Grounded Eagles: Three Tales of the RAF in WWII Paperback – November 1, 2021

I loved this book. The author's characters feel so authentic. I loved the short story format. It allowed me to see WWII from the perspective of three different characters and circumstances. A chilling look at real-life experiences. What does happen to the pilot who is so burned as to be recognizable--and may never fly again. What is it like to be not the flashy pilot, but one of the ground crew--whose actions or omissions may cause the pilot to crash. Or if a pilot suddenly can't face another trip up in the sky. Yet, her characters are resilient. I also love the way that Ms. Schrader gives a history lesson in the back to let you know what was taken from historical records. And the glossary of terms was much appreciated. Her characters use the slang, the lingo, the buzz words of the time--which makes it seem authentic--but as a lawyer who has never flown an airplane or served in the military, the glossary was very helpful to me. Very good read.

The book Grounded Eagels shares three stories, and the common between them is that they are all happening during the 1940s. However, each story is unique and pierce the reader's heart for different reasons. The stories are about the lives of three RAF pilots during World War II.The book starts with the story of the 22-years old David Goldman, shot down and heavily wounded, left with his face destroyed and hands burned. He now will have to learn to cope with his new life differently. Then in A Rose in November, we meet Rhys Jenkins, a mechanic who is appointed as Ground Chief of a Spitfire Squadron and works for the leader that guided the young pilot Goldman. However, Jenkins has to deal with his teenage children and his family, the class differences with a woman he met, and his emotions as well. Finally, in the third story, Lack of Moral Fibre, we meet Kit Moran - who refuses to fly on his thirty-seventh mission without a medical reason not to. He is then sent to a center to determine if he is fit t fly or is just a coward.Each story is impressive because the author provides detailed background for the characters and their situation. The book's complex plot is intriguing and absorbs the reader's imagination. Brilliant! A must-read, especially if you fall for historical novels!