawaiian sun, Radar Girls made me love the islands that Daisy and her friends stepped up to protect in World War II. Their work to safely guide ships and planes in the Pacific theater was heroic, and one more proof that there were no "women's" and "men's" jobs, just a job to be done for the good of all. Brave, determined and fun, the WARDs preserved their home, and the big-hearted generosity of the people who live there.” —Anika Scott, bestselling author of The German Heiress
“The perfect escape, Radar Girls delivers a pitch perfect combination of fascinating history and unforgettable characters. I loved being transported to Hawaii and learning about these adventurous, smart women who answered the call of duty at a critical time. Sara Ackerman weaves together a wonderful story about friendship and love set against the turbulence and fear of a nation at war.” —Elise Hooper, author of Fast Girls
Praise for the novels of USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Ackerman
"The Lieutenant's Nurse illuminates the attack on Pearl Harbor with a riveting drama told from a unique perspective. Sara Ackerman brings a time and place to vivid life, putting a human and heroic face on events that changed history. I savored every page!" —Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A fascinating novel chronicling the attack on Pearl Harbor and its aftermath… Red Sky Over Hawaii effectively deals with war and its casualties, the science of volcanoes, psychological problems during wartime, and the development of love and true friendship in the midst of tragic circumstances.” –Bookreporter.com
"Set against the backdrop of the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Lieutenant's Nurse is an emotional and heartfelt tale of love and courage. Depicting a dramatic period in history, Ackerman's richly detailed and evocative writing transports the reader, bringing Hawaii to life." —Chanel Cleeton, USA TODAY bestselling author of Next Year in Havana
"Ackerman has a real talent for writing vivid descriptions and compelling characters.... I couldn't put this one down. Highly recommended." –Historical Novel Society, Editor's Choice, on The Lieutenant's Nurse
"A dramatic saga of motherhood, loss and the possibility of renewal... With a sensitive touch and an instinct for authenticity, Ackerman depicts the fraught nature of wartime relationships...mixes romance, suspense and history into a bittersweet story of cinematic proportions." —Bookpage on Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers
02/01/2021
USA TODAY best-selling Ackerman's Radar Girls tells the story of young Daisy Wilder, happy with her horses in Hawaii, who joins the real-life Women's Air Raid Defense after the attack on Pearl Harbor (100,000-copy first printing). Leave it to Chiaverini (e.g., Resistance Women) to write a book about The Women's March featuring three brave women who marched for the vote (200,000-copy first printing). In Three Words for Goodbye, New York Times best-selling coauthors Gaynor and Webb (Meet Me in Monaco) send estranged sisters Clara and Madeleine Sommers across 1937 Europe to deliver letters written by their dying grandmother. After the death in 1941 of the kidnapper who raised her in the Eastern European wilderness, a young German woman teaches a group of fleeing Jews how to survive in the forest while learning about the world's horrors in Harmel's The Forest of Vanishing Stars (150,000-copy first printing). A good companion to Natalie Haynes's A Thousand Ships, Pat Barker's The Women of Troy, and poet Anne Carson's graphic novel, The Trojan Women: A Comic, all 2021 titles, Heywood's Daughters of Sparta addresses the relationship between sisters Helen and Klytemnestra. In Tanabe's Woman of Intelligence, a frustrated 1950s Manhattan wife who once worked as a UN translator wrenches open her cage doors by agreeing to work as an FBI informant (60,000-copy first printing).
08/01/2021
Daisy's story as a Radar Girl begins on December 7, 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy bombs the island of O'ahu. A native to Hawai'i, 23-year-old Daisy is shocked and frightened while fishing that historic Sunday morning as fighting and shooting take over the stillness of the island. Born and raised in Waialua, O'ahu, Daisy works six days a week as a ranch hand to provide for herself and her mother. Louise is chronically depressed and has been completely dependent on Daisy since her husband died in the "accident" years earlier. Due to an emergency executive order, the government is looking for women to take the place of men who are being deployed to the war. Daisy comes into her own as she finds purpose and camaraderie. She and the other women become a team and form the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD), guiding pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies. This historical novel transports readers to the islands of Hawai'i where the culture is fierce, the air is salty and fresh, and slippers (flip-flops to a Mainlander) are a way of life. The love interest story line is compelling and engaging, and readers will root for Daisy's happiness. Ackerman successfully and respectfully gives a shout-out to a group of smart, fearless, patriotic women who aided the war effort, but whose story has not been told. VERDICT A great addition to historical fiction collections for teens and adults and recommended for anyone looking for a woman's POV during World War II.—Gretchen Schulz, Schaumburg Township District Library, IL
Cassandra Campbell uses her versatile narration skills to inhabit three young women who work with the Army Air Forces during WWII. Daisy Wilder loves horses and living in Hawaii. She picks up any job quickly and is portrayed as a self-sufficient 20-something. As sweet-natured Fluff, Campbell delivers a bubbly tone, and as no-nonsense Betty, she sounds responsible and serious. In each instance, Campbell projects tenacity and determination. As the war progresses, Daisy, Fluff, Betty, and their fellow Radar Girls must combat obnoxious, abusive officers and their fear that “their men” won’t survive their air missions. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Cassandra Campbell uses her versatile narration skills to inhabit three young women who work with the Army Air Forces during WWII. Daisy Wilder loves horses and living in Hawaii. She picks up any job quickly and is portrayed as a self-sufficient 20-something. As sweet-natured Fluff, Campbell delivers a bubbly tone, and as no-nonsense Betty, she sounds responsible and serious. In each instance, Campbell projects tenacity and determination. As the war progresses, Daisy, Fluff, Betty, and their fellow Radar Girls must combat obnoxious, abusive officers and their fear that “their men” won’t survive their air missions. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
