Author: Sara Ackerman
Started: Aug. 27, 2021
Finished: Aug. 30, 2021
Daisy Wilder is born and raised in the Hawaiian islands and is there that fateful day Pearl Harbor is bombed. She finds herself on the beach watching a dog fight between an American and Japanese plane. The entering of the US into World War II meant that there were open positions for nearby women. Daisy enlists in the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARDS)and learns how to use radar to guide home US troops and identify possible invading troops. Through testing and hands-on learning, Daisy discovers a love for the job and an understanding of what she can accomplish.
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.