Band of Sisters

A Novel

De: Lauren Willig

Narrado por: Julia Whelan

"With heart and humor, Willig explores the complexities of female friendships - feuds, forgiveness, and all. A touching portrait of triumph and found family in the midst of war. Bravo!” (Stephanie Dray, New York Times best-selling author of America's First Daughter and The Women of Chateau Lafayette)

A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story - a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network - from New York Times best-selling author Lauren Willig.

A scholarship girl from Brooklyn, Kate Moran thought she found a place among Smith’s Mayflower descendants, only to have her illusions dashed the summer after graduation. When charismatic alumna Betsy Rutherford delivers a rousing speech at the Smith College Club in April of 1917, looking for volunteers to help French civilians decimated by the German war machine, Kate is too busy earning her living to even think of taking up the call. But when her former best friend Emmeline Van Alden reaches out and begs her to take the place of a girl who had to drop out, Kate reluctantly agrees to join the new Smith College Relief Unit.

Four months later, Kate and 17 other Smithies, including two trailblazing female doctors, set sail for France. The volunteers are armed with money, supplies, and good intentions - all of which immediately go astray. The chateau that was to be their headquarters is a half-burnt ruin. The villagers they meet are in desperate straits: women and children huddling in damp cellars, their crops destroyed and their wells poisoned.

Despite constant shelling from the Germans, French bureaucracy, and the threat of being ousted by the British army, the Smith volunteers bring welcome aid - and hope - to the region. But can they survive their own differences? As they cope with the hardships and terrors of the war, Kate and her colleagues find themselves navigating old rivalries and new betrayals which threaten the very existence of the Unit.

With the Germans threatening to break through the lines, can the Smith Unit pull together and be truly a band of sisters?

©2021 Lauren Willig (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

I never knew....

Great story! I did not know about the Smith College and their graduates whom volunteered to help with the war efforts. I learned a lot and the book kept me wanting more. Narration was great!

So very good!

Such a good story of women working together, not always seeing eye to eye, but coming together to do what had to be done. A great lesson in history, interesting characters, wonderful descriptions of scenery and people. Narration was excellent.

A Great Read

I truly loved this book and am buying hard copies for Christmas presents. A truly different account of WWI.

I loved it!

I actually loved this story! Especially that most of it is true and actually happened to the Smith Relief Unit. I sometimes got annoyed at the main character’s snarky-ness but I appreciated the character development. It was a relatable story of friendship and personal growth! The performance was spectacular, as usual. There were many voices and personalities to embody and Julia Whelan did a spectacular job.

The sisterhood that developed in this book was genuine and remarkable

I liked many things about this book. The chapters contained letters to loved ones about the women’s experiences. That was a good way to get to know the large group of Smith Alumni. The book was beautifully written and thoroughly researched. This was a page turner and it was lovely the way the books came out. Read it. It’s quite engaging.

Glad I bought this book

Would I ever know about Smith college women?
The amount of time and details put forward in this book is incredible. The author spent a lot of time putting together the details keeping the real events going. Would I ever know about the Smith college women probably not but glad this book is out there to understand the pain and struggle the love put through during the war. An excellent narrator Julia whelan.

A Truly Enchanting Story

I loved this story! The character development, how the plot developed, and most amazing, the dramatic telling of even more dramatic true events. I loved and hated the end. I loved how the author ended the story but hated that my ride through WW1 France through the eyes of American college graduate women ended. I rarely give 5 stars across the board. This work deserves at least a 6! Well done Ms. Willing and Ms. Whelan. I will be seeking out more of your work!

Great piece of history.

The read did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. The author found a great piece of history that needed to be told and I love the history chapter at the very end, because I was going to look things up and she gave great references. Highly recommend this book.

Great book!

I knew nothing about the Smith College women were volunteered to help damaged French villages during WWI. Very well researched and historically accurate novel. Well told. Loved author’s historical notes at the end.

Who knew??

A compelling factual WWI story. So much hardship for the villagers countered by so much dedication from the Smith College Women. I loved Emmie best of all.