I listened to Radar Girls on audio this time. This was actually a re-read for me–I always read all of the new Sara Ackerman books as soon as they come out. I needed to read a book set on an island for the M. Judson 2023 Reading Challenge, and I’ve been praying for the people of Maui after the deadly wildfires.

Sara Ackerman is one of my favorite WWII historical fiction authors. Her books are gentler than many WWII books, and she writes from the Hawaiian perspective. If you are burned out on WWII historical fiction, try these!

Radar Girls is also a fascinating change because it’s told from the perspective of an unlikely heroine- an alleged horse thief who wears pants.

Here’s the Setup:

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. 

Check out the photos on Sara’s post about this book- https://www.ackermanbooks.com/radargirls.html (although Sara is a mastermind at showing the readers the scenery of Hawaii and the life of the WARDs through her words, without pictures).

Also, check out Sara’s website for book club guides for each of her books! They include discussion questions, an interview with Sara, and food suggestions (with recipes!).

Age Recommendation:

Radar Girls is definitely appropriate for high school students!

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