The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo

About the book: (from the publisher) A powerful and evocative debut novel about two American military nurses during World War II that illuminates the unsung heroism of women who risked their lives in the fight—a riveting saga of friendship, valor, sacrifice, and survival combining the grit and selflessness of Band of Brothers with the emotional resonance of The Nightingale.

In war-torn France, Jo McMahon, an Italian-Irish girl from the tenements of Brooklyn, tends to six seriously wounded soldiers in a makeshift medical unit. Enemy bombs have destroyed her hospital convoy, and now Jo singlehandedly struggles to keep her patients and herself alive in a cramped and freezing tent close to German troops. There is a growing tenderness between her and one of her patients, a Scottish officer, but Jo’s heart is seared by the pain of all she has lost and seen. Nearing her breaking point, she fights to hold on to joyful memories of the past, to the times she shared with her best friend, Kay, whom she met in nursing school.

Half a world away in the Pacific, Kay is trapped in a squalid Japanese POW camp in Manila, one of thousands of Allied men, women, and children whose fates rest in the hands of a sadistic enemy. Far from the familiar safety of the small Pennsylvania coal town of her childhood, Kay clings to memories of her happy days posted in Hawaii, and the handsome flyer who swept her off her feet in the weeks before Pearl Harbor. Surrounded by cruelty and death, Kay battles to maintain her sanity and save lives as best she can . . . and live to see her beloved friend Jo once more.

When the conflict at last comes to an end, Jo and Kay discover that to achieve their own peace, they must find their place—and the hope of love—in a world that’s forever changed. With rich, superbly researched detail, Teresa Messineo’s thrilling novel brings to life the pain and uncertainty of war and the sustaining power of love and friendship, and illuminates the lives of the women who risked everything to save others during a horrifying time.

About the author: Teresa Messineo spent seven years researching the history behind The Fire by Night, her first novel. She is a graduate of DeSales University, and her varied interests include homeschooling her four children, volunteering with the underprivileged, medicine, swing dancing, and competitive athletics. She lives in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Genre: Fiction/Historical

[bctt tweet=”Spellbinding #histfic debut spotlights heroism and sacrifice of WWII nurses. Not to be missed.” username=”@KatherineSJones”]

My take: Unexpected. That’s the word that first comes to mind to describe Teresa Messineo’s The Fire by Night. From its gripping first pages that drew me inexorably into the story, to the incredible depth and breadth of research, to the glimmering hope that emerged from the ashes… Unexpected. And all so incredibly finessed, it’s hard to believe this is a debut.

I immediately learned that I didn’t know as much about World War II as I assumed — which is saying something. Like most avid readers, I’ve read a lot about this era. On every page, I found a fresh display of not only the facts but (just as important to me) the ethos and pathos of history. Ms. Messineo propels the reader forward with her powerful narrative while delivering a riveting, emotionally rich story. I was drawn equally to both likable point-of-view characters, a feat not easily achieved. Their individual stories provide the reader with a wide-angle view of both theaters of this war.

Have you seen the movie Hacksaw Ridge? This novel is like that (though, thankfully, with several degrees less gore) for its unflinching look at the horrors of war while focusing on the selfless sacrifice of an individual — or in this case, two. Both offer compelling pictures of beauty in the midst of terrible brokenness.

I particularly resonated the author’s nuanced depictions of steadfast faith in the face of evil. She pays subtle attention to the reality of God’s goodness and presence, so often easily overlooked amidst the ravages of war.

The Fire by Night offers not only a powerful tribute to the female nurses who sacrificed as greatly as the male soldiers, but also gives readers an incredibly compelling story that promises to linger long in heart and mind. This novel goes on my keeper shelf, and if you are a fan of WWII histfic, I highly recommend it for yours as well.

{Just so you know: Occasional profanity and realistic (but not especially graphic) portrayal of the horrors of war.}

Thanks to William Morrow for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

After words: What novel has recently surprised you with the unexpected?