Overview

"The award-winning New York Times bestseller about the American women who secretly served as codebreakers during World War II--a ""prodigiously researched and engrossing"" (New York Times) book that ""shines a light on a hidden chapter of American history"" (Denver Post).Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history; now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, bestselling author Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment."

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9781478996552

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Reviews

Code Girls reveals a hidden army of female cryptographers, whose work played a crucial role in ending World War II. With clarity and insight, Mundy exposes the intertwined narratives of the women who broke codes and the burgeoning field of military intelligence in the 1940s. I cannot overstate the importance of this book; Mundy has rescued a piece of forgotten history, and given these American heroes the recognition they deserve. -- Nathalia Holt, author of Rise of the Rocket Girls Code Girls is a riveting account of the thousands of young coeds who flooded into Washington to help America win World War II. Liza Mundy has written a thrilling page-turner that illuminates the patriotism, rivalry, and sexism of the code-breakers' world. -- Lynn Povich, author of The Good Girls Revolt Superbly researched and stirringly written social history of a pivotal chapter in the struggle for women's rights, told through the powerful and poignant stories of the individuals involved. In exploring the vast, obscure, and makeshift offices of wartime Washington where these women performed seemingly impossible deeds, Mundy has discovered a birthplace of modern America. -- Glenn Frankel, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Code Girls is not just a great slice of history-one that would have been lost to us without Liza's storytelling and the work of some heroic archivists-but a story relevant to every discussion we have now about America's security agencies and how they came to be. I am delighted readers will finally know about these pioneering women and their incredible contributions to America. -- Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, New York Times bestselling author Code Girls is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary author. Liza Mundy's portraits of World War II codebreakers are so skillfully and vividly drawn that I felt as if I were right there with them-mastering ciphers, outwitting the Japanese army, sinking ships, breaking hearts, and even accidentally insulting Eleanor Roosevelt. I am an evangelist for this book: You must read it. -- Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author Mundy is a fine storyteller...A sleek, compelling narrative...The book is a winner. Her descriptions of codes and ciphers, how they worked and how they were broken, are remarkably clear and accessible. A well-researched, compellingly written, crucial addition to the literature of American involvement in World War II. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Indispensable and fascinating history. Highly recommended for all readers. -- Library Journal (starred review) Mundy unveils the untold story of a very important part of American History that otherwise would have been kept secret. -- Kansas City Star Fascinating...Addictively readable. -- Boston Globe Prodigiously researched and engrossing. -- New York Times Book Review Erin Bennett splendidly narrates this account...[and] sounds like a natural in all aspects of her narration. Her voice is pleasing to the ear, clear in pronunciation, and suitably expressive. She makes what is doubtless a well-scripted reading seem effortless and unrehearsed. -- AudioFile

Prodigiously researched and engrossing. -- New York Times Book Review Fascinating...Addictively readable. -- Boston Globe Indispensable and fascinating history. Highly recommended for all readers. -- Library Journal (starred review) Erin Bennett splendidly narrates this account...[and] sounds like a natural in all aspects of her narration. Her voice is pleasing to the ear, clear in pronunciation, and suitably expressive. She makes what is doubtless a well-scripted reading seem effortless and unrehearsed. -- AudioFile Mundy unveils the untold story of a very important part of American History that otherwise would have been kept secret. -- Kansas City Star Mundy is a fine storyteller...A sleek, compelling narrative...The book is a winner. Her descriptions of codes and ciphers, how they worked and how they were broken, are remarkably clear and accessible. A well-researched, compellingly written, crucial addition to the literature of American involvement in World War II. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Code Girls is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary author. Liza Mundy's portraits of World War II codebreakers are so skillfully and vividly drawn that I felt as if I were right there with them-mastering ciphers, outwitting the Japanese army, sinking ships, breaking hearts, and even accidentally insulting Eleanor Roosevelt. I am an evangelist for this book: You must read it. -- Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author Code Girls is not just a great slice of history-one that would have been lost to us without Liza's storytelling and the work of some heroic archivists-but a story relevant to every discussion we have now about America's security agencies and how they came to be. I am delighted readers will finally know about these pioneering women and their incredible contributions to America. -- Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, New York Times bestselling author Superbly researched and stirringly written social history of a pivotal chapter in the struggle for women's rights, told through the powerful and poignant stories of the individuals involved. In exploring the vast, obscure, and makeshift offices of wartime Washington where these women performed seemingly impossible deeds, Mundy has discovered a birthplace of modern America. -- Glenn Frankel, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Code Girls is a riveting account of the thousands of young coeds who flooded into Washington to help America win World War II. Liza Mundy has written a thrilling page-turner that illuminates the patriotism, rivalry, and sexism of the code-breakers' world. -- Lynn Povich, author of The Good Girls Revolt Code Girls reveals a hidden army of female cryptographers, whose work played a crucial role in ending World War II. With clarity and insight, Mundy exposes the intertwined narratives of the women who broke codes and the burgeoning field of military intelligence in the 1940s. I cannot overstate the importance of this book; Mundy has rescued a piece of forgotten history, and given these American heroes the recognition they deserve. -- Nathalia Holt, author of Rise of the Rocket Girls

Author Information

New York Times bestselling author Liza Mundy is a former reporter at the Washington Post and contributes to numerous publications including the Atlantic, TIME, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, Mother Jones, Spectator (UK), and the Guardian. She is a frequent commentator on countless prominent national television, radio, and online news outlets. Erin Bennett is an award-winning stage actress and Earphones Award-winning narrator. She trained at Boston University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

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