Radar Girls

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.