Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young nurse, had lived a charmed life in southern California. Her brother Finley made their parents very proud when he was shipped off to Vietnam. After he is killed, Frankie seeks greater meaning, enlists in the Army and is immediately working tirelessly to save lives as a steady flow of wounded men and local Vietnamese are brought to her hospital ward. Frankie, along with fellow nurses Barb and Ethel, form a tight bond and are transformed by their experiences. When reassigned to Pleiku, near the Cambodian border, the danger is worse than ever, and death is continuous. Once Frankie returns home, she is shocked at the way she and other veterans from Vietnam are treated. And even worse, the support available to Vietnam Vets is denied to her as nurses were not considered to be veterans and she is repeatedly told “there were no women in Vietnam”. Frankie is a heroine who is not acknowledged for her service. A tough road lies ahead.
Kristin Hannah has written some of the finest historical fiction books. All are deeply moving and incredibly well researched. In The Women, Hannah has brought her skill to a tough time in American history which many of her readers, including me, remember all too well even if it was through the eyes of a child. The tragedy of war and the impact on those who valiantly served, is presented excellently through Frankie's experiences. Grab your Kleenex box.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an advance copy of this absorbing book.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction.
Publication Date: February 6, 2024.
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