Radar girls /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"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 Paris

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

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

Booklist Review

In Hawaii, Daisy Wilder's life, like that of all Americans, changes drastically on a Sunday morning in December 1941. Tall with short hair like her role model, Amelia Earhart, Daisy supports her widowed mother by working at the stables of their wealthy neighbor, Mr. Montgomery. Fired after losing Montgomery's prize horse when the Japanese attack, Daisy, despite poor self-esteem, takes a shot at a top-secret job in the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD), for which she must learn how to use radar and track the locations and trajectories of planes and ships. Montgomery's daughter, who has always hated Daisy, does the same, and her brother, a handsome pilot, drives them to their training classes. Daisy is a natural for the job, and although it is challenging and grueling, she and her new friends find time for romance and to search for the missing horse. Ackerman's fourth enthralling Hawaiian home-front novel, following Red Sky over Hawaii (2020), is another great addition to the current trend of tales illuminating little-known aspects of women's lives during WWII. --