Radar Girls

Written by Sara Ackerman

Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jul 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781867234531

Sara Ackerman

Sara Ackerman writes books about love and life, and all of their messy and beautiful imperfections. She believes that the light is just as important as the dark, and that the world is in need of uplifting and heartwarming stories. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories.

Reviews for Radar Girls

[labfs39 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Daisy Wilder loves horses and is an exceptional trainer, like her father. But when Pearl Harbor is bombed, Daisy leaves the male-dominated pastures of Oahu to do her part by joining the island's newly created WARD (Women's Air Raid Defense) program. She finds herself living and working in close quarters with women from all walks of life in stressful situations. The WARDs are trained to use one of the newest technologies of the war, radar, to act as a warning system in the event of another invasion and to guide pilots when they are in trouble or flying blind. Daisy is determined to succeed for reasons both patriotic and personal.I like reading about WWII and I knew little about the WARDs, so I was looking forward to this novel. It was a little light for my taste, but it's not badly written; more entertaining than enlightening.

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this on audio which for me made the romantic parts a little queasy. I wanted to read about the women taking over the newly developed radar system after Pearl Harbor was bombed which I found fascinating but I didn't know the is more of a romance novel. If you're a fan then you will definitely love it!

[herenya_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This takes place in Hawaii, in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Twenty-three year old Daisy Wilder has just lost one of her employer’s horses -- and thus, lost her job -- when she’s recruited to join the Women’s Air Raid Defence.This isn’t as harrowing as the WWII fiction of Kate Quinn, whose recommendation adorns the cover, and while I certainly don’t want everything I read to be harrowing, I do think a more poignant, less tidy, ending could have been more powerful. But even though this isn’t in the running for Favourite Book of the Year, I enjoyed it a lot! It was so interesting to read about wartime Hawaii (actually, it was interesting just to read a book set in Hawaii, full stop) and about Daisy’s experiences as a WARD. I liked seeing Daisy develop supportive friendships, and I particularly liked how her knowledge of horses influences her perspective in other situations -- that made being a horse girl something that’s unique, rather than generic, about Daisy.Her father had taught her at a young age to pay attention not only to a horse's eyes, but postures and gestures and subtle cues they sent off. Humans were no different from horses. In that respect at least. She imagined herself in a room full of horses. Nixon would be the stallion with twitchy ears and tension around his eyes while Dunn would be the one flehmening and sniffing for pheromones. The girls would all be in various states of relaxation, with some, like Thelma, having their heads high and ears turned back, keenly listening in on others’ conversations.

[micareads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[janarose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Daisy joins the WARDS - Women's Air Raid Defense. Trained in radar and guidance, Daisy plots courses for pilots, and watches the sky for enemy aircraft. Walker, Daisy's neighbor, joins the fight as a pilot, taking risks on the front line to protect Hawaii.I found the setting of the book to be particularly interesting. I've read very little set in Hawaii during WWII and found the culture fascinating. I did think the romance was a bit predictable. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Daisy has been working at the Montgomery farm. When she takes Moon out for a ride, he bolts when a dogfight breaks out over him. Mr. Montgomery blames Daisy for theft and fires her. As she is leaving the farm, General Danielson is there looking for women to help the work effort by working as radar watchers and bringing in pilots as the men are sent to war. Although Daisy does not believe she has the aptitude for it, she agrees to do it. The women are taught how to do the work and told not to tell anyone what they do. As the war in the Pacific heats up, the women are relied on to bring the pilots home and help guides pilots and boats to rescue those shot down. Daisy also falls in love with Walker Montgomery, her ex-employer's son. Can anything come of it? Will they ever find Moon?I loved this story. I had never heard of WARD, so I learned something new. I liked the characters a lot. There were a few that were jerks but, on the whole, these were hard working people who wanted to win the work. There is heartbreak. There is humor. There is learning about the past so you can move onto the future. There is love and friendship. Everything I want in a novel was there including romance. The story was good. It was easy enough to understand what the women did and how they learned it as well as the different jobs there were in the radar corps. I appreciate that the book Ms. Ackerman used was referenced so I can get it and read it. I like WWII stories and how the people lived day by day--from dealing with worry over their soldiers being overseas, dealing with rationing, worrying about attacks on their homes. I look forward to reading more of this author. She's good.

[debs4jc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book took me to Hawaii, and I loved every minute of it. Daisy Wilder grew up loving horses, and loving life on the Hawaiian islands. She is riding a borrowed horse on the beach one morning when a squadron of Japanese planes flies overhead, spooking the horse and causing him to runaway. Daisy tries to chase him down, but when a dogfight erupts overhead she discovers she has bigger problems. The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor and Daisy's life will never be the same again. Soon thereafter, Daisy finds herself recruited to take part in an Army program to train woman to be plotters - people to take down reports from radar stations and plot the locations of the ships and planes in the area. They are desperate to not be caught unaware ever again, but there are not enough men to run the radar stations and plot location too. Daisy has some misgivings, but accepts, and soon finds herself thrust into a group of women eager to prove that they can perform just as well as the men can. Daisy is not the most popular of girls, but she does form some close friendships among the group. The book details the ups and downs of this group as they live on the army base, go through bombing raids, battle giant centipedes and underwear thieves, and navigate interpersonal relationships with snobby females, grumpy army commanders, and potential love interests.I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The audiobooks was fantastic, especially with all the Hawaiian place names that I wouldn't have know how to say. Some of the descriptions when they were flying or driving around the island were so picturesque, and I felt like I was taking a little vacation as I listened.I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially if they like books where women band together and form lifelong friendships.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy reading about World War II, especially the roles played by women, so this book was right up my alley. I am especially interested in Pearl Harbor and have visited the historic site. Hawaii is one of my favorite spots, so the setting for this novel was intriguing to me from the start. I also think the author did a good job of highlighting one of the unsung roles of women in the war, maybe unknown to many. Readers who like historical fiction will find this to be an enjoyable selection.I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[twink_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5 Land Girls, Bomb Girls and now from Sara Ackerman, a new WWII novel - Radar Girls.Radar Girls is based on reality. The Women's Air Raid Defense was created in the Hawaiian Islands following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Stations were formed on every island and the women staffing them were local, military wives and recruits from the mainland. This is a fascinating piece of history and Ackerman does a wonderful job bringing it alive.Daisy Wilder is the protagonist in Ackerman's novel. A native islander, she has been making her living as a horse trainer when she is recruited for the WARDs. Having dropped out of school in grade ten, she's determined to prove to herself, and to the other women, that she can do this. She's very likable. I'm always looking forward to meeting the supporting cast in these WWII novels - having a team is (IMO), a mandatory element. Ackerman's supporting group of 'gals' is perfect. (There are some mean 'gals' too, but isn't there always?) I admit to having a soft spot for the bubbly Fluff. I think it's the 'can do' attitudes, the camaraderie of the women and their determination to help the war effort that really appeals to me. There's a romantic storyline as well for Daisy, but it doesn't overwhelm the work these trail blazing women are doing. Many of the other women also have their own matters of the heart. There's lots of detail about how the radar actually worked. It seems so rudimentary compared to today's technology. But it worked and saved many lives. As well, her descriptions of the beaches had me wanting to visit Hawaii! The other settings are just as well drawn and I was able to easily imagine them.I chose to listen to Radar Girls, especially after seeing that it was read by one of my favorite narrators - Cassandra Campbell. Her voice is quite pleasant to listen to - she has a smooth polished tone to her voice. Her speaking is well enunciated, easy to understand and the pacing is just right. She captures the female characters with different voices that perfectly suited each one. Daisy's voice was a little hesitant in the beginning, but as she builds her confidence it get stronger. The voice for Fluff was fun and sassy. She does male voices very well too, lowering the tone and cadence. The male voice for Daisy's love interest is believable. I've said it before and I'll say it again - listening to a book completely immerses me in the story. An excellent performance from Campbell. Radar Girls is an excellent entry in the WWII fiction genre and one I would easily recommend! Well done Sara Ackerman!

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you like to read about WWll you will love this story. I loved that it all took place in Hawaii and told a little bit of what happened around Pearl Harbor. Then I love that it told about the women that were brought in to man the radar stations since most of the men were sent to fight. I think this was the first book I have read that took place in Hawaii during WWll. I loved the characters and how the women were first treated and then how everyone learned that the women were good at math and science. I laughed and cried while reading this story. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Books set in WWII have become a popular genre of novels in recent years. Many of them center on how people faired through the war years in England and France. Sara Ackerman's Radar Girls takes us to the island of Hawaii just after the attack on Pearl Harbor to tell a lesser-known story of the women who went to work for the military learning how to read radar to aid the pilots returning from bombing runs.Daisy is 23 year-old woman who loves working with the horses on the estate of a local wealthy landowner. Horses are her lifeblood. She cares for her mother, who hasn't gotten over the accidental shooting death of her husband. Daisy is the sole financial and emotional support for her mother.When the Japanese bombs devastate Pearl Harbor, everything changes on the islands. Similar to what happened in England during the war, the men went off to fight in the war, leaving the women behind to do the jobs the men previously did. In England, many women were recruited to try to break the German coded communications in Bletchley Park.In Radar Girls, Kate is recruited with other island women to join the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD) to learn how to read radar signals. Kate surprises herself by scoring high on the test, and she and the other women painstakingly learn all about the new technology of radar. They pinpoint planes in the air, both friendly and enemy planes, and help guide the pilots back home. They undergo intensive training, including learning how to shoot and fight fires. They are doing top-secret work, and must hide their real job from family and friends. It is a stressful occupation, and as in England, the women are housed on the base. Daisy bunks with Betty, whose husband is a pilot, and Fluff, an innocent young woman who catches the eye of one of her superior officers.Daisy becomes friendly with Walker, the son of the owner of the horse stables where she worked and a hero pilot. All the women have eyes for Walker, including one woman who believes herself to be his fianceé, but Walker begins to spend more and more time with Daisy.I didn't know anything about WARD, and the women who learned a new technology to read radar. I found that part of the story most fascinating. The story is told from Daisy's perspective, so we really only see the other women from through Daisy's eyes. Hawaii has such a diverse population- Japanese, Chinese, Philippino- it was interesting to see how they were treated differently than the Japanese-Americans in California, for example.If you read and enjoyed Kate Quinn's The Rose Code about the women in Bletchley Park, pick up Radar Girls. Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer 2021 Historical Fiction tour.

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daisy is grieving over the loss of her father and her mother. Her father died in a tragic accident and her mother has slipped into a deep depression. Daisy has had to take over earning a living and keeping them afloat. She is a horse trainer on the Hawaiian islands. When Pearl Harbor is attacked, it sends her life into a spin! Daisy is offered a wonderful opportunity to become a WARD for the army.Daisy is a character I fell in love with. Her situation pulls at your heartstrings. She is very strong and smart. But, she has no idea she is all of those things, this is what makes her so endearing.The setting of Hawaii and WWII make this story almost irresistible. Add in all the wonderful women and their interactions and you will not want to stop reading. The only reason I gave this 4 stars….it is just so neat and tidy. As a reader, you know how it is going to turn out.Need a good WWII thriller with a wonderful setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[bookanonjeff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful Story Of Life On Hawaii Between Pearl Harbor and Midway. This is one of those books where you almost audibly hear Faith Hill singing through parts, particularly the obligatory romance subplot - and particularly its later stages. Fortunately the romance subplot is well done yet mostly muted in favor of showing the women's bonds and work, which was an area of WWII I'd never heard of. Specifically, while college football player men were being rounded up to bolster island security forces, these ladies - both natives and those there because their husbands were already military - were being recruited (almost drafted, really) to man the very radar stations that had failed to realize what the Japanese were on that fateful morning in December 1941. It is actually on that morning that our story opens, with main character Daisy "borrowing" a horse and going skin diving for subsistence... when she witnesses an air battle directly above her. The story then spends most of its time in the next few months, culminating in the Battle of Midway from the perspective of these "Radar Girls". (And following with the obligatory post-war epilogue.) Beautifully written and full of heart, this is one that fans of historical fiction / WWII fiction will definitely love, and readers of all types should read even if it isn't normally your thing. Very much recommended.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

YA-only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica, historical-fiction, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, military-history, Hawaii, WW2, Pacific-theater-of-operations*****I had no idea about this military utilization of women in the Pacific during WW2. Amazing that it was instituted so promptly but disgustingly expected that the women would be disrespected. The story is engaging and the characters are so believable, but I am in awe of the extensive research and interviews done by the author. An excellent read!I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada)/MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was a thoroughly enjoyable and un-put-downable look at one of the lesser-known groups of WW2. This book deals with the WARD or the Women's Air Raid Defense group that was set up in Hawaii right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Part action, part women's fiction, part romance, and a tiny bit of mystery are combined to make this a memorable read.Radar Girls was a highly researched novel ( from what I could find out) and helped me understand more of what was possible for women in those years. Too bad it didn't last all that long, right? Well, we have it all now!For anyone interested in the historical fiction genre, this will be a superb summer read.*ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley. Thank you. (less)