Description:
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating behind-the scenes drama of litle known events andunrecognized heroes of World War II
When We Had Wings is a masterpiece of historical fiction in its finest form, delving into little known events of civilian and military nurse captivity in hePHilipines by the Japanes in world War II. Relatively few opportunities exist to learn about the female heroes of that war. The book was eye-opening and riveting, and opened up a time of history that has gone under-appreciated. My only complaint was that at times it became confusing, following all three heroine protagonists in and out of different camps and prisons, all with similar names. I had to re-read passages to remember what protagonist was incarcerated where. However, the sterngth of the stories and the characters themselves more than make up for such complexity. Highly educational and entertaing at the same time.
4.0 out of 5 stars New perspective on a different part of WWII
Good but slow read. The Epologue seemed to go on FOREVER. Yes, I will recommend it to friends but know, it's not a "happy" read. That said, it made me aware of the WWII Philippines and their plight, which I had never given a thought or known anything about. Such a travisty the lack of respect for women then and to some extent now.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Soaring Tribute to Courage, Friendship, and the Women Who Refused to Fall
When We Had Wings soars straight into the rarefied air of lifelong favorites, lifting you up and then refusing to let go. Co-written by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner, the novel braids three distinct voices—Eleanor, a U.S. Navy nurse; Penny, an Army flight nurse; and Lita, a Filipina volunteer—into one spellbinding chorus that celebrates the unsung “Angels of Bataan.”What sets this story apart is its breathtaking balance of beauty and brutality. The authors render 1940s Manila in vivid color: the bougainvillea-lined streets, the sultry sea breezes, the sudden thunder of warplanes turning paradise into siege. Yet even as POW camps replace tropical beaches, the book never loses sight of hope. Each woman’s courage is a different shade—quiet endurance, fierce defiance, dogged compassion—and together they form a spectrum of resilience that feels both epic and profoundly intimate.The collaborative narrative is seamless; you can sense each author’s touch, but the transitions land as gracefully as a nurse’s whispered assurance in the dark. Moments of camaraderie—a shared cigarette, a stolen melody hummed over makeshift hospital cots—glow like lanterns against the night of occupation. When heartbreak comes (and it does, in waves), the writing refuses melodrama, choosing instead the clean, sharp honesty that makes tears fall faster.Most astonishing is how the novel invites you to inhabit its heroines so completely that their triumphs feel personal and their losses, private. By the final page I was wrung out, inspired, and oddly lighter, as if I’d borrowed the title’s wings for a while. When We Had Wings isn’t just historical fiction done right; it’s a master-class in collaborative storytelling and a soaring tribute to friendship, sacrifice, and the stubborn endurance of hope. If you read one World War II novel this year, let it be this one—then prepare to hold it close for a very long time.
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome book
fast delivery and great book
5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed!
There are many reasons to become a nurse - heartbreak is just one. In August of 1941, Penny Franklin and Liter Capel, one an Army nurse and one a Filipino civilian nurse, met at an Officer’s Club in Manila to welcome Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, 23, into the fold. Eleanor had just disembarked from her trip across the Pacific only three weeks after enlisting. The three women immediately formed a deep bond of friendship which would be severely tested in the next four years.In December of the same year, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and the United States entered the war. The next day, the bombing of Manila began. From the moment the Stars and Stripes was replaced with the Japanese flag, life changed dramatically for all in the Philippine Islands. Those in control were cruel task masters.The lives of these three nurses are intertwined throughout thestory. Braving the horrors and brutality of war, the beauty of love, and seeing the unlikeliest of heroes, these women and their colleagues were the first female combat POWs in WWII. This book pays homage to the little known, often hidden, stories of the women nurses who battled along side the men to save lives in the POW camps and prisons where they lived and worked for the four years of Japanese occupation.Nurses who had treated minor island related issues were now treating combat wounds. They never stopped caring for military and civilians who had gotten caught while living in or visiting Manila. They continued nursing with few supplies and rigged up operating rooms. Some lived in caves, some in POW camps hidden in the jungle. Prisons now became internment camps with food as well as medical equipment and supplies scarce. In year four people were starving, wearing tattered clothes, and had little access to medical supplies.I could not put the book down. Told in alternating sections with names and dates heading each section, Penny’s, Lita’s, and Eleanor’s stories unfold. I was mesmerized.Shame on Hopewell’s Public Library for Life’s blog review for downgrading their rating of When We Had Wings to 3.5 because Penny was resting in her hotel room in 1945 and was watching television. When writing historical fiction, there is a handy dandy term called “Literary License “ where an author or authors can stretch or shrink a timeline, an event, an invention, etc. to make the story work. Most author’s use this creative function with no apologies needed. This novel is a fictional story based on true happenings and if the authors want a tv before its time in the hotel room, they get to put one in the room.Be sure and read the author’s notes AFTER you read the book as the notes contain spoilers. The three authors are amazing as the story moves along seamlessly with no evidence of single author’s style but blending their styles together to create a page turning, heartbreaking, hopeful story. Five stars for a well developed work about regular people who became daring and courageous under the worst circumstances.
4.0 out of 5 stars nice story about nurses
This was a good example of nurses in service during war depicting the true heroism,professionalism and sacrifices made in the line of duty
5.0 out of 5 stars didn’t know
Anything about the war in the Philippines. Eye opening. Great story. Can’t imagine just trying to survive. Very well written and researched.
A story of true bravery shown by three incredible woman
I really enjoyed this book immensely and its lively characters. Living in the Philippines for 5 months now, it also has given me a glimpse of how awful the past was like for this beautiful country and its people.
Very Enjoyable
Good writing, good story, worth reading.
Not worth reading
Terrible book. Very disappointing. Stopped at 45%
Disappointing
Disappointing, rather boring read. Having just finished Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon which I found a totally engrossing & compelling read, I wanted to read more by this author. Sadly “When we had wings” bore no comparison in literary style, or depth & description. I’m surprised that she would want to write as part of a trio of authors; in my view it just didn’t work,
No impressed
Found this disjointed and couldn't enjoy it
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When We Had Wings: A Novel
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Imported From: United States
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Visit the Harper Muse Store
When We Had Wings: A Novel
BHD759
Quantity:
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over BHD 20
Imported From: United States
At bolo.bh, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.
We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.bh is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.
Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
bolo.bh operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bahrain. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in Bahrain are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating behind-the scenes drama of litle known events andunrecognized heroes of World War II
When We Had Wings is a masterpiece of historical fiction in its finest form, delving into little known events of civilian and military nurse captivity in hePHilipines by the Japanes in world War II. Relatively few opportunities exist to learn about the female heroes of that war. The book was eye-opening and riveting, and opened up a time of history that has gone under-appreciated. My only complaint was that at times it became confusing, following all three heroine protagonists in and out of different camps and prisons, all with similar names. I had to re-read passages to remember what protagonist was incarcerated where. However, the sterngth of the stories and the characters themselves more than make up for such complexity. Highly educational and entertaing at the same time.
4.0 out of 5 stars New perspective on a different part of WWII
Good but slow read. The Epologue seemed to go on FOREVER. Yes, I will recommend it to friends but know, it's not a "happy" read. That said, it made me aware of the WWII Philippines and their plight, which I had never given a thought or known anything about. Such a travisty the lack of respect for women then and to some extent now.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Soaring Tribute to Courage, Friendship, and the Women Who Refused to Fall
When We Had Wings soars straight into the rarefied air of lifelong favorites, lifting you up and then refusing to let go. Co-written by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner, the novel braids three distinct voices—Eleanor, a U.S. Navy nurse; Penny, an Army flight nurse; and Lita, a Filipina volunteer—into one spellbinding chorus that celebrates the unsung “Angels of Bataan.”What sets this story apart is its breathtaking balance of beauty and brutality. The authors render 1940s Manila in vivid color: the bougainvillea-lined streets, the sultry sea breezes, the sudden thunder of warplanes turning paradise into siege. Yet even as POW camps replace tropical beaches, the book never loses sight of hope. Each woman’s courage is a different shade—quiet endurance, fierce defiance, dogged compassion—and together they form a spectrum of resilience that feels both epic and profoundly intimate.The collaborative narrative is seamless; you can sense each author’s touch, but the transitions land as gracefully as a nurse’s whispered assurance in the dark. Moments of camaraderie—a shared cigarette, a stolen melody hummed over makeshift hospital cots—glow like lanterns against the night of occupation. When heartbreak comes (and it does, in waves), the writing refuses melodrama, choosing instead the clean, sharp honesty that makes tears fall faster.Most astonishing is how the novel invites you to inhabit its heroines so completely that their triumphs feel personal and their losses, private. By the final page I was wrung out, inspired, and oddly lighter, as if I’d borrowed the title’s wings for a while. When We Had Wings isn’t just historical fiction done right; it’s a master-class in collaborative storytelling and a soaring tribute to friendship, sacrifice, and the stubborn endurance of hope. If you read one World War II novel this year, let it be this one—then prepare to hold it close for a very long time.
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome book
fast delivery and great book
5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed!
There are many reasons to become a nurse - heartbreak is just one. In August of 1941, Penny Franklin and Liter Capel, one an Army nurse and one a Filipino civilian nurse, met at an Officer’s Club in Manila to welcome Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, 23, into the fold. Eleanor had just disembarked from her trip across the Pacific only three weeks after enlisting. The three women immediately formed a deep bond of friendship which would be severely tested in the next four years.In December of the same year, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and the United States entered the war. The next day, the bombing of Manila began. From the moment the Stars and Stripes was replaced with the Japanese flag, life changed dramatically for all in the Philippine Islands. Those in control were cruel task masters.The lives of these three nurses are intertwined throughout thestory. Braving the horrors and brutality of war, the beauty of love, and seeing the unlikeliest of heroes, these women and their colleagues were the first female combat POWs in WWII. This book pays homage to the little known, often hidden, stories of the women nurses who battled along side the men to save lives in the POW camps and prisons where they lived and worked for the four years of Japanese occupation.Nurses who had treated minor island related issues were now treating combat wounds. They never stopped caring for military and civilians who had gotten caught while living in or visiting Manila. They continued nursing with few supplies and rigged up operating rooms. Some lived in caves, some in POW camps hidden in the jungle. Prisons now became internment camps with food as well as medical equipment and supplies scarce. In year four people were starving, wearing tattered clothes, and had little access to medical supplies.I could not put the book down. Told in alternating sections with names and dates heading each section, Penny’s, Lita’s, and Eleanor’s stories unfold. I was mesmerized.Shame on Hopewell’s Public Library for Life’s blog review for downgrading their rating of When We Had Wings to 3.5 because Penny was resting in her hotel room in 1945 and was watching television. When writing historical fiction, there is a handy dandy term called “Literary License “ where an author or authors can stretch or shrink a timeline, an event, an invention, etc. to make the story work. Most author’s use this creative function with no apologies needed. This novel is a fictional story based on true happenings and if the authors want a tv before its time in the hotel room, they get to put one in the room.Be sure and read the author’s notes AFTER you read the book as the notes contain spoilers. The three authors are amazing as the story moves along seamlessly with no evidence of single author’s style but blending their styles together to create a page turning, heartbreaking, hopeful story. Five stars for a well developed work about regular people who became daring and courageous under the worst circumstances.
4.0 out of 5 stars nice story about nurses
This was a good example of nurses in service during war depicting the true heroism,professionalism and sacrifices made in the line of duty
5.0 out of 5 stars didn’t know
Anything about the war in the Philippines. Eye opening. Great story. Can’t imagine just trying to survive. Very well written and researched.
A story of true bravery shown by three incredible woman
I really enjoyed this book immensely and its lively characters. Living in the Philippines for 5 months now, it also has given me a glimpse of how awful the past was like for this beautiful country and its people.
Very Enjoyable
Good writing, good story, worth reading.
Not worth reading
Terrible book. Very disappointing. Stopped at 45%
Disappointing
Disappointing, rather boring read. Having just finished Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon which I found a totally engrossing & compelling read, I wanted to read more by this author. Sadly “When we had wings” bore no comparison in literary style, or depth & description. I’m surprised that she would want to write as part of a trio of authors; in my view it just didn’t work,
No impressed
Found this disjointed and couldn't enjoy it
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “World War II & Holocaust”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.bh/products/U0785253041