Book Summary and Reviews of Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper

Book Summary

If you loved Beantown Girls by Jane Healey and Hazel Gaynor's When We Were Young & Brave, then you won't want to miss critically acclaimed author Elise Hooper's powerful new novel of the Angels of Bataan, nurses held as prisoners during the occupation of the Philippines in World War II.

Their survival would depend on sisterhood and service.

Inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II's American Army nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance, this novel transports us to a remarkable era of hope, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately—victory.

The Philippines, 1941: Tess Abbott, an American Army nurse, has fled the hardships of the Great Depression at home for the glamour and adventure of Manila, one of the most desirable postings in the world. But everything changes when the Japanese Imperial Army invades with lightning speed and devastating results. Tess and her band of nurses serve on the front lines until they are captured as prisoners of war and held behind the high stone walls of Manila's Santo Tomas Internment Camp.

When the Japanese occupation of her beloved homeland commences, Flor Dalisay, a Filipina university student, will be drawn into the underground network of resistance, discovering within herself reserves of courage, resilience, and leadership she never knew she possessed.

As the war continues, Tess and Flor face danger, deprivation, and terror, leading them into a web of danger as they unexpectedly work together to save lives and win their freedom.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Before reading this novel, what did you know about World War II in the Pacific? Were you surprised by anything you learned? Was there anything specific you discovered about the Philippines and its occupation during the war?
2. This novel gives us a sense of what war was like for enlisted men and women on the front lines, civilians coping with occupation, and prisoners struggling with internment. How did the challenges of survival differ depending on the setting?
3. Which characters were you rooting for the most? Were there some characters you identified with more than others?
4. As Flor and Luchie become more deeply enmeshed in resistance activities, how does their relationship shift?
5. Tess has the opportunity to ...