Code Name Rascal

by Dorothea N. Buckingham

Set in Hawaii at the dawn of World War II and inspired by a real-life women’s military unit, Code Name Rascal, traces the path of four very different women who joined the Women’s Air Raid Defense, a secret radar unit under the Army Air Corps.
CJ Martino, a firecracker journalist, straight out of Columbia moves to Hawaii to set the newspaper world on fire. CJ and Marine Lieutenant Joe Delano marry two days before Pearl Harbor is attacked and which challenges her career and her marriage.
Eve Russell, a Honolulu society girl, joins the unit to avoid the grip of her overbearing mother, and finds herself thrust into a world where she is measured by her performance, not her last name, and in the end, Eve must choose between wealth and love.
Ruth Elliott is “third-generation Navy” wife, who defines her life’s purpose as a mother and an officer’s wife, grapples with private grief that overshadows her self-worth. Sequestered with the other WARDs, her quiet self-destruction is exposed, and her path to resolution leads to divorce or self-acceptance.
Jane Meade, a Texas aviatrix who dreamed of being a pilot from the first time a plane landed at her family ranch, married a man who dreamed of building an aviation company that would hire only girls! But he talked and drank more than he worked.
Code Name Rascal is set against the backdrop of the first six months of the war, when land invasion by the enemy was an imminent threat, and life under martial law restricted or denied basic freedoms, a little-know historical fact, is exposed.
Told with emotional nuance and historical accuracy, Code Name Rascal celebrates the life and resilience of local civilian women thrust into military roles. It reveals the bonds of four fictional women, in unlikely friendships, as it examines the themes of duty, self-sacrifice and survival.
It is a gripping story of the reality of war and “every day” courage told from women’s perspective.

Genres: Historical Fiction

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

About the author

Dorothea “Dee” Buckingham is a seasoned author, retired librarian, and dedicated historian who has called Hawaiʻi home for over 30 years. Her profound interest in the daily lives of women during World War II in Hawaiʻi has been the cornerstone of her literary work. Dee’s commitment to uncovering and narrating these often-overlooked stories has established her as a respected voice in historical fiction.

Her notable publications include My Name is Loa, a historical novel set on Molokaʻi, and Who Murdered Jane Stanford?: An Answer Imagined, which delves into the mysterious death of Stanford University’s co-founder in 1905 Hawaiʻi. Additionally, she co-authored World War II Hawaiʻi with her husband, retired Lieutenant Colonel John Buckingham, offering a pictorial history that captures the transformative impact of the war on the islands.

Dee’s passion for storytelling extends beyond writing; she is an Author Accelerator certified book coach, providing guidance to aspiring writers. Her engaging talks and workshops have been featured on west coast radio and television in Hawaiʻi, and she has presented to diverse audiences, sharing her insights on writing and historical research.

Her latest work, Code Name Rascal, continues her mission to illuminate the vital roles women played during wartime, weaving a narrative that is both historically rich and emotionally resonant.

Dee enjoys connecting with readers and is available to meet with book clubs and reading groups, both in person and via Zoom, to discuss her work and share insights into her writing process.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Teri M Brown]

Code Name Rascal is a wonderful historical fiction by Dorothea N Buckingham. This story takes place in Hawaii immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor. We quickly meet four women, all very different from one another, who join a classified radar operation known as WARD, with the code name Rascal.

One of the things I loved best about this story is that I was completely unaware of WARD or even the issues in Hawaii after the initial bombing. I'm not sure where I was during school, but there is a lot more to what happened than I realized! Code Name Rascal helped fill in so many of the blanks.

I also really loved Dorothea's characters. CJ is a strong, newly-married journalist. Ruth is a quiet Navy officer wife. Jane is a pilot going through divorce. And Eve is a Honolulu socialite. Imagine all these women thrust into tiny quarters, working grueling hours, keeping war secrets, and still trying to figure out their own lives. It's like a historical soap opera, full of determination, grief, danger, and disappearing dreams - and it's one you won't want to miss!

[Rochelle Waldman]

I honestly could not finish this book.

From the endless spelling and grammar mistakes, to the diluted plot with an abundance of unnecessary context - I honestly couldn’t take this book seriously.

I genuinely did value and appreciate the perspective it was written from. But I would have gained so much more from the storyline if it provided some more insight into Japanese and Hawaiian cultures. This book only skimmed over the cultural divides, making it seem like they didn’t matter at a time of war - which I’m sure is true from the authors perspective, but likely not other’s. This book would have significantly benefited from a deeper dive into those cultural challenges - providing a unique perspective on the war. Rather it felt like a retelling of every other war time story.

[Elaine Schroller]

Four fascinating characters, one terrific novel

Dee weaves together the lives of four WARDs in Honolulu: CJ, a journalist newly married to a Marine; Ruth, a Navy wife; Eve, a socialite; and Jane, a pilot grounded simply because she's a woman. All are harboring dreams, disappointments, and the desire to make a difference when their country was attacked.

CODE NAME RASCAL is a terrific WWII novel. Treat yourself and go read the book. Then treat your historical fiction loving friends.

[Beth Newell]

For some reason I love reading books set in World War 2"Code Name Racal" by Dorothea Buckingham was a great book that kept my interest. In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jane, Ruth CJ, and Eve becomes WARDs. They are tasked with tracking planes. While trying to do this important job they are dealing their personal lives. With the men that they love in danger.
This was such a great book and I really enjoyed it. Hope that I get to read more from this author.

[Carey Mundy]

I am a huge fan of WWII fiction and this story about a group of diverse women who come together after the Pearl Harbor attack intrigued me. These 4 women could not be more different, and yet they came together to form the first group of American radar staff, nicknamed the Rascals. Each is faced with challenge and opportunity in this realistic portrayal of the most of war.

[Sam]

Always super cool when I live where the book takes place! Also I met the author when I bought this book so that was awesome she was so sweet. I wish the book was longer I enjoyed each woman’s journey

[Claire Naden]

I love reading books where the time period is WWII. This book is one of the best I have read. The meticulous research stands above other books and it is obvious that the author went above and beyond to capture the theme of this story! She worked tirelessly on her research and it shows!

[Laurie]

A well-researched story of a woman's radar unit inn W.W.II. The main characters go through many crises as they go through their training on the island of Oahu.

[Lisa Marks]

Very interesting story about life in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor and in the aftermath.

[Maureen Griswold]

It's likely most people are unaware of the volunteer civilian unit, Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD), which worked with the military to provide air defense for Hawaii in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack. After directly experiencing the attack, four young women: a newspaper reporter, a pilot, a Navy commander's wife, and the socialite daughter of a wealthy newspaper owner, answer a higher calling to volunteer for WARD. After meeting strict requirements, they undergo arduous training and working conditions in a secretive, high-pressure, male-dominated atmosphere, making their dedication and contribution all the more striking. This novel reminded me of From Here To Eternity with its depiction of life in Honolulu just before the Pearl Harbor attack and the attack itself which is powerfully depicted. Each of the four women's stories poignantly brings this little-known part of WW2 history and the WARD unit to life. This is a worthwhile read to learn and appreciate the valuable work this select group of women did to support the U.S. war effort and eventual victory.