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If Fish Had a Wishbone
The Pacific, 1942. Japanese forces are attacking Singapore.
After months of chaos, Australian Army nurse Lieutenant Vivian Bullwinkel and sixty-four colleagues find themselves ordered to abandon their hospitals and the wounded men in them. Singapore is lost, and their only hope of escape is aboard the SS Vyner Brooke and through the infamous strait known as Bomb Alley.
The ship lasts for two days before it is sunk by Japanese bombers.
Vivian and her best friend, Nancy Harris, are amongst the survivors who wash up on Radji Beach. There’s no food and precious little medical supplies, and they soon find they have little choice but to surrender themselves to the Japanese – whose soldiers are not known for their mercy.
Based on the true story of the nurses of the Vyner Brooke, If Fish Had a Wishbone is a gripping and powerful novel of friendship, courage and fortitude in the face of unimaginable terror. For readers of When We Had Wings and Angels of the Pacific.
After months of chaos, Australian Army nurse Lieutenant Vivian Bullwinkel and sixty-four colleagues find themselves ordered to abandon their hospitals and the wounded men in them. Singapore is lost, and their only hope of escape is aboard the SS Vyner Brooke and through the infamous strait known as Bomb Alley.
The ship lasts for two days before it is sunk by Japanese bombers.
Vivian and her best friend, Nancy Harris, are amongst the survivors who wash up on Radji Beach. There’s no food and precious little medical supplies, and they soon find they have little choice but to surrender themselves to the Japanese – whose soldiers are not known for their mercy.
Based on the true story of the nurses of the Vyner Brooke, If Fish Had a Wishbone is a gripping and powerful novel of friendship, courage and fortitude in the face of unimaginable terror. For readers of When We Had Wings and Angels of the Pacific.
324 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 14, 2026
excited reading
Couldn't put it down once started to read it and felt for all the people and it's sad to know that it's based on a truth
Couldn't put it down once started to read it and felt for all the people and it's sad to know that it's based on a truth
February 22, 2026
A profoundly moving and necessary book
Parts of this book are not easy to read — nor should they be. In a clear and well written account, the author brings to life the harrowing true story of Australian nurses fleeing the fall of Singapore, only to face capture and execution at the hands of Japanese forces. The account is brutal in its honesty, yet profoundly humane in its portrayal of courage under unimaginable terror.
What makes this work exceptional is its restraint. The tragedy is never sensationalized; instead, it is rendered with meticulous research, emotional intelligence, and deep respect for the women at its heart. We come to know them not as distant historical figures, but as vibrant individuals — dedicated professionals, loyal friends, daughters far from home — whose bravery endures long after the final page.
The writing is both lyrical and precise, balancing the sweep of wartime catastrophe with intimate human detail. The result is a narrative that devastates and uplifts in equal measure. It is a powerful act of remembrance, ensuring that these nurses are not reduced to a footnote of history but honoured for their sacrifice.
A profoundly moving and necessary book — tragic, yes, but also radiant with courage and dignity. As painful as this book is to read, please do so.
Parts of this book are not easy to read — nor should they be. In a clear and well written account, the author brings to life the harrowing true story of Australian nurses fleeing the fall of Singapore, only to face capture and execution at the hands of Japanese forces. The account is brutal in its honesty, yet profoundly humane in its portrayal of courage under unimaginable terror.
What makes this work exceptional is its restraint. The tragedy is never sensationalized; instead, it is rendered with meticulous research, emotional intelligence, and deep respect for the women at its heart. We come to know them not as distant historical figures, but as vibrant individuals — dedicated professionals, loyal friends, daughters far from home — whose bravery endures long after the final page.
The writing is both lyrical and precise, balancing the sweep of wartime catastrophe with intimate human detail. The result is a narrative that devastates and uplifts in equal measure. It is a powerful act of remembrance, ensuring that these nurses are not reduced to a footnote of history but honoured for their sacrifice.
A profoundly moving and necessary book — tragic, yes, but also radiant with courage and dignity. As painful as this book is to read, please do so.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews