Reviews

"The Woman with a Purple Heart is historical fiction at its finest! With its indomitable heroine and harrowing, real-life events, this story captured my heart and never let go. Vivid, nuanced, and inspiring, it's a book I'd recommend to all my friends--nurses and non-nurses alike!" -- Amanda Skenandore, author of The Second Life of Mirielle West and The Nurse's Secret

"A wonderful tribute to a true American hero. Equal parts touching and heartbreaking, The Woman with a Purple Heart paints a vivid picture of what it was like at ground zero in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Historical fiction lovers, put this on your list!" -- Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of Radar Girls and The Codebreaker's Secret

"Annie Fox and her heroic Army nurses take center stage in Diane Hanks's The Woman with a Purple Heart. This bold, compelling, page-turner of a novel doesn't flinch from exploring both the courage of those caught in the attack on Pearl Harbor as well as the injustices that followed one of the most tragic moments in America's history." -- Alix Rickloff, author of The Girls in Navy Blue

"Despite little being known about Lt. Fox, Hanks imbues her with genuine personality...in this charming yet sobering novel." -- Booklist

"Fast-paced and immersive, The Woman with a Purple Heart captures the bravery and dedication of U.S. Army nurses in Oahu during World War II. Not only does this gripping story spotlight Annie Fox, a hero who's been overlooked for far too long, but it delves into Hawaii's complicated wartime racial and political dynamics. This is the kind of story that sticks with you long after turning the final page." -- Elise Hooper, author of Angels of the Pacific

"While much has been written about the attack on Pearl Harbor, this book explores more deeply the simultaneous attack on nearby Hickam Field, as well as the indiscriminate removal of Japanese people from Hawaii...This is certainly a book to deepen one's understanding." -- Historical Novel Society

"A meticulously researched, moving tale that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page. Based on the true story of Annie Fox, this novel recounts her incredible bravery and courage, and also depicts what life was like for American Japanese in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack." -- Soraya M. Lane, Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Girls of Pearl Harbor and The London Girls

"The Woman with a Purple Heart vividly portrays a little known story in a well-known time on a day that will live in infamy. The actions of Army nurse Annie Fox--the first woman to win the Purple Heart, for her incredible courage and leadership following the attack at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field--reveal the kind of staggering bravery that both captivates and inspires. A stirring read!" -- Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of The Invisible Woman

"A complex and delicious morality tale. In The Woman with a Purple Heart, Diane Hanks walks with Army nurse Annie Fox through the fires and the fighting as she faces the reality of war at the tip of the spear. When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Annie's challenges as Chief Nurse at Hickam Field go beyond the drama of duty and the shock of massive death. Annie's journey to the Purple Heart is one marked by courage, the drive to stand up to injustice, and the heartbreak of daily life and death decisions in war. We can't help but pull for her every step of the way." -- Mari K. Eder, Maj. Gen. (U.S. Army Retired), author of The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line

"Immersive and intense with brilliant characterization, elegant and pacey writing, and riveting drama, Hanks takes us deep in the heart of Annie as she struggles to reconcile her professionalism, patriotism, and conscience. It's enthralling, poignant, and an absolute treat." -- Penny Haw, author of The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at the Wheel