Code Name Rascal - Softcover

Buckingham, Dorothea N

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798999658272

Publisher: Sydney Press, LLC, 2025

Synopsis

Set in Hawaii at the dawn of World War II and inspired by a real-life women’s military unit, Code Name Rascal, traces the path of four very different women who joined the Women’s Air Raid Defense, a secret radar unit under the Army Air Corps.
CJ Martino, a firecracker journalist, straight out of Columbia moves to Hawaii to set the newspaper world on fire. CJ and Marine Lieutenant Joe Delano marry two days before Pearl Harbor is attacked and which challenges her career and her marriage.
Eve Russell, a Honolulu society girl, joins the unit to avoid the grip of her overbearing mother, and finds herself thrust into a world where she is measured by her performance, not her last name, and in the end, Eve must choose between wealth and love.
Ruth Elliott is “third-generation Navy” wife, who defines her life’s purpose as a mother and an officer’s wife, grapples with private grief that overshadows her self-worth. Sequestered with the other WARDs, her quiet self-destruction is exposed, and her path to resolution leads to divorce or self-acceptance.
Jane Meade, a Texas aviatrix who dreamed of being a pilot from the first time a plane landed at her family ranch, married a man who dreamed of building an aviation company that would hire only girls! But he talked and drank more than he worked.
Code Name Rascal is set against the backdrop of the first six months of the war, when land invasion by the enemy was an imminent threat, and life under martial law restricted or denied basic freedoms, a little-know historical fact, is exposed.
Told with emotional nuance and historical accuracy, Code Name Rascal celebrates the life and resilience of local civilian women thrust into military roles. It reveals the bonds of four fictional women, in unlikely friendships, as it examines the themes of duty, self-sacrifice and survival.
It is a gripping story of the reality of war and “every day” courage told from women’s perspective.

About this title

About the Author

Dorothea "Dee" Buckingham is a seasoned author, retired librarian, and dedicated historian who has called Hawaiʻi home for over 30 years. Her profound interest in the daily lives of women during World War II in Hawaiʻi has been the cornerstone of her literary work. Dee's commitment to uncovering and narrating these often-overlooked stories has established her as a respected voice in historical fiction.
Her notable publications include My Name is Loa, a historical novel set on Moloka'i, and Who Murdered Jane Stanford?, which delves into the mysterious death of Stanford University's co-founder in 1905 Hawaiʻi. Additionally, she co-authored World War II Hawaiʻi with her husband, retired Lieutenant Colonel John Buckingham, offering a pictorial history that captures the transformative impact of the war on the islands.
Her engaging talks and workshops have been featured on west coast radio and television in Hawaiʻi, and she has presented to diverse audiences, sharing her insights on writing and historical research.   
Her latest work, Code Name Rascal, continues her mission to illuminate the vital roles women played during wartime, weaving a narrative that is both historically rich and emotionally resonant.
Dee enjoys connecting with readers and is available to meet with book clubs and reading groups, both in person and via Zoom, to discuss her work and share insights into her writing process.

From the Back Cover

In the tense days following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four very different women step forward to serve their country in a top-secret radar unit known as the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD).
CJ Martino, a brash journalist from New Jersey, arrives determined to prove herself as a serious reporter—only to find her assignments censored and her ambition questioned. Ruth, a Navy officer's wife, struggles with her responsibility as an officer's wife while grieving her stillborn and carving out a purpose for her life. Jane, a daring Texas aviatrix, longs for the skies but is grounded by both military's refusal to let women fly and a husband who is a controlling gatekeeper. Lastly, there is Eve Russell, a Honolulu debutante, who volunteers to break the stronghold of social expectations, allowing herself to become vulnerable.
Together, these women join the "Rascal" unit, working long night shifts in blackout conditions to track incoming aircraft, they confront not only the possibility of invasion but also the battles within their own demons of grief, disillusionment, loneliness, and the search for meaning in a world at war.
As the pressure of war mounts, their friendships deepen. What begins as an unlikely alliance grows into a bond of trust and courage as each woman is forced to make choices that will change the trajectory of her life.
Grounded in meticulous research and inspired by firsthand interviews, Code Name Rascal brings to life the hidden history of the women of WARD. It is a sweeping story of resilience and transformation that illuminates the courage of unsung heroines and the strength found in friendship when the world teeters on the edge of collapse.

"What makes this novel compelling is the author's exploration of women's perspectives on these events... A gripping story that offers a glimpse of a seldom-seen part of WWII-era military history"

• KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Buckingham strongly delivers with her characters, richly developing each one and sketching their reactions to the attack with authenticity and historical accuracy... Her focus on females navigating World War II—particularly during the terrifying time frame of the novel—sets this title apart from other historical fiction offerings."

• BOOK LIFE PRIZE (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

Edition details

• Publisher: Sydney Press, LLC
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798999658272
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496