Cherry Ames, Flight Nurse (original: 1945; edição: 1945)

the postmistress got me in the wwii mood. otherwise, nothing in common here.

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LOVE the wwii propoganda... in the grace harlowe overseas books, germans are "huns," and 25 years later, they're "jerries"...oh, the period atmosphere!

First line:
~Lieutenant Cherry Ames, of the Army Nurse Corps, training at Randolph Field, Texas, to become a flight nurse, decided to take time out, this hot September morning, for a coke~

What did I think?
Cherry, the central character in a series of 27 mystery novels with hospital settings, is a sweet, dedicated working woman. These books were originally published between 1943 and 1968. I read them first when I was a pre-teen and really loved them. I had no idea that these books were written to encourage girls to become nurses as a way to aid the war effort! I did become a nurse and at 61 years of age, I still own 6 of the series. I decided it might be fun to re-visit one of them last month during the MysteryCat Challenge to read a YA / children’s mystery.

This one is pretty much as I remember the series. Not exactly a mystery but something mysterious is going on and Cherry is concerned about it. She doesn’t solve a mystery but we are with her as she is confused and eventually has the mysterious circumstances explained to her.

This book is definitely dated but still was a fun easy read. I used to think I was keeping these books for my grandchildren to read (not that I have any grandchildren yet!) but I don’t think that I want my grands to read this. Too syrupy sweet. And with some unprofessional behaviours that we would not condone in a nurse today.

3.5 stars ( )

My second favorite book in the series. I remember being enthralled by the descriptions of wartime England and the privations they had to endure. I loved that the nurses adopted one of the English children as a mascot, but I liked it even better when they invited all the village children over for a holiday dinner and presents. ( )