When We Had Wings

4.5 - Wow, so much WW2 history I had never hear of AND it's told through the lense of three female nurses taken prisoners of war.

Forced to transition from a paradise assignment to dealing with the worst elements of war, nurses Penny, Lita, and Eleanor become fast friends upon meeting and maintain that bond despite their years of separation. Eleanor’s sustaining hope for survival centers on her concept of home; Eleanor falls in love within weeks of meeting John Olson and initially believes the feeling is mutual until a double loss of love alters the trajectory of her life. Penny’s parents chose to break communication with her at a time when she needs it most, but she is forever transformed through her encounter with a precocious orphan girl named Newt. Lita’s goals for her life were shaped largely by her family, driven by practicality, guilt, and ultimately a true sense of purpose; then romance sneaks up on Lita when she’s least expecting it. Penny, Lita and Eleanor each play different roles but all demonstrate unwavering courage and resolve. In this fictionalized story of the real Angels of Bataan and their battle between duty and compassion, readers discover that “mercy is always power.” When We Had Wings is a collaborative novel among three powerhouse authors Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner. While the authors identify as white women, they sought the first person perspective of Filipina nurse Jing Ignacio and help from Jovy Gill and Angerene Aldridge to interweave Filipino characters, cultural references, traditions, and use of the Tagalog language. Inspired by the real Angels of Bataan and Corregidor, Eleanor, Lita, and Penny are amalgamations of the many nurses–Army, Navy, and Filipina–who faithfully served during World War II. Although the characters are fictional, the hardships these women endured are not. When We Had Wings “helps shed light on some of the countless stories of astonishing women that have been hidden for much too long.” As you read the ups and downs of their journey, “it feels as though–to a comparatively far safer extent–we have waded through a war together, driven by a shared passionate cause, and forged lasting bonds…And that…is three end!” Grab a dish of leche flan and lumpia and prepare to take wing on an armchair adventure back in time with the Angels of Bataan.

This was an incredibly good book. What these women, and all the people on the Philippines, went through after we surrendered the island during WWII was heartbreaking and inspiring. I had no idea this had happened. Their stories should have been shouted from the rooftops rather than hidden to cover what our military leaders did.

A unique and true story based on the real account of the Angels of Bataan, a group of 66 United States Army Nurse Corps and 11 United States Navy Nurse Corps stationed in the Philippines at the outset of the Pacific War. We follow three nurses all stationed in Philippines who are eventually captured by the Japanese. I really enjoyed this book, it’s a perspective I personally don’t see a lot written about, especially from a female POV. We follow two American nurses and one Filipina nurse who develop a deep friendship. This book really dives into how American nurses and Filipina nurses were treated differently for doing the same work. Heart-wrenching, the authors do an incredible time diving into the physical and mental abuse imprisonment from the Japanese.

To be honest, it took be a while to get into this book because of the narrator. I found the voice tone quite monotone. However, once the plot of the story picked up I could not stop listening to this audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse and the authors Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner for an ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction.