Code Girls, Liza Mundy
Code Girls, Liza Mundy
21 Rating(s)
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Code Girls
The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II

Author: Liza Mundy

Narrator: Erin Bennett

Unabridged: 14 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Legacy Lit

Published: 10/10/2017

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

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.

About Liza Mundy

Liza Mundy is a staff writer at The Washington Post and the bestselling author of Michelle: A Biography and Everything Conceivable, among other works. She received her AB degree from Princeton University, and earned an MA in English literature at the University of Virginia, where she also taught writing. She has won awards for essays, profiles, and science writing from the Sunday Magazine Editors Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association, the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, The Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Awards, and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. She was a 2003 Kaiser Foundation Media Fellow, and a 2005 Media Fellow at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Liza lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Julie on December 29, 2017

My mother was in the Navy during World War II doing code breaking; she was at Terminal Island near Long Beach in Southern California. She had been a classics major in college, studying Latin and Greek. The book was fascinating and made me wish that I could talk to her and ask the dozens of questions......more

Goodreads review by Kaitlyn on October 26, 2017

I was provided with a free copy of this book by NetGalley and Little, Brown in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I'm always game for a book centered around World War II. Add women and their major role and you've got me hooked. Code Girls is like taking a walk through history. A......more

Goodreads review by Katie on February 22, 2019

4.5 stars So glad I finally got around to reading this one as it was everything I hoped it would be. I love reading books that showcase remarkable women doing extraordinary things. Highly recommend if you enjoy non-fiction, history about World War 2, and/or books that celebrate the achievements of wo......more

Goodreads review by Suzanne on June 06, 2019

Beginning in 1941 secret letters were sent across the country to women attending college requesting their service for the war effort. Tens of thousands of women from prestigious northeastern colleges, southern teaching schools, and many other walks of life answered the calls of the U.S Navy and Army......more

Goodreads review by Katie on November 02, 2017

A really hard to follow but ultimately rewarding book. Liza Mundy (mostly) describes the experiences of two code breakers: Dot and Ruth. Through their eyes, we are able to see the inner workings of what was one of the most secretive US operations during WWII. This book is a treasure trove of informa......more

Quotes

"Irresistible.... We owe Mundy gratitude for rescuing these hidden figures from obscurity. Even more valuable is her challenge to the myth of the eccentric, inspired, solitary male genius, like Alan Turing."—Elaine Showalter, Washington Post

"Code Girls...finally gives due to the courageous women who worked in the wartime intelligence community."—Smithsonian.com

"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, authorof The Good Girls Revolt

"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, NewYork Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City and Liar,Temptress, Solider, Spy

"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, NewYork Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls

"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 (starred review)

"Similar to Nathalia Holt's The Rise of the Rocket Girls and Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures, this is indispensable and fascinating history. Highly recommended for all readers."—LibraryJournal (starred review)

"Mundy's fascinating book suggests that [the Code Girls'] influence did play a role in defining modern Washington and challenging gender roles--changes that still matter 75 years later."—Washingtonian

"Fascinating.... Addictively readable.... [Mundy] displays a gift for creating both human portraits and intensely satisfying scenes."—Boston Globe

"Like Hidden Figures, this well-crafted book reveals a remarkable slice of unacknowledged U.S. history.... Captivating."—The Christian Science Monitor

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