Angels of the Pacific: A Novel of World War II

Written by Elise Hooper

Narrated by Karissa Vacker and Fran de Leon

""Absolutely riveting. A stay-up-all night read about two very different women who discover just how strong they can be—and just how much they'll dare—during the brutal Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. This story of endurance and sisterhood will have you turning pages late into the night."" —Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author

If you loved Beantown Girls by Jane Healey and Hazel Gaynor’s When We Were Young & Brave, then you won’t want to miss critically acclaimed author Elise Hooper’s powerful new novel of the Angels of Bataan, nurses held as prisoners during the occupation of the Philippines in World War II.

Their survival would depend on sisterhood and service.

Inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II’s American Army nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance, this novel transports us to a remarkable era of hope, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately—victory.

The Philippines, 1941: Tess Abbott, an American Army nurse, has fled the hardships of the Great Depression at home for the glamour and adventure of Manila, one of the most desirable postings in the world. But everything changes when the Japanese Imperial Army invades with lightning speed and devastating results. Tess and her band of nurses serve on the front lines until they are captured as prisoners of war and held behind the high stone walls of Manila’s Santo Tomas Internment Camp.

When the Japanese occupation of her beloved homeland commences, Flor Dalisay, a Filipina university student, will be drawn into the underground network of resistance, discovering within herself reserves of courage, resilience, and leadership she never knew she possessed.

As the war continues, Tess and Flor face danger, deprivation, and terror, leading them into a web of danger as they unexpectedly work together to save lives and win their freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9780063068926

Elise Hooper

A native New Englander, Elise Hooper spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting a MA and teaching high-school literature and history. Her debut novel The Other Alcott was a nominee for the 2017 Washington Book Award. More novels—Learning to See, Fast Girls, and Angels of the Pacific—followed, all centered on the lives of extraordinary but overlooked historical women. Hooper now lives in Seattle with her husband and two teenage daughters. 

Reviews for Angels of the Pacific

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I struggled at times with the pacing in this novel and sometimes the story just didn't hold my attention very well. Still, I appreciated learning about the women who served as nurses in the Pacific during World War II, as I hadn't encountered these remarkable figures before. Fans of World War II-era historical fiction may definitely want to check out this book, as it features stories told less often in this genre.

[ang709 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a well-written, worthwhile read. It was an aspect of the war I hadn't read much about, and I was pleased with the way it featured two very different characters: an American nurse and a Filipina member of the resistance.There were some very heavy moments/events captured in this book. I appreciated the balanced way the author covered them. She didn't shy away from them, but she didn't keep the camera focused there either, so to speak.I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially about World War II. Thank you to NetGalley and the Bookclub Girls for the early read.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

nursing, prisoners-of-war, Pacific Theater-of-Operations, war-experiences, war-is-hellish, war-wounds, PTSD, Philippines, WW2, after-the-war, horror, romance, grief, grieving, historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, bravery*****This book was inspired by Navy veterans of WW2 and embellished with the kinds of behaviors and facts known to be true. Although this is fiction, it is not all pleasant roses and chocolates. It symbolizes the real people of the Death March, The Caves, the Prison Camps, and even the tortures.The setting begins at the very edge of war in Manilla (which I had never thought about before). Then it follows several nurses and even members of their families throughout the war and beyond. The final chapters recount the lives and problems encountered by many other veterans of this side of this war couched in the stories of the people in this book. It was a very good read.I requested and received a free e-book copy from William Morrow and Custom House/William Morrow Paperbacks via NetGalley.Readers might also add Marcia Gates: Angel of Bataan to their TBR pile.

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Angels of the Pacific is based on the Army nurses who were stationed in the Philippians and were held captive for several years of the war. It is based on the Angels of Bataan and is about the bravery and perseverance that these nurses showed and how contributed to the victory over the Japanese.Tess, Virginia and Sally became friends on the ship taking them to Manila. Before the war started, all of the American nurses felt thrilled that they had been stationed in the Philippines. There were lots of parties and dances and good looking guys to make the days go by. After the Japanese bombed their base and destroyed all of the US airplanes, the hospital was moved to another base and soon after, they were sent to Bataan. Conditions were tough there but they all kept doing this jobs no matter how desolate things became. After the Japanese took over the island, the American nurses were interred in Santo Tomas. Flor, A Pilipino nurse who had worked with them in Manila, worked to get food to the nurses inside the prison. What these women went through during their time in captivity was heart wrenching and at times difficult to read. They were there for over three years before the US troops liberated them. Seventy seven nurses were captured by the Japanese and all of them survived. Even though they were starving and disease was rampant in the prison, they continued to take care of wounded soldiers who were sent there.The author did a fantastic job of presenting the bravery and resilience of these women. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong women, you don't want to miss this book.

[MyAsia Mills · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book so much, it was so detailed & read wonderfully.

[oddandbookish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (William Morrow) for promotional purposes.What a book! I personally found it to be a brutal and heart-wrenching read because the story really hit home for me. Short personal story: I am half Filipino and my maternal grandparents lived through World War II in the Philippines. My grandpa lived in Bataan, which was one of the centers of the war. My mom told me that my grandpa would describe that time in life as always running and never having any shoes. In fact, his birth records were destroyed during the war. When he came to America, he had to have a paper from the Philippine government certifying that his birth certificate was destroyed during the war. It’s crazy to think that my grandparents lived through some of what happened in the book. This book gave me goosebumps multiple times while reading it. I knew the Japanese occupation was harsh, but reading about the reality of it was something else. I’m so glad that the book shed light on life under their occupation and didn’t hold back on its depictions. It is so overlooked and needs to be acknowledged. I also liked how the book subtly touched upon the Philippines and their previous colonizers (Spain and the US). It is evident the author put in a tremendous amount of research in writing this story. Both Tess and Flor’s storylines were compelling, engaging, and well thought out. I liked how their stories showed two different points of view (one from an American nurse and one from a native Filipino working as part of the resistance) and how their stories intersected. Overall, if you are looking for a different take on World War II or just want to learn more about the Philippines during the war, I highly recommend this book!

[sharon dean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an incredible story I have no words to describe how these poor woman suffered and overcame. Incredible!

[bridgettes-104215 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Angels of the Pacific -- where to begin!? The story alternates back and forth between two characters, Tess and Flor. Tess is an American nurse and Flor is a Filipina who lives in Manila. The time period is WWII during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The brave actions of the US Army nurse and the courageous Filipino residents of Manila will keep you engaged from the first page. It is a very well-written story, has great character development and a real page turner. Very highly recommend!