bookrblog

The Cherry Ames books

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 | American Literature, Children's Literature

I loved the Cherry Ames books by Helen Wells when I was a kid. I have just purchased the first eight which have recently been republished. I realise now I’d only read the later books. The earlier ones follow the career of Cherry Ames, an American nurse, during WW2, from training to work on both the European and Pacific fields of war, and then into civilian work post-war.

Originally written in the ’40s to encourage more nurses to join up, they’re more than propaganda; they’re good books. In fact, they’re well-written, action-packed, and historically fascinating. Wells gives a good picture of life in the army, life in hospitals, and life in New York and the UK in the 40’s. There’s a hint of romance, lots of humour, and some interesting medical detail, but the real purpose of the book is to show how satisfying a career can be for a woman; and that in these sad post-feminist times is still really important.

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