I was fascinated by this biography of a women code-breaker of whom I'd never heard, partly due to a lack of recognition of women in the cryptography field and partly because of documents kept secret by the government. Friedman's life feels like the stuff of fiction, and Greenfield makes details come to life while being very clear about what is known and what isn't. I loved how Friedman's husband supported her and acknowledged her gifts in code-breaking, even when the government and military didn't. To break up the narrative, Greenfield includes codes that readers can try out themselves, a fun touch in what is overall a serious title. Although written for teens, I highly recommend this for adults as well.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a PHENOMENAL non fiction read about Elizebeth and her code breaking skills. I devoured every word. The authors note said that this read like a novel but was all true was absolutely true. At a time when w.omwn were scarce in science fields, Elizebeth was a forrunner in cryptology and in championing rights for women. Well researched and written! A wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed!!!

A pioneer in the field of cryptography, Friedman and her husband developed scores of code-breaking techniques that saved thousands of lives from World War I to the 1960's. A fascinating and inspiring biography. Photographs and extensive back matter.

Book received for free through NetGalley

I’m not the targeted children or teen demographic of this book but I found it utterly fascinating. I had never heard of Elizebeth Smith Friedman and am so utterly happy I came across an accounting of her story. Whether you’re interested in history, heroines, the world wars, or cryptography this book will not disappoint.

Perfect for the kids or a block to start on before reading more. I especially love the in depth sources at the end in case I ever want to continue to read about her.

When hired by an eccentric millionaire to tease out secret messages in Shakespeare's plays, Elizebeth discovered a hidden talent for code breaking. During WWI and WWII, Elizebeth and her husband William both became the premier experts, and key players in the fields of cryptanalysis.

Although this book was well written and engaging, I felt like I had read this book, or a similar one before. Both Elizebeth and William's lives were utterly fascinating. It was intriguing to read about both their successes and failures. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

Elizebeth Smith Friedman overcame a LOT in her lifetime. She faced opposition to her education from her own father, opposition to women in the workplace, significant wage gaps, and people assuming she relied on her husband’s abilities to break codes. Yet it really seems like she stayed focused on her work and consistently put aside her feelings because she believed in the job she was doing.

I think my favorite story about her from the book is about one of the trials she testified in against someone accused of smuggling. The defense lawyers called her translation of the coded messages into question so relentlessly that she finally asked the judge if there was a blackboard she could use. There was, so she proceeded to use it to teach a lesson on code breaking right there in the courtroom. She was so obviously knowledgeable and communicated her methods so well that the prosecutors credited her with securing a conviction in the case.

Though the book is largely about her, there are several chapters devoted to her husband’s career and life. There’s a level at which that makes sense because sometimes his career intersected hers or created challenges for her personally or professionally. I just found it interesting that the book made the point of how she faced being overshadowed by men in her accomplishments often by men taking credit for her work or assuming her husband had done the work himself, and that then the book spent so much time talking about her husband.

On the whole, I feel like the book does a great job creating a full picture of Elizebeth Smith Friedman both in her career and personal life. I learned a lot about her life and about code breaking but also a bit about the way different government agencies operated between World War I and World War II.

I think readers looking for an in-depth biography about Friedman or interested in the history of code breaking will find this book really insightful and useful.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In this biography, Greenfield describes the rise of Elizebeth Smith Friedman to one of the top crytoanalysts in Washington at a time when women were not typically accepted or respected in the workforce.

Spanning two wars and featuring colorful characters from eccentric millionaires to rumrunning gangsters, this true story at times feels like fiction. Though marketed to teens, adults will enjoy this fascinating biography just as much as younger readers. Greenfield is honest about holes in the historical record but still manages to uncover enough information to piece together a cohesive picture of Friedman's secretive life and contribution to counterintelligence. Bits of code included in the text along with instructions for deciphering it add a beautiful interactive element to the book. I highly recommend this one to teens and adults alike!

I really appreciate the increasing visibility women are getting in the annals of history, and "The Woman All Spies Fear" is a fantastic addition to that. Movies such as "Hidden Figures" have really brought to life aspects of history warranting more attention, especially regarding women, and I do believe books like this will continue the trend.

The great thing about biographies written for younger audiences is that I find them less dense, more easily approachable, and still highly informative. This read proved all of that and more.

I was unfamiliar with Elizebeth Smith Friedman's name (let alone her story!) before picking this up, and am very glad I did!

One reference to "Christian mobs" felt out of place - I wish more context around this had been given. A lot has been done in the name of religion, and to inject this without more commentary rubbed me the wrong way.

That aside, an informative and insightful read.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Smith Friedman is a woman that everyone should hear about. Thank you Amy Butler Greenfield for telling her story. Elizabeth was one of the most important code breakers but being a woman, she was always in the shadows. Her story chronicles the development of her skills and impact on the outcome of both WWI and WWII. Thank you #NetGalley for this advanced copy.

THE WOMAN ALL SPIES FEAR: Code breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman

This excellent book by Amy Butler Greenfield was delivered to my Kindle free by Net Galley.

The true story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman was fascinating. She is an ordinary lady who found interest in breaking codes. She was living in a small farming community. Not much was known about Elizebeth's earlier years.

She came to code breaking through her love for Shakespeare when she was hired by a millionaire to prove Shakespeare's plays had secret messages in them. Within a year she had learned so much about code breaking she was a star in the making. She played a major role in code breaking in WWI and WWII as well as Coast Guard's war against smugglers.

Elizebeth and her husband were an excellent team and were the top code breakers in the US and she did it all in a time when women were not really welcomed in the workforce.

I would found the book intriguing and written in a manner that made it easy to read. I would highly recommend it to anyone. History is fascinating and much is to be learned thru this outstanding book.

She was an exceptional woman both in character and commitment to her husband and the United States of America.

#Net Galley #Goodreads #The Woman All Spies Fear

The Woman All Spies Fear is an excellent tribute to a woman whose story was nearly lost to time. Elizebeth Friedman was a codebreaker whose work was instrumental to major intelligence achievements in World War II and prohibition, and she fought against the sentiments of the time to make sure her voice was heard, sometimes as the only woman in the room. This biography is clearly incredibly well-researched, and is careful to stick to the facts. Greenfield's writing reads like a story, and you can feel yourself become immersed in the tale of this marvelous woman and her marvelous life. I highly recommend this book for nonfiction readers!

The Woman All Spies Fear by Amy Butler Greenfield is a well-researched, entertaining, and well-written biography of Elizebeth Smith Friedman.. Ms. Friedman was a code breaker or cryptologist in a world dominated by men. Her career and lifelong romance and marriage began when she took a job with a millionaire who enjoyed dabbling in science. There, she met her future husband, also a world-renowned code breaker and a man whose love and respect supported her efforts in a male-dominated world. The couple worked in the dangerous world of international spies and hardened criminals and the mob. Their work took them all over this country and abroad while breaking codes of everything from rum runners to Natzi spies. They worked for both the military and civilian organizations while raising a family in the political world of Washington D. C. This is a story for all who enjoy reading the successes of intelligent and talented women. It is a story of triumph, love, hard work, patriotism, and family. Elizebeth Friedman was a groundbreaking woman not only in her field but in a world that had little respect for the talents and abilities of its women. Thanks to #TheWomanAllSpiesFear#NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Woman All Spies Fear is a fast-paced, lively book that should be included in any middle school classroom collection. The narrative follows the life of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a pioneer in the world of code breaking whose career spanned the decades from World War 1 to the Cold War. In language that does not patronize her readers, Butler Green looks unflinchingly at the struggles experienced by Smith Friedman as she tries to find her calling in life, juggles family life with top-secret government work, is frequently undermined by those same government agencies, and deals with her husband's mental illness. Although adult readers might find some of the foreshadowing heavy-handed, teen readers will probably only see these as cliff-hangers that propel them to read on. The book is richly illustrated with photos, family anecdotes, and ephemera, including examples of codes used over history. It would especially appeal to bright readers who will surely appreciate the interactive code-breaking activities and other challenges.

The Woman All Spies Fear is an engaging and inspiring non-fiction account of Elizebeth Smith Friedman who was a code breaker throughout WWI and WWII. Along the same vein as Hidden Figures, Elizebeth pioneered code-breaking and played crucial roles in decoding enemy messages during wars, but her contributions were only recently recognized.

Exceedingly talented in recognizing patterns, Elizebeth excelled as a code breaker during a time when women were not welcome in the workforce much less in the military. Elizebeth was key in stopping smuggling rings and decoding messaged through both World Wars. It was truly incredible reading about her pioneering experiences as a cryptanalyst and how she persevered through professional and personal roadblocks.

The reader is taken through Elizebeth's childhood through her early professional career with an eccentric millionaire. It was during this period of her career that she met and ultimately married her husband, William Friedman. It was clear that Elizebeth would not have been able to grow and be as successful as she was without the support and open mind of her husband. This account also touches upon antisemitism and mental health.

I look forward to adding this to my school, and personal, collection.

I was lucky enough to see a movie about Elizebeth Smith Friedman shortly before I read this book. They are somewhat similar but the author of the book had greater access to military files that are no longer "secret" so I learned many details that weren't available when the movie was made.
Elizebeth was a fascinating woman and her perseverance through rampant sexual discrimination is someone to be admired. I have to admit, I couldn't understand the basic ciphers so I was a bit lost when it was explained but that doesn't detract from the book at all.
Looking at the process of keeping secrets and breaking codes was very interesting. This was a great read.

Elizebeth Smith Friedman – the premier female codebreaker of the first half of the twentieth century – has received a great deal of attention in recent years. Several biographies and a PBS special recount Friedman’s life and work. Why, you ask, should you read another book about this relatively obscure woman? You must because Amy Butler Greenfield’s The Women All Spies Fear is a delightful, sparkling, and approachable telling of Elizebeth’s story. It captures the spirit of an extraordinary woman and leaves readers with a better understanding of the person behind the legend.

Friedman faced challenges familiar to young people today. Her desire for higher education was made difficult by her family’s expectations and financial circumstances, and she longed to find fulfilling work and a loving partner. Elizebeth succeeded in all spheres, fighting societal norms and workplace discrimination, and found her place in the top rank of American cryptologists. Friedman’s ability to do important work critical to the nation’s security while raising a family is inspirational for those seeking to do the same.

Though written for the Young Adult market the book has appeal for readers of all ages. It is a well-documented historical work that reads with the ease of a good novel. Greenfield explains the esoteric and technical jargon of codes and ciphers and places Elizebeth Friedman’s life within the context of her times, all while revealing the essence of Elizebeth’s personality. The Women All Spies Fear is a worthy addition to the expanding biographical literature of American cryptologic heroes.

I didn’t know much about Elizebeth before reading this. Honestly, I didn’t know anything, but I’m so glad I do now! I’m definitely buying this as an interesting biography, anyone looking to read about impressive women, those interested in cryptology, and those interested in war heroes. Everyone needs to know her story.