Code Name Rascal - Large Print by Dorothea N Buckingham (Paperback)

Book Synopsis In the tense days following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four very different women step forward to serve their country in a top-secret radar unit known as the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD). CJ Martino, a brash journalist from New Jersey, arrives determined to prove herself as a serious reporter-only to find her assignments censored and her ambition questioned. Ruth, a Navy officer's wife, struggles with her responsibility as an officer's wife while grieving her stillborn and carving out a purpose for her life. Jane, a daring Texas aviatrix, longs for the skies but is grounded by both military's refusal to let women fly and a husband who is a controlling gatekeeper. Lastly, there is Eve Russell, a Honolulu debutante, who volunteers to break the stronghold of social expectations, allows herself to become vulnerable Together, these women join the "Rascal" unit, working long night shifts in blackout conditions to track incoming aircraft, they confront not only the possibility of invasion but also the battles within their own demons of grief, disillusionment, loneliness, and the search for meaning in a world at war. As the pressure of war mounts, their friendships deepen. What begins as an unlikely alliance grows into a bond of trust and courage as each woman is forced to make choices that will change the trajectory of her life. Grounded in meticulous research and inspired by firsthand interviews, Code Name Rascal brings to life the hidden history of the women of WARD. It is a sweeping story of resilience and transformation that illuminates the courage of unsung heroines and the strength found in friendship when the world teeters on the edge of collapse.

Review Quotes

In Buckingham's historical novel, a small circle of military wives finds their world upended forever in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Every scenario seems implausible until it actually happens, as any military planner knows. When newspaper reporter Carmela Jean "CJ" Martino and her new husband, Lt. Joe Delano of the U.S. Marine Corps, get married in Waikiki on December 5, 1941, the pace of Japanese aggression feels distant, at best. CJ is more concerned about what types of food they'll order for their wedding celebration, and Joe professes greater worry about local spies than a Japanese air attack. When someone mentions rumors of a military operation, he replies, "That's ridiculous. How the hell are they going to fly in? Where are they going to fly from?" He comes to regret such overconfidence; soon, Joe, CJ, and their friends go from laid-back dinner outings to a world of martial law, military censorship, and the temporary use of restaurant freezers to store the dead. At first, CJ finds an outlet through her reporting job at the Honolulu Advertiser, but soon feels the pull of a higher calling with the Women's Air Raid Defense, a civilian unit. Buckingham's wartime novel fits snugly beside such genre benchmarks as James Jones' From Here to Eternity (1951) and Herman Wouk's The Winds of War (1971), which are also both set in Hawaii, before and after Pearl Harbor. What makes this novel compelling is the author's exploration of women's perspectives on these events, which is often lost amid textbook images of WACs and WAVEs. CJ and her friends, Eve Russell (whose family owns the Advertiser) and Ruth Elliott, the wife of a Navy commander, must convince an entrenched, male-dominated establishment that they can endure the physical and mental challenges that accompany military secrecy, endless working hours, and grinding sequestration, and such narratives are not often seen in fiction. The novel impressively and artfully realizes its themes of duty and self-sacrifice during wartime, as well. A gripping story that offers a glimpse of a seldom-seen part of WWII-era military history. KIRKUS REVIEWS

Buckingham entertains with this World War II-era novel, chronicling the twists and turns of four women's lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The war serves as a vivid backdrop but also a major player in the action, anchoring the women's outcomes. The story highlights women's roles during a time in history when they struggled with significant prejudice, making this not just an enjoyable read but an enlightening one as well. The focus on females navigating World War II-particularly during the terrifying time frame of the novel-sets this title apart from other historical fiction offerings. Buckingham strongly delivers with her characters, richly developing each one and sketching their reactions to the attack with authenticity and historical accuracy. The main protagonists-CJ, Eve, Ruth, and Jane-must navigate horrific circumstances, all while being told men could handle the stress of their situation much better. But, from freezers to store bodies to the enactment of martial law, these women excel under pressure, proving to themselves-and everyone around them-that their grit, resolve, and courage are up to the task. BOOK LIFE PRIZE