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"Part memoir, part historical fiction, this book is a must-read for tweens..."
WALSH, Jenni L. Operation: Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond. 240p. Zonderkidz. Apr. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780310159261. Gr 4-7–Set during the early stages of World War II, this account is told by 12-year-old Jody Zuber and her dog Happy. They come together on Christmas Day 1938 after Happy retires from battle service as a Marine canine. He is losing his eyesight at a time when Jody is starting to see the world for what it really is in her military family. In 1940, her mother is anxious about her father’s posting in Pearl Harbor when the Zubers move to live on Ford Island in barracks housing. Thus begins “Operation: Happy,” a 10-point plan designed to guide Happy through his golden years. This list steadily grows as Jody and Happy weather air raid drills, vaccinations, and, ultimately, the events of December 7, 1941. When all but Sergeant Zuber relocate to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack, Jody does not see her active-duty father until the war’s end. Walsh’s novel depicts the family’s stateside experiences starkly. As Jody’s mom struggles with depression and her sister becomes more distant, Operation: Happy transforms into Jody’s plan to keep the Zuber family together. Part memoir, part historical fiction, this book is a must-read for tweens who are learning about this important piece of U.S. history. This is a poignant coming-of-age tale about military life, family, and friendship. Readers will be inspired by Jody’s effort to put on a brave face and touched by Happy’s love as they journey through difficult times with humor and tears. VERDICT: Fans of Jenni L. Walsh will not let this book sit on library shelves for long. –Sharon Sherman "An immersive work that’s full of heart and emotion."
OPERATION: HAPPY A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond Author: Jenni L. Walsh Review Issue Date: June 15, 2024 Online Publish Date: May 17, 2024 Publisher:Zonderkidz Pages: 229 Price ( Hardcover ): $18.93 ISBN ( Hardcover ): 9780310159261 Section: Children's Inspired by real-life experiences, this is the tale of a white girl and her dog who experience life in Honolulu during World War II. With 12-year-old Jody’s dad being a Marine, she’s moved a lot. Her two constants in life have been Happy, her “German shepherd-collie-husky mix,” and Team Zuber, her family, consisting of Dad, Mom, and older sister, Peggy. In October 1940, when they relocate to Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Jody becomes uneasy about her mom’s nervousness over being so near the battleships and about the war in Europe. After the vet says that Happy is in his golden years, Jody creates Operation: Happy, a list of fun new things they can do together. When the realities of war creep into their daily lives, the list becomes Jody’s way of coping with her fears. Then, on December 7, 1941, everything changes when bombs fall around them. Evacuated to San Francisco and separated from Dad, Jody and Happy use the list to find the courage they need to adjust to their new lives. This story of family, courage, and strength during harrowing times includes chapters told in Jody’s first-person and Happy’s third-person points of view. The raw emotions, which include tense, suspenseful scenes leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, are lightened by fun, humorous moments. An immersive work that’s full of heart and emotion. (author’s note, discussion questions) (Historical fiction. 9-13) WRITTEN BY JENNI L. WALSH
REVIEW BY J. LYNN ELSE This dual-timeline story follows the lives of Violet Jessop, who in real life survived the maritime disasters of the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic, and that of Daphne Chaundanson, daughter of a famous actor who becomes an agent for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), French Section, during WWII. The book opens with young Violet, a White Star Line stewardess, preparing for the Titanic’s departure from Southampton Port. Despite her frightening experience on the Olympic, the tips she receives from passengers help support her mother and siblings. Daphne’s story opens in 1942 as she interviews to join a resistance movement. Angered by the Germans’ invasion of her home country, she sets out to break the German oppression. One connecting thread ties these two women, and two wars, together in tragedy. To me, one of the most difficult aspects of writing historical fiction is creating authentic character mindsets, and Walsh captures this aspect beautifully. Daphne is passionate about taking back her country and is modeled upon the experiences of the 39 real-life SOE women. For Violet, the Titanic’s a job. She knows details employees of White Star Line would know, like the proper way to secure a life vest under a coat despite the uncomfortableness of the stiff cork against the body. While history tells us what happened, through Walsh’s compassionate prose, we’re able to feel what happened as well. Sitting in a lifeboat, wrapped in shadows of the night, as a ship groans its last and plunges into the Atlantic to the setting of explosives in a German depot while guard dogs bark close by: these settings feel that much more authentic under Walsh’s deft pen. Unsinkable is a story of courage, resilience, and steering your own course in life. Recommended! Appeared in Issue 107 (February 2024) and online: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/unsinkable-2/  Booklist Online Exclusive: December 22, 2023
Unsinkable. By Jenni L. Walsh Jan. 2024. 400p. Harper Muse, paper, $17.99 (9781400233946) Walsh’s latest (after The Call of the Wrens, 2022) is a heartfelt tale of two women in two times. Unsinkable joins the ranks of other spy novels written in this vein, but Walsh’s prose truly allows the reader to enter the mind and heart of each character, bringing their motivations, flaws, and desires to light. Violet Jessop begins her story as a stewardess on the Titanic. She survives not just one but three disasters at sea, but she is unable to separate herself from her jobs despite the dangers. Daphne, who has aquaphobia, joins the war efforts in WWII to make her estranged father proud, and finds new reasons to continue her work as part of the French Resistance. Both must decide how those circumstances will shape their futures. Walsh skillfully crafts two well-rounded characters who grapple with internal and external conflict, and yet who honestly earn their resolutions. — Lily Hunter  "Impeccably researched, full of life’s wisdom, and a tribute to intrepid women who risked their lives in the face of war."
In 1917 Birmingham, 18-year-old Marion Hoxton ages out of an orphanage and joins the Women’s Royal Navy Service — the Wrens. There, she finds purpose as a motorcycle courier delivering trained pigeons to the front and a sense of community with other young women hoping to make a difference during the Great War. Two decades later, Marion is strong-armed out of her solitary life by her former fellow Wren Sara Brown to rejoin the service as a trainer while World War Two storms England and a new generation steps up. Twenty-year-old socialite Evelyn Fairchild — who spent her childhood sidelined by surgeries — is determined to prove she is just as capable as the next enlisted woman. As strangers connected by a shared secret, Marion and Evelyn bond. Impeccably researched, full of life’s wisdom, and a tribute to intrepid women who risked their lives in the face of war. Reviewed By: Janet Somerville Review posted at https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/reviews/2023/01/12/round-up-four-best-new-books-for-historical-fiction-lovers.html  [A] fascinating look at the lives of these brave women who served to “free a man for the front" . . . I highly recommend this book if you are interested in historical fiction and especially if you enjoy reading about strong female characters.
Twenty years apart and in two different wars, both Marion and Evelyn hear The Call of the Wrens. Both young women enlist as motorcycle dispatch riders with the Women’s Royal Naval Service, affectionately called the Wrens, and discover that they have more in common then they know. Marion enlists with her best friend Eddie during World War I, where they both become dispatch riders, only with it to end in tragedy. Twenty years later, Evelyn has finally overcome her disability and can think of nothing better than to serve her country during World War II. Marion is called back into service, where she meets Evelyn and everything changes. This was a fascinating look at the lives of these brave women who served to “free a man for the front.” These women volunteered for dangerous missions bringing messages to the front lines to fight for freedom and their country. I am very thankful that I came across this book to learn more about these unsung heroes. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in historical fiction and especially if you enjoy reading about strong female characters. Reviewed By: Christina Boswell Review posted at https://sanfranciscobookreview.com/product/the-call-of-the-wrens/ Reviewed by Nancy Carty Lepri
“A tale filled with strong emotion, hope, and determination, this is highly thought-provoking and entertaining.” This novel encompasses two intense and exciting novels in one, though they tie together nicely. We first meet Marion Hoxton who in July 1940 lives in West Devon, England—if you want to call it living. She resides somewhat reclusively in a tiny cottage where she reminisces about the past. When her friend Sara comes knocking at her door, she tries to ignore her presence, but Sara is wise and knows Marion is home. She will not be deterred. The two women had been close when they served as "Wrens" during World War I. Wrens is the term used for the female sector of the British Women's Royal Navy Service. Previously Marion led a lonely life, abandoned as a baby and tossed around from one orphanage to another. The only company she had was reading her beloved books. She did not socialize with the others and has become mute. Then at age 14, she is moved to St. Anne's Home for Boys and Girls, which is her residence until she is 18. The other youngsters tease her for not talking, but she takes it in stride and spends most of her time sitting in a corner reading or working as a typist. The only one who shows interest in her is a 13-year-old boy named Eddie Smith. Though her complete opposite—comical and magnetic—Eddie sees something in Marion and draws closer to her. He watches as she sits in solitude until he approaches her with questions—questions where he only receives a nod or a shake as answers. The two become inseparable and Marion begins to speak, but only to him. Marion teaches Eddie to read so he, too, can discover the mysteries books provide. Sometimes they sneak off at night and roam the streets, though they know it's dangerous. The war begins shortly after Marion arrives at the home, and sirens blast, but nothing deters the two from venturing out. One time they find an abandoned motorcycle they take back to the orphanage to hide. They decide to call it "Alley Cat" . . . shortened to Alli because they found it in an alley. They conceal it well and drive it on the nights they go out unbeknownst to anyone. Then comes Marion's 18th birthday and the time for her to leave St. Anne's. But where will she go? She has no one and no place. "But the time had come, and it was only Marion being spit out. "Sister Florence's gaze jumped to and from the pamphlet she held. 'You've been schooled well, and it should be quite within your skill set to find work, domestic or otherwise until you marry. As it is, I'm told the war is requiring an endless number of men. There's a shortage, so much so that women are being asked to volunteer.' Sister Florence placed what she'd been holding on the desk. 'I believe this may be an ideal opportunity for you after you leave here.' "Marion read the pamphlet's bold-typed words: JOIN THE WRENS AND FREE A MAN FOR THE FLEET. "Women's Royal Naval Service? she thought, reading the thinner line at the very top. In the foreground a woman stands proudly in a cap, jacket, tie, and skirt, saluting. A battleship floats in the background. "'They call themselves the Wrens,' Sister Florence offered. 'I wrote the director, and she told me it's a new women's branch of the Royal Navy. They enlist women to fulfill the non-fighting tasks. Typist. Cooks. Stewards, Typists,' she repeated. 'Like you." And with this, Marion's fate is sealed. She does not want to leave the home, and she especially does not want to be apart from Eddie, but she has no choice. Training is tough, but she has a position and makes new friends who are like sisters. Assigned as a typist at first, she feels smothered sitting behind a desk, and soon she is thrilled when given the job as a motorcycle dispatch rider. She works with her roommate and friend Sara. They train carrier pigeons while Marion transports them to the front lines to pass information back and forth. As the war escalates and Marion is faced with many ups and downs—happiness and surprises as well as pain and heartaches. In alternating chapters, Evelyn Fairchild comes into the picture. It is 1936 and at age 21, she is the only child of wealthy parents and living in Weybridge. Born with the disability of a club foot, she endures many operations over the years, yet she is still being smothered by her mother who does not want to let her out of her sight. When Evelyn takes driving lessons, she finds it stimulating, giving her a sense of independence. With this newfound freedom, Evelyn discovers The Brooklands, a motor-racing track, and she is captivated by it. Against her mother's wishes, she becomes an accomplished driver, and going by the moniker Dare-D-Evelyn, she wins several times. Unfortunately, Evelyn soon learns the track will be turned into a plant to produce aircraft due to the conflict with Germany and the possible start of another war. More young men are being conscripted into fighting, and more planes need to be built. Evelyn is upset about no longer being able to race, but she is more worried about her childhood friend, Percy Harrington. Though he is a physician, she wonders if he will be exempt from going into battle. Percy is the only pal she's ever had what with being so sheltered. He is also the man her parents have chosen for her to wed. Evelyn does not want to marry. She wants to race cars, be independent and her own person, and to especially get out of the suffocating clutches of her mother. Soon she realizes a way to escape is to join the Wrens. This causes dissension between her mother and her, but she needs to make the break. Stationed in London her training is vigorous training, and she prays she can endure it with her handicap. Evelyn’s commanding officer happens to be none other than Marion. She is intimidated by Marion for she feels she is constantly watching her, but what is worse, she allocates the easiest assignments to Evelyn. Does she think because of her disability she is not able to do her job? Even though the training is tough, Evelyn passes proving she can handle the duties. But there is something puzzling about Wren Marion. Why does she seem to pay more attention to Evelyn? Though the two different women presented in diverse time periods are somewhat conflicting, as the story evolves, the objective for this unusual approach is described and fully explained. A tale filled with strong emotion, hope, and determination, it is highly thought-provoking and entertaining. It is clearly evident Ms. Walsh has spent indeterminable hours researching and putting together a well-written and memorable story about past events to make them truly authentic as well as informative.  The Call of the Wrens
WRITTEN BY JENNI L. WALSH REVIEW BY TRISH MACENULTY From its intriguing cover to the author’s note at the end, this book will captivate readers. Alternating between the story of Marion, a “Wren” in the Great War, and Evelyn, who serves in World War II, the story delves into the important and often overlooked history of the British women who risked their lives to serve their country. Marion is an unwanted orphan, who refuses to speak to anyone until she finds acceptance and love with Eddie, an orphan like herself. When she ages out of the orphanage, she has only one option: join the Women’s Royal Naval Service. But Eddie isn’t about to let her go without him, so he joins the Navy and makes sure they are always in close proximity. When tragedy befalls them, Marion becomes a bitter recluse until an old friend convinces her to come back to the Wrens, just in time to become a mentor to Evelyn, a young woman who has overcome a physical disability and familial disapproval to become a motorcycle messenger for the resurrected service. The characters (including a brave pigeon) are sympathetic and believable, the plot has plenty of surprises, and the history of these heroic women is fascinating. I read this book on the beach and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, but it would be also be an ideal read in a cozy chair with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace. Review appeared in HNR Issue 102 (November 2022) and can be found online at https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-call-of-the-wrens/  “In The Call of the Wrens, Jenni L. Walsh shines light on courageous women whose feats during two world wars remain relatively unknown…I’d recommend this book to history buffs and fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. Walsh really captures the intensity of war, transporting the reader back in time and driving home the anxiety and uncertainty of the era, but also the fortitude and sacrifice of the men and women who dared to join the fight.”
In The Call of the Wrens, Jenni L. Walsh shines light on courageous women whose feats during two world wars remain relatively unknown. While the story’s protagonists are fictional, the ladies who served in Women’s Royal Naval Service – or Wrens – were not. They were brave and selfless women who risked everything when their country asked. The novel follows Marion, an orphan aged out of state-sponsored care, through World War I as she joins the Wrens and then finds herself on the outskirts of the war, training and delivering carrier pigeons by motorbike as she moves ever closer to the battlefront. Likewise, we are introduced to Evelyn, well off in society but who shuns a life of finishing school and serving a husband. Against her parents’ wishes, she runs off to join the sisterhood during World War II and becomes a dispatch rider. Both women show remarkable courage and resolve, their stories slowly weaving together in alternating timelines until at last they converge. The Call of the Wrens features some of my favorite tropes of found family, underappreciated history, and slow burn romances. Most of all, it features strong women coming into their own. Walsh’s novel builds slowly at first, but the pace quickly kicks up as Marion and Evelyn become aware of their own strengths and motivations as they find themselves drawn closer to the action of the war. I’d recommend this book to history buffs and fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. Walsh really captures the intensity of war, transporting the reader back in time and driving home the anxiety and uncertainty of the era, but also the fortitude and sacrifice of the men and women who dared to join the fight. Reviewed By: Sara Kruszka Review posted on Nashville Book Review on November 2, 2022 at https://nashvillebookreview.com/product/the-call-of-the-wrens/  Issue: October 1, 2022
The Call of the Wrens. By Jenni L. Walsh Nov. 2022. 400p. Harper Muse, paper, $17.99 (9781400233885) Walsh (Side by Side, 2018) follows two English women, Marion and Evelyn, showing how they became involved with the Women’s Royal Naval Service, more commonly known as the Wrens. The reader is introduced to Marion at the start of WWII, when her friend Sara comes to meet with her and persuade her to rejoin the Wrens for the coming war, continuing the work she had done in WWI. Her history gradually unfolds over the course of the book, taking several twists and turns until her connection with Evelyn is finally revealed. Evelyn has been protected and coddled her entire life owing to a physical disability and her posh upbringing. She finds ways to act out and be rebellious, but it isn’t until Churchill declares war that Evelyn finds a way to slip out of her mother’s grasp by joining the Wrens. This well-written, straightforward book will be of interest to readers curious about the types of work available to English women who wanted to aid in war efforts during both world wars. — Rebecca Gerber |
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