The Woman with a Purple Heart

By: Diane Hanks

Narrated by: Libby McKnight

Based on the real life of Lieutenant Annie Fox, Chief Nurse of Hickam Hospital, The Woman with a Purple Heart is an inspiring WWII novel of heroic leadership, courage, and friendship that also exposes a shocking and shameful side of history.

Annie Fox will stop at nothing to serve her country. But what happens when her country fails her? In November 1941, Annie Fox, an Army nurse, is transferred to Hickam Field, an air force base in Honolulu. The others on her transport plane are thrilled to work in paradise, but Annie sees her new duty station as the Army's way of holding the door open to her retirement. But serving her country is her calling and she will go wherever she is told.

On December 7, Annie's on her way to work when the first Japanese Zero fighter plane flies low over Hickam's Parade Ground. The death and destruction that follow leave her no time to process what's happening. She rallies her nurses, and they work to save as many lives as they can. But soon their small hospital is overwhelmed. Annie drives into Honolulu to gather supplies, nurses, and several women who will donate blood. However, the nurses are Japanese Americans, and the blood donors are prostitutes.

Under Annie's leadership and working together in unexpected ways, they make it through that horrific day, when one of the Japanese American nurses and Annie's friend, Kay, is arrested as a suspected subversive. As Hickam tries to recover, Annie works to find her friend and return Kay to her family. But Annie's love for her country is put to the test. How can she reconcile the American bravery and resilience she saw on December 7 with the prejudice and injustice she witnesses just a few months later?

©2023 Diane Hanks (P)2023 Recorded Books

Not a nurse’s voice

The story itself was very good and very relevant with what’s happening in America at the moment. Overall, it needed more character development. I didn’t care about the main character as much as I did some of the ancillary characters. Though, I do think that had a lot to do with the performance of the reader. This was not an experienced nurse’s voice. It was too juvenile and too upbeat. This is a 48 year old woman who worked through the first world war and has spent her life in the military. The voice did not match the character.

The bravery of the nurses!

It was a terrific book, bringing to life the bravery of these amazing nurses.

Great story and history!

I loved learning more about the awful attack on Pearl Harbor and following, through story, important and devastating differences in experience.

A historical fiction masterpiece!

Writer did an outstanding job of drawing in the emotions of the reader. Narration was perfect! Definitely one I will be recommending to my book club friends!

a great read!

this story is told with excellent details about Dec 7. the plot keeps your attention. congratulations Diane Hanks for a superb novel.