A Darn Good Read: A Letter From Pearl Harbor by Anna Stuart Book Review

Publication Date: November 5, 2021
Publisher: Bookouture
Format: ebook, print and audio
Genre: Historical Fiction, World War II

Synopsis

Ninety-eight-year-old Ginny McAllister’s last wish is for her granddaughter to complete a treasure hunt containing clues to her past. Clues that reveal her life as one of the first female pilots at Pearl Harbor, and a devastating World War Two secret.

1941, Pearl Harbor: On the morning of December 7th, Ginny is flying her little yellow plane above the sparkling seas when she spots an unknown aircraft closing in on her. She recognises the red symbol of the Japanese fighter planes almost too late. Somehow, she manages to land unscathed but

the choices she is forced to make in the terrible hours that follow have tragic consequences…

2019, Pearl Harbor: Heartbroken Robyn Harris is reeling from the death of the strong, determined grandmother who raised her. Her only comfort is a letter written in Ginny’s distinctive hand which details a treasure hunt, just like the ones she used to set for her as a little girl. Except this time, the clues are scattered across the beautiful island of Hawaii. Despite her grief, Robyn finds herself intrigued as she follows the trail of letters, revealing the truth about Ginny’s service during the Second World War.

But Robyn’s whole world is turned upside down when she’s faced with a shocking secret which has the power to change the course of her own life…

Inspired by true events, this is a heartbreaking and unforgettable WW2 novel about love, loss and bravery. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and Kathryn Hughes.

My Thoughts

Sisters Robyn and Ashleigh Harris embark on a 'treasure hunt' organised by their grandmother, Ginny, before her death. It is a quest that they must do together, but is made more difficult by Ashleigh who is confined to a wheelchair and not the easiest person to get along with.

A chest containing a letter is left at various locations around Hawaii. Through these letters and the places they visit, Robyn and Ashleigh learn of their grandmother's past during World War II. They follow Ginny's trail from her arrival in Hawaii, to how she became a civilian flight instructor, survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and her role as a pilot ferrying planes in England, finally revealing a tragic accident that helps Ashleigh come to terms with her disability.

Once again Anna Stuart has delivered an emotional story around the events of World War II. Her focus this time is the attack on Pearl Harbor from the perspective of a female pilot caught up in these events. A lesser known detail that Stuart makes use of is that some civilian aircraft were in the air at the time. She places Ginny in this life and death situation, in a Piper Cub surrounded by Japanese planes. It is a powerful piece of imagery that will always remind me of this novel.

The relationship between Robyn and Ashleigh is a rocky one. Robyn believes that after nearly ten years Ashleigh should have come to terms with the accident that put her in a wheel chair. Ashleigh resents that Robyn has stayed away for so long, only returning to England because their grandmother was ill. Through Ginny's quest, they discover surprising things about her and each other that will force them to re-evaluate their lives, acknowledge their differences and find the courage to take a chance on love and what life has to offer.

A Letter from Pearl Harbor is full of those historical details that successfully evoke another time and place. I enjoyed all aspects of this dual time narrative, but my main interest was Ginny's experiences as a female pilot during World War II.

Meet the Author

Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers You can reach her on Facebook or Twitter.

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