Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II tells how over ten thousand American women moved to Washington to help decode enemy messages. Their work helped to change the outcome of the war.

Although I found this difficult to read as it was somewhat disjointed in places, it certainly was fascinating to learn about the lives of several of these regular everyday women.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a digital review copy.

Review published on NightsAndWeekends.com (http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/17/NW1700136.php) and also aired on Shelf Discovery (ShelfDiscovery.org).

Like the Navajo Code Talkers, the women in this book had a top secret job that they could not talk about even after the war. The result was that their contribution to the war effort was unrecognized for many years. This book joins a growing list of nonfiction stories shedding light to the hidden figures who have changed the course of history.

Code Girls: The Untold Story of American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy

Code Girls is an easy book to enjoy. It’s the untold story of the many women serving in the Army, Navy and as civilians working to crack some of the most important transmissions sent from the Axis powers during World War II. It takes a look at the beginning of cryptanalyst and the women who were pioneering even at its beginning. It continues with the recruitment process during World War II and how the field continued to grow. Some of the women introduced throughout the pages made discoveries that changed the momentum of the war, saving countless lives of Allied troops while resulting in the death of many of the Axis powers. All in the name of winning the war.

I found this entire history extremely fascinating. Mundy did an amazing job at explaining a vast majority of the procedures and techniques while still keeping the book personable and relatable. Some of these women are still alive today and their personal stories regarding living in Washington DC, serving their country, while dating and corresponding with men overseas was entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the techniques and discoveries as much as I did the social lives of the women. I found the discussions about the rivalry between Army and Navy, as well as the amount of secrecy necessary for success, to be very fascinating.

What this book does very well is shine a light on a buried piece of history. Mundy produced a well-researched, well-written book that really captures the lives of these women. I could never understand the amount of pressure they were under during the war but I appreciate their sacrifice and their answering the call to duty. Code Girls is a great source for anyone looking to learn more about cryptanalysis during World War II and looking to learn more about the force of women behind solving some of the most challenging codes during the war.

Title: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II
Author: Liza Mundy
Source: from publisher for review
Links: Indiebound |Goodreads
Rating: five-stars
Summary: A perfect narrative nonfiction blend of personal stories, global events, and a history of code breaking.

“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” (source) but here the author is able to share their story based on interviews and recently declassified documents.

This book was everything I hoped it would be. The personal stories, told with the help of letters and interviews, really brought the women to life. An author couldn’t have made up more engaging stories. Although the author does include the women’s personal lives and their romances, this helped present them as well rounded people without taking over the story. Marriages were presented as part of their stories, but not as the culmination or ending.

The bigger picture story was presented well too. The female code-breakers during WWII influenced global events throughout the war and, of course, their lives were influenced by the course of the war, so this made for a more intimate perspective on the course of the war. The history of code breaking, particularly the constant participating of women, was also explored. I loved learning about some principles of code-breaking as well. The author did an incredible job integrating all of these aspects as well – personal stories, global events, and code-breaking history all came together in a wonderful, engaging way.

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 information. These women were responsible for saving thousands of lives--and on the other hand, they bore the weight of destroying thousands of others; most notably they broke the code that allowed the US to intercept and take down Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Their work was both difficult and stressful. They were not allowed to tell anyone (including friends or family) what they were doing. Sometimes they broke codes that made them realize their brothers, husbands, or friends would die and that they were powerless to save them.

It's hard to imagine working under pressure of this magnitude, and Mundy does a wonderful job of relaying how the women were able to normalize their lives, often turning to each other for a sense of community. My biggest complaint is that the narrative jumps around a lot. There are so many women, from so many places, each with their own set of circumstances, families, and job specialties. I found it really hard to keep track of all of them. Add to that the fact Mundy tries to break down how they went about their code breaking using additives and patterns...I was SO LOST!

That being said, I learned a lot from this book and am glad I stuck with it. I honestly don't know what the world would be like today without the contributions of these incredible women.

both my wife and myself loved this book! learning so much about this forgotten corner of history and bringing the stories of these women to life was exciting to read. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

Code Girls was an informative read that displayed a major, yet long-hidden role of women in World War II (mainly due it the work being classified until long after the war ended). Mundy did a wonderful job showing both the roles of these women in regards to the war effort while also being able to show them as distinct individuals. The latter helped to drive the story home as relatable women help to give the narrative a personal touch. It amazed me that the scope of the code breaking efforts in America were so vast as I had previously only ready about the British and Bletchley Park. I also found the dichotomy between the Navy and Army codebreakers to be an odd one since the Army was much more lax about its women personal lives than the Navy was. Overall, this book did not skimp on information and readers will gain an understanding of the American codebreaking operations that are often only hinted at in other books or that only highlight the efforts of men (such as Commander Joseph Rochefort and the codebreaking that helped win the Battle of Midway). Like with Shetterly’s Hidden Figures, Code Girls did an amazing job of highlighting both the roles women played in a national endeavor and in STEM fields that were previously overlooked.

This review is based on a digital advanced readers copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

During WWII, over ten thousand women were recruited by the Army and Navy to serve as code breakers. These women were sworn to secrecy and placed in unique and important positions. Through their efforts, codes were broken, intelligence was uncovered and the war was shortened.

Although I found the women's stories interesting, I thought this book could have used some careful editing. It was extremely repetitive. It felt as if each chapter reiterated the same information, causing the book to seem slow and tedious. I liked how the author followed certain girls, and came back to their stories. Overall, not a bad book, but not something I would re-read.

Good, but not without flaws. I liked learning about these forgotten women of history and the vital role that they played during World War II; in that respect, the book reminded me of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. I would have preferred for Mundy to have focused on a handful of women from the group to highlight; as presented, there is an overwhelming amount of ladies to keep straight along with lots of general information relayed about the war. I also feel that cryptanalysis, which is given a basic overview, could have been explored in further detail. Although it could have been stronger overall, I'm glad that I read this.

A good book in the same vein as Hidden Figures and The Radium Girls

I enjoyed this book. Liza Mundy tells a good story about the women who broke enemy codes during World War II. So far I have read two other books about the unknown roles of women in science (Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly) or industry (The Radium Girls by Kate Moore) and The Code Girls is almost as good as the former and as good as the latter. My only quibble with The Code Girls is that there was too much detail about some of the letters that went back and forth between some of the personalities of the book, which was not essential to the story and were an unwelcome, but short, detour. All three books, however, are must-reads for anyone interested in science or history of science. I am also sure that these books will appeal to a much broader audience as well.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes via Netgalley.

Code Girls is the story of the unsung and unknown heroes of World War II - the intelligent women who broke the German and Japanese codes that led to the win for the Allies. It was very interesting to read about the times they lived in, the conditions, the struggle and the triumphs.

The book was a little disjointed but it all came together well.

It is an important read and it is a shame that women were just expected to go back home after it was all over.

Yep, I know I've been fascinating with a lot of WWII nonfiction--and most of it has been as fascinating as fiction. Most of it, however, has been specific to England, Bletchley Park, the SOE, Turing, the Blitz, and MI5 or MI6.

Code Girls differs because it addresses the American code breakers, and most particularly the women who were recruited initially from elite women's colleges and then from teachers' colleges. It covers the way the Navy and the Army recruited these women, continuing to broaden their nets to enlist more and more to decipher, decode, and translate German and Japanese messages.

Code Girls provides impeccable research into previously classified materials about the women cryptographers whose crucial efforts saved thousands of lives and were mostly unacknowledged.

The first of the book was absolutely fascinating, but there are portions that become a bit repetitive. These women contributed greatly to the success of the war, and I love that Liza Mundy has provided recognition of their important efforts.

Read in July/August.

NetGalley/Hatchette Books

History/Nonfiction. Oct. 10, 2017. Print length: 500 pages.

If you enjoyed Hidden Figures or The Boys On The Boat, you are definitely going to want to pick up a copy of Code Girls.

While I was loosely familiar with Bletchley Park codebreakers in England, I didn't know anything about the US efforts, much less the important role women played. Due to the level of secrecy their job required, many people haven't heard of these amazing cryptanalysts and what they did to help end the second World War. Many of the women maintained confidentiality for decades after the war, even after the ban on talking was lifted, to the extent they were doubtful about whether they should talk to the author. I'm so grateful they did decide to share their stories, however. Mundy gives us a fascinating and valuable history with this work.

The effort to recruit women to serve as codebreakers began shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Women also helped with cryptanalysis during the first World War and the chapter that centers on that period of time was mind-blowing, particularly how the women were basically dropped once the war ended.) The Navy targeted women's colleges of the Northeastern Seaboard, while the Army sent recruiters to teaching colleges throughout the South and Midwest.

Mundy gives her readers a good understanding of what cryptanalysis is, as well as what it takes to be a good code breaker. This understanding made me even more in awe of what these women accomplished, especially given how much sexism and misogyny they experienced.

Women were not welcomed with open arms when it came to the war effort, even though hundreds of thousands ultimately served. While the war was largely viewed as men's domain, women were given positions deemed less interesting, like code breaking. Mundy does not shy away from showing how prevailing sexist attitudes negatively affected the women's careers, especially post-war.

Racism was also a factor. Although Eleanor Roosevelt wanted a certain percentage of the Arlington Hall workforce should be black, segregation and Jim Crow were at work. Black workers were given primarily menial jobs but the Army did have an African American code-breaking unit whose existence was so secretive, most white workers didn't know anything about it. Racism also affected Asian Americans who served as translators and in other capacities and who were largely distrusted due to the campaigns against the Japanese.

Mundy showcases stories from both the WAVES at the Navy and the Arlington Hall workers at the Army. At times, I became confused about who was who and whether we were talking about the Army or the Navy. Picking a few women to focus on and letting their stories play out throughout the war years would have made for a stronger narrative. However, I learned a lot and I can't imagine how hard it would be to leave certain women's stories out so I can appreciate the choices Mundy made.

I was caught up in the code breaker's successes and frustrations and by the time Germany and then Japan surrendered, I wanted to shout their names from the rooftops. These women sacrificed so much for their country and received little recognition in return. Mundy has changed that by shining a light on their contributions and we are better for it.

Oh, and the last paragraph of this book? Perfection.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. It is an insight into women who where code breakers in WWII. These women are the unsung heroes, who are just now getting the credit they greatly deserve. They did so much for the women's movement and showing men we can do a just as good, if not better than them. It is full of technical jargon and mind blowing assumptions that were the norm regarding women in all facets during this time period. The story flips between several featured women during WWII era makes you feel right there with them while its happening. It was very hard to put down. I look forward to this book being reviewed for cousin's book club!

A wonderful, insightful, well researched look at the women that helped crack the codes that led to Allied victory and American safety. Too often the impact women have on history is overlooked, brushed aside, or hidden from the masses. I am so glad these women are having their stories told. I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette publishing for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review. great history

During WWII, while the men were off in battle, young women were aiding the war at home in secret. Recruited by the Army and Navy, these former school teachers and college sorority girls were trained to break codes. Many went farther than even expected by their military bosses and led the way with stunning insight into the confusing and convoluted world of ciphers and codes. In Code Girls, Ms. Mundy gives an intimate look at their lives before, during, and after the war. She illustrates how the war brought about a sense of independence in young women that survived long after the end. Bouncing back and forth between the women working for the Army and those working for the Navy, Ms. Mundy gave a well described look at how women were a major contributor to the Allies victory.

With whiffs of Hidden Figures, author Liz Mundy brings us another true story of women mathematicians and teachers who changed the tide of war to victory, but were unknown heroes for decades. Told in a narrative voice, Mundy reveals the very beginning of the use of women code breakers by both the navy and army. As men were needed at the front, searches began first in the Seven Sisters college system, then through the Ivy Leagues and teachers schools, and by later war years, a warm body with a penchant for puzzles was good enough. Literally thousands of women went out to work decoding, encoding, and even building code breaking machines. Women became respected and revered members of the crypto analysis units, irreplaceable to the war efforts and truly essential to the Allied victories. At times, the writing gets bogged down in minutia, but it always picks back up and returns to fascinating stories of the real women and battles they influenced. (Fun fact: Bill Nye the Science Guy - his mom was a code breaker!) If you like history, love historical trivia and war stories, and enjoy learning about badass women, this book is for you:) I know my WWII veteran and engineer father of mind would have loved this book!

If you have ever thought numbers were boring and pointless, read “Code Girls” by Liza Mundy and take another look.
"Code Girls” details the lives, personal and professional, of the women who came from all over the country to Washington during World War II to work for the US Army and Navy breaking the Axis military codes. The lives of these brilliant, hard-working women are an inspiration.

Its hard to read this story in the context of its historical period, and not compare it to the treatment of women in technical fields today. Remarkably, the Code Girls didn’t expect to be treated as equals with the men alongside whom they worked. Today’s “girls" are surprised by this kind of treatment, even though it is still all too familiar. I imagine the Code Girls looking at us with some surprise, and telling us to get on with the job.

I take my hat off to Liza Mundy and all the historians who are bringing this remarkable group of women to our attention.

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 first discovered my interest in studying World War II in college as a result of an energetic college professor. My interest grew with each and every historical novel I read that was set during that time period...and every Google search that led me down a rabbit hole of information as a result of each of those books. However, Code Girls is my first work of nonfiction that I have explored about the subject of WWII.

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win WWII is a thorough history of the United States military's recruitment of intelligent young women to break enemy codes during World War II. While many of the country's men were fighting overseas, over ten thousand women at home were working long hours in secrecy to determine the content of enemy messages, despite the fact that they received essentially zero credit for their efforts.

Liza Mundy tells the stories of those women. Code Girls is the result of incredibly extensive research, and Mundy weaves together the stories of the efforts the women made and the technological advancements that occurred as a result with vignettes of their personal lives that help readers understand the humanity and diversity of the women involved. At the same time, Mundy also demonstrates that the culture of the United States at the time was one that expected very little of its women beyond marriage and motherhood, and the work the code breakers did also helped the women win more respect and independence than they had ever experienced before.

Mundy's book is broken into sections, each one focusing on a different aspect of code breaking. For example, one section goes into detail about the secret letters that the military sent out to the first women it recruited received, another focuses on the U.S. Army's code breaking efforts, another details the U.S. Navy's work with code breaking, and another describes the work the code breakers did at the end of the war. Throughout the different sections of the book, readers learn a great deal about the housing options the code girls had, their extracurricular activities, and the different breaks they made along the way.

Code Girls is not necessarily a book that a reader will want to devour in one sitting. This is an incredibly interesting book that contains a wealth of information, but it's best read in sections, because it is also a fairly lengthy book that covers a LOT of territory. In fact, I read this book one chapter at a time over the course of several weeks, but I know that I will enjoy coming back to revisit some of those chapters in the future. At times, all the different names can tend to get jumbled together, but not in a way that makes the book confusing at all. Instead, Code Girls is an excellent historical resource, and I learned more about women in WWII AND the details of WWII itself from this book than I think I ever did from a history course.

I particularly enjoyed the story of Dot Braden Bruce, and Mundy includes details of her work and personal life from the beginning of the book to the end, helping tie the entire history together. By sharing details of the women's lives and then including information about what each of them did after the war, Mundy helps turn this nonfiction history book into a series of stories about real women who made a real difference in the war but were never really acknowledged, until now.

The impact these women had on the outcome of WWII is undeniable. As Mundy says, "During the most violent global conflict that humanity has ever known--a war that cost more money, damaged more property, and took more lives than any war before or since--these women formed the backbone of one of the most successful intelligence efforts in history, an effort that began before the Pearl Harbor attack and lasted until the Second World War's very end." Unfortunately, the secrecy of their work and the prevailing attitude that women weren't as capable as men at the time kept their value from being known.

Thankfully, Code Girls is here to remind us that American women have been much more powerful than history has led us to believe.