When We Had Wings

ByAriel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris & Susan Meissner

Release Date: 2022-10-18
Genre: Historical Fiction

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 182 Ratings

Description

From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival.

The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war.

Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy's blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope— and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost.

In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed "the Angels of Bataan," three women shift in and out of each other's lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation.

"A novel rich in historical detail that immerses readers in the dangers and deprivation WWII nurses suffered in the Pacific, wrapped up with a hopeful ending." -Booklist

Reviews

Excellent story of lesser-known WW2 Women
4
By StephiSings
I did not know much about the war efforts in the WW2 Pacific, only knowing a bit about the Bataan Death March. Loved reading about these brave women who served there and perservered in untenable situations.
Thank you for bringing this time to life for me!
Humanity’s Best
5
By Sparkkler
Historical fiction provides authentic glimpses into the past while entertaining us with imaginary figures living during those times. When We Had Wings shares stories of three nurses captured during the WWII invasion of the Philippines. It is riveting.
When We Had Wings
4
By Joanabake
I was amazed to learn upon finishing this book that this group of nurses in the novel were real people, and that MacArthur had intentionally left them behind when he ran from the Philippines at the start of the war, taking with him soldiers and officers. Their stories were heartbreaking to read about and more so since they have just recently come to light. I recommend reading this book highly
WW2 combat , Pow NURSES!
5
By Murphy105
Incredible 🙌🏻
Heart wrenching story of friendship and war
4
By ksh287
This book is a look into the past and what some of the nurses in WWII went through. Though it is fiction, the facts are there. 10/10 recommend.
Beautiful Story
5
By Silvertree1954
Beautifully written, I enjoyed this book very much. I thought the authors successfully portrayed the horrors of war, through their characters, regarding what so many victims of wars had and still are forced to endure. I never realized that the Philippines were so inflicted during the war. Since my own family in Germany were victims and survivors of world war 11, I was more familiar by the stories I was told of their daily hardships and horrors that so many endured.
Excellent read.
Fantastic Story
5
By threers
To Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner-- Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Thank you for telling an in-depth story that has needed to be told for so long. Thank you for bringing a human touch to the unspeakable. Thank you for creating a need in me to learn more about this horrible time in our history. There will be no more glossing over the horrors subjected to the POW's in the Philippines. We all need to learn more so we can make sure it is not repeated.

To my past teachers and university professors--shame on you! I am embarrassed to admit I have a history degree. This period of time in the Pacific was glossed over in textbooks and in lectures. I cannot remember ever reading a book that gave such in-depth information about the atrocities experienced by POW's in the Pacific Islands.

When We had Wings follows the lives of three nurses in the Philippines, working in a peaceful country before Pearl Harbor. Then everything changes. All three have unique stories giving the reader insight in to the lives and struggles of those held prisoner.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."