When We Had Wings

By: Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival.

The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war.

Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy's blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope—and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost.

In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed "the Angels of Bataan," three women shift in and out of each other's lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation.

"A novel rich in historical detail that immerses readers in the dangers and deprivation WWII nurses suffered in the Pacific, wrapped up with a hopeful ending."—Booklist

©2022 Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner (P)2022 Harper Muse

Really good read

I enjoyed this book! It shows how deep women to women friendships go. Very good read!

I truly loved this story, scary and heart warming at the same time.

I loved the story, the characters, and the reading. after this story I did some research on the interment camps. That was truly the greatest generation.

Wonderful as always!

Ariel Lawhon is one of my favorite historical fiction authors and for good reason. If you enjoy historical fiction, in particular, WWII stories, you will enjoy this. It was a nice departure from the typical ones based in England or France. I also learned a lot. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

WWII from Japanese POW perspective

Excellent book. It’s a perspective that’s not written on as often. I love WWII books and really enjoyed this! Towards the end, I cried because I was so moved.

More love story than anything

Why do these historical female POW’s need love interests in this novel? They are enough themselves.

Human Spirit

When We Had Wings it is an historical fiction book ; but yet some parts of the read are truth. I had the pleasure of listening to Audible with narration by Saskia Maaleveld. In this read we have three authors that are writing about three World War II nurses who are stationed in the South Pacific. Each author wrote about untold stories of women during World War II. Meissner wrote the story of Penny, Lawhorn about Lita and McMorris wrote about Elaine. They were stationed / assigned to Manila in 1941. Penny is a US Army nurse, Eleanor is a US Army nurse and Lita of Filipina nurse. They are at a welcome meeting where the immediate sparks of friendship begin. We will read about how they made it through the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Along with the horrors they would see and encounter with the Japanese and occupation of the Philippines. Nothing is more heartbreaking than the treatment of POWs and civilians during wartime. They are separated many times being placed at different hospitals and prison camps. These three think they will never see each other again. We will follow them as they cling to the hope of that meeting happening. These three females will suffer from tropical disease, mental and physical abuse along with becoming very malnourished. This read is so well written and the narrator tells the story magnificently that one can get caught up in the stories of all these women, as if one is right beside them. The Angels of Bataan are about women just like our nurses. I highly recommend you read this historical novel or the Audible version. You will walk away feeling you've learned a great deal about the unshakable strength of the human spirit and sisterhood.

An excellent book!

I learned so much about the nurses in the Philippines during WwwII . Amazing story. Thank you to the author.

Loved this book!

This book moved me to tears on more than one occasion. As a Nurse during the pandemic and post pandemic period I often lose sight that those that have gone before us were brave and selfless which is the heart of a Nurse’s work.

Great book but noted some historical errors

Excellent story - I’m wanting to read some nonfiction Re: this time in history now. As always, Saskia Maarleveld narration is great. Some errors noted were at the end of the book: Abbott Northwestern Hospital, where Eleanor worked before the war didn’t exist until 1970 when Abbott Hospital and Northwestern merged and I-35 in Minnesota wasn’t completed until 1958.

interesting read

I enjoy historical fiction and I found learning about the Philippines during World War II to be really fascinating. I had no idea that went on. It’s kind of a neglected story of World War III. However, I did find the going from one character back-and-forth to another to be a little confusing at times but overall it was definitely worth listening to.