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Code Girls
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II | Liza Mundy
127 posts | 85 read | 4 reading | 168 to read
In the tradition of Hidden Figures and The Girls of Atomic City, Code Girls is the astonishing, untold story of the young American women who cracked key Axis codes, helping to secure Allied victory and revolutionizing the field of cryptanalysis. 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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Sharpeipup
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BennettBookworm This picture/ story is so inspirational! 8mo
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Bethanyroe
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Pickpick

I am so thankful we are getting more and more detailed stories of the supporting actors from past historical events. As a child, we only have time to learn the bare basics, but digging into books like this further reinforces the knowledge that it truly takes an army to accomplish something huge, an army of all shapes and sizes, genders, talents, etc. Loved this book!!!!

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DcSunshine
Pickpick

I wish there was a higher rating. This books sticks to me, I think of these women often. Not only is the history fascinating, but such a well-written book.

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Coachstacee
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Pickpick

It was a little slow for me during the first 1/3rd of the book. Once it got going, it was hard to put it down. I learned so much about the war that is so interesting!

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MelKelsey
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Pickpick

I read Code Girls by Liza Mundy for a book club. Mundy bites off a lot to write the history of the women (ahem, mostly the white women) code breakers during WWII. Considering the massiveness of the project, it's well-done and has some characters that the reader comes to care about. Nonfiction really isn't my jam, but I recommend it for those who like the genre. ⭐⭐⭐.5

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DebinHawaii
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#ConflictedWorlds

I read a lot of #war books, fiction & nonfiction, especially about WWII. I especially like books about women in the war like code breakers, agents, spies & the resistance. Here are a dozen books from either my “read” or more likely my #TBR stacks because there are a LOT of these books out there & I have to space them out as reading them all at once can be depressing-they rarely end well.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

DebinHawaii @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It‘s one of my favorites too! 🤗 3y
Eggs I‘ve actually read 5 of these! They all look good 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
TNbookworm If you have read Code Name Verity you should read Rose Under Fire and The Enigma Game. They are all interconnected. I loved A Woman of No Importance, it was excellent! 3y
59 likes4 comments
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Johanna414
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Pickpick

I think this is one that everyone with an interest in WWII history should read - I had no idea about the thousands of women who worked as code breakers during the war! Well researched, captivating story

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Johanna414
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This book is fascinating so far - but also infuriating!

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Light_of_Aether
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Pickpick

I read the audiobook version of this book. It was really interesting learning about the women who broke the German and Japanese cryptographic codes.

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WorldsOkayestStepMom
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Pickpick

I loved this book! It was highly researched and well written. I both cried and laughed during the epilogue. These are fascinating, intelligent women that I had no idea about.

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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

Some #audiopuzzling while I finished up Code Girls, an intriguing look at how USwomen broke the Japanese and German coded messages that helped turn the tide for the Allies and win WWII. I‘m not one for war books, it‘s just not my jam. But twist those stories on their heads to teach me about women using their brains? Count me in.

Book 10 for #15books15weeks

Cinfhen Great photo 4y
Leftcoastzen Love the puzzle trays 4y
VeganCleopatra Do you find the puzzle trays helpful? 4y
janeycanuck @VeganCleopatra Yeah, I quite like them. I have two sets, one wasn‘t enough. I like them for sorting by colour and then I can just move the trays around instead of leaning over the table, saving my back. 4y
VeganCleopatra Thanks! Dealing with all the pieces everywhere and being able to put them away is one of my biggest complaints. 4y
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danibel
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Currently reading

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royallyregan93
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Pickpick

This was such a wonderfully fascinating read. I loved it!!

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This was educational, interesting, funny and occasionally heartbreaking. I had no idea women worked as code breakers during WWII. The complexity of the work was described in a way that even I could understand (mostly. I definitely would not have been able to do what they did! 😂) I loved the personal stories of the women mixed in.

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AmyK1
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I just started Code Girls and my girl‘s school is mentioned. It‘s now Winthrop University but still pretty cool. Go Eagles! 🦅

wideeyedreader GO EAGLES 🦅 4y
28 likes1 comment
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nelehelen
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Thank you @catebutler for my awesome #LitsyLove #WinterExchange package!! These two books have been on my TBR forever and I‘m SO psyched I finally get to read them. I can‘t wait to wear the Christmas socks while drinking the sugar cookie tea in my new mug and eating all the chocolates. I‘m already burning the candle! 😆 I just love each and every single thing!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH my dear #LitsyLove friend. 😘😘😘

nelehelen @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheBookHippie thank you guys for organizing this exchange and managing this amazing #LitsyLove group!! ♥️♥️♥️ 4y
catebutler I‘m so glad it arrived and hope you enjoy each of the items. And thank you for being so kind and patient about the postal mixup! 💓 4y
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Merethebookgal
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Pickpick

So, so good! Compelling, educational, personal. I loved learning about these amazing women, their lives, and their important roles during WWII. I actually started googling some of their names because I wanted to put faces with names. I must admit, I couldn‘t always keep track of everyone with how the narrative skipped around, but it didn‘t take away from my enjoyment. And the audiobook narrator was great! Definitely would recommend!

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wanderinglynn
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#ThoughtfulThursday
Thank you @Eggs for the thoughtful tag 😘
1. Pumpkin pie
2. Code Girls
3. I am blessed with fantastic friends, a loving mom, and an awesome dog & cat.

Crazeedi ❤❤❤ 4y
MoonWitch94 Wonderful! ♥️😊 4y
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wanderinglynn
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Pickpick

Did this puzzle to go with my current audiobook, Code Girls by Liza Mundy for #nfNov.

#TIL women were hired do to code breaking during WWII, first as civilians and then being allowed to join the Navy (WAVES) & Army (WACS). Approx. 100,000 women joined the services during WWII, although only nurses were allowed to deploy overseas.

starlight97 Sounds interesting! I'm currently reading a book about the Army Nurse Corps in WW2 and it's fascinating 🤩💉 4y
lilistar This puzzle is amazing 4y
Bookwormjillk I liked that book. Great puzzle! 4y
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wanderinglynn @starlight97 That does sound interesting. I‘ll have to check it out. 👍🏻 4y
wanderinglynn Thanks @lilistar & I recommend Code Girls. I learned a lot listening to it. 4y
rsteve388 9 pts 4y
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wanderinglynn
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#friYAYintro
1. I haven‘t played any in a while but I love Cards Against Humanity.
2. 🇦🇺 & 🇳🇿
3. A bit behind. But I increased my goal 2x already, so I‘m not worried.
4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
5. Y‘all have asked such great questions. I‘ve been having fun answering them. So let‘s see. . . What is the air speed velocity. . . wait, I feel like that‘s been done already. Um, how much wood can. . . no, no, that‘s no good either. 👇🏻

wanderinglynn 5. What is your favorite word or the weirdest word you know? 4y
AmandaEve I love the word bamboozled 🙃 4y
vivastory I love the words brouhaha, & baclava. I think catawampus might be the strangest word 4y
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ljuliel This is a tough one. The only one I can think of at the moment is Flabbergasted. (edited) 4y
BookNAround I love the word gloaming for its soft sounds. For entertainment value, I like spelunking. 4y
Mandoul Good question...I always liked the word procrastinate, despite its negative connotations! 4y
ljuliel Or I just thought of one Sarah Vowell used in one of her books. Looky Lou (edited) 4y
Jerdencon I like wackadoodle! 4y
wanderinglynn @AmandaEve Great word! 👍🏻 4y
wanderinglynn @vivastory Catawampus is on of my faves! 👍🏻 4y
wanderinglynn @ljuliel I often use that word. 😂 4y
wanderinglynn @BookNAround gloaming is an excellent word! 👍🏻 4y
wanderinglynn @Mandoul And something I do a lot, especially when it comes to my writing! 🤫 4y
wanderinglynn @Jerdencon excellent word! 👍🏻 4y
DaveGreen7777 5. I don‘t know why, but I‘ve always loved the word “skulduggery”! 4y
hes7 CardsAgainst Humanity! 😂 Always good for a laugh. 4y
wanderinglynn @DaveGreen7777 such a fun word. 4y
wanderinglynn @hes7 Yes! You have to be careful with beverages when playing it because more than once someone has spewed their drink! 😂 4y
ChasingOm I enjoyed all your questions, finished and otherwise. 😂 One of my favorites is “gobsmacked.” 4y
wanderinglynn @ChasingOm Great word! 👍🏻 4y
TheEllieMo Smidgeon is my favourite word. 4y
wanderinglynn @TheEllieMo Great word! 👍🏻 4y
Kaila-ann Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (I actually managed to spell it right I think, I‘m a terrible speller 🤦🏻‍♀️) 4y
wanderinglynn @Kaila-ann Awesome word! I love singing the song too. 👍🏻 4y
UwannaPublishme Tree Grows in Brooklyn! 😍🙌🏻 4y
Crazeedi My grandma always used glakid and hawkly (meaning lazy and slovenly) dont even know if they're real words or spelled correctly, lol. Everyone mentioned many of my favorite words! 4y
Crazeedi Also I us watchamacallit a lot! (With my oldtimers!!) 4y
wanderinglynn @Crazeedi awesome words! 4y
56 likes28 comments
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wanderinglynn
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For #MrBook1inAMillion #LitsyPartyOfOne #24B4Monday, I‘ll finish the tagged audiobook & Remembrance, then the rest are from my #nfNov TBR.

My snack choices: Trader Joe‘s air popped popcorn (which I might have already opened 🤫), goldfish, & dried mangoes. I also plan on making some fresh carrot-ginger-mango-orange juice, but I might go totally wild & get some sparkling water + some peanut butter cups. What can I say, it‘s a 3-day weekend! 🎉

rubyslippersreads That stationery book is gorgeous! After books, stationery is probably my biggest weakness. 😊 4y
wanderinglynn @rubyslippersreads Mine too! The lovely @Mitch gifted it to me for that very reason—I love all things stationary! 4y
MrBook Niiiiice! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻 4y
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Mitch Cool weekend ahead! Ive just got this - hope it good! enjoy the weekend! 4y
Lynnsoprano Party on🎉🎉😂 4y
wanderinglynn @Mitch I hope so too! We shall see! 4y
Clwojick 1 pt for nfnov 4y
Andrew65 Looking good, good luck. 👏👏👏 4y
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wanderinglynn
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#nfNov #TIL in a little history of codes & ciphers:

During the Civil War, the Confederate Army‘s cipher was so complicated, they became confused by it. 😂

And sometimes they‘d also intercept Union messages, publish them in the newspapers, & invite readers to submit solutions.

Crazeedi I'm interested in reading this one!! 4y
wanderinglynn @Crazeedi I‘m enjoying it! 4y
rsteve388 4 pts 4y
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wanderinglynn
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Started a new audiobook for #nfNov that sounds interesting.

Crazeedi It's on my tbr!! 4y
wanderinglynn @Crazeedi I just started. The intro is describing Dec. 7, 1941. 4y
Kaila-ann I just started this one as well. 4y
wanderinglynn @Kaila-ann great minds think alike! 🙌🏻 4y
rsteve388 1 pt 4y
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Merethebookgal
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I started this audiobook today and I‘m already enjoying it! Did you know that of the 20,000 cryptographers employed by the US Government during WWII, 11,000 of them were female?

Aims42 Loved ❤️ this ❤️ book!!!!!! 4y
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IamIamIam
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I'm really interested in this story but I feel like the book is just all over the place. The author talks about code writing in between telling about people's lives and in differing time periods... 🤔 I'm having a tough time following.

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Librarybelle
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I‘m testing out some books for a committee I‘m on that happened to be part of my personal book collection. Part of my #SelfLove routine is purchasing books and allowing myself to indulge in reading. I also recently purchased the weighted blanket under the books - it‘s warm and comfy, so I look forward to cool nights snuggled under the blanket reading books. #SelfImprovementSept

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
OriginalCyn620 I LOVE my weighted blanket! 😊❤️ 5y
Librarybelle @OriginalCyn620 I‘m loving it so far! 5y
BookmarkTavern That is an excellent part of any self care routine! ❤️❤️ 5y
87 likes5 comments
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GypsyKat
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I picked up a couple of books from Audible‘s two for one sale.

#AudibleSale

Crazeedi Catherine the great was a really good book! 5y
GypsyKat @Crazeedi It‘s been on my TBR list for years now! 5y
77 likes2 comments
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MrBook
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Replenishment for my #WW2 Display 😁!

Have you read any of these?!

#LitsyLovesLibraries #MrBooksDisplays

Andrew65 I need to read the Nightingale. 5y
Andrew65 Good additions would be The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, All the Things we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, City of Thieves by David Benioff, The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. All favourite books. (edited) 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks The Nightingale ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
See All 6 Comments
BarkingMadRead Nightingale was so good!! 5y
ravenlee Got anything about the Night Witches? That would be cool. 5y
rwmg Only The Rape of Nanking. Strong stuff. 5y
79 likes6 comments
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higgysmalls
Bailedbailed

Code Girls is incredibly interesting, I just couldn't commit to it. Hopefully I will in the future!

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SkeletonKey
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Dog walking this week means lots of extra time for audiobooks.

The tone of this one gets under my skin sometimes but the coding bits are fascinating!

RadicalReader Adorable puppy 5y
SkeletonKey @RadicalReader - He‘s so sweet 💜 5y
34 likes2 comments
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brianherbergerbooks
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Pickpick

Great book. Interesting part of our history, and a unique take on WWII Liza Mundy gives life to the story, paints real people as characters in an exciting drama, and pulls the reader in.

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BekaReid
Pickpick

Code Girls tells of the important code breaking work of women during WW2. In her book, Mundy includes both humorous snippets (bartering plates of scrambled eggs for the delivery of a mattress), technical aspects of the code breaking work, and stories of how seriously the women took their work and in many cases never revealing their key role even to those close to them and even years later long after the war.

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brianherbergerbooks
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Current read - interesting info on how involved this effort was, nice job of turning history into story.

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sammisho
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Pickpick

This was the untold, and unknown story about thousands of American women who stepped up to break enemy codes during WWII. It is not an exaggeration to say they helped win the war. Very interesting and well done.
#womenshistorymonth

Sills Read and appreciated their story👍 girls rock! 5y
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Macnjen
Pickpick

Pretty good audiobook. True story of the women who broke codes during WW2. Good narration but it does get pretty technical when it comes to code breaking detail. Interesting and worth reading if you like WW2 reads.

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Macnjen
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Next audiobook for the #litsyAtoZ challenge! It‘s great so far! @BookishMarginalia

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KCorter
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"It appears that in order to live at all one must live dangerously." Florence Mendheim

Favorite part of working in a library so far? Attending cool events on the clock.

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comics_librarian
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Pickpick

Female readers will doubtlessly feel inspired by this meticulously researched tale of recovering the stories of hidden heroes, bolstered by Mundy‘s superb writing. But every reader will likely feel a much-needed sense of patriotic pride.

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bookwrm526
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Pickpick

This was an interesting story, especially because I already knew about the British side of the code-breaking enterprise. My only complaint is the time jumps that made it hard to follow in audio. Also, I was thrilled to see that Winthrop (where I got my BA in history and MS in Biology) played a role in the story!! This was my book about a topic that fascinates me for #MMDchallenge

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BooksAtNight
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Pickpick

Thoroughly enjoyed this book about amazing women who played such a key role during WWII. The book has a good balance between detailed descriptions and broad generalizations, which kept me interested and invested in finding out what happened to some of the women.

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BlueStockingReviews
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Pickpick

Code Girls: The untold story of the American women code breakers who helped win World War II was jam packed with interesting information. Almost to much information, it was like... https://www.bluestockingreviews.com/blog/code-girls

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RinaBrahmbhattBarot
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Pickpick

Here's my beautiful #DiwaliBookSwap gifts! I love them.

Can't wait to read the book 🙂

arlenefinnigan Happy Diwali! 🕯️ 5y
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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

For fans of The Radium Girls &Hidden Figures.

Mundy brings to life the young women who helped shape &changed the course of WWII. This portion of history has been largely left out of history books &schools (b/c of secrecy restrictions, & b/c so much of women's role in history is skimmed over), so most of this information was new to me. I loved learning about these unsung heroines.

Thank you Hachette Books for sending me a copy.

3.5⭐️s

#history

BekaReid I'm looking forward to reading this one soon!! 5y
Kristy_K @BekaReid It‘s informative and engaging. Hope you enjoy! 5y
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ontheBL
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Pickpick

Women are incredible, and they have been forever. During WWII, women were finally able to contribute and show their worth as code breakers. They were so integral to the war effort, for the first time in the United States, they were actively recruited. I LOVED reading this book!

onthebl.org/2018/10/23/code-girls/

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BekaReid
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This was from yesterday at The Midtown Scholar as I had the privilege to hear Liza Mundy. It's always a pleasure to hear authors speak and talk about their work. I'm looking forward to reading Code Girls (although it may have to wait until next month with a crazy schedule right now).

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phantomx

"Things like marital disharmony were not spoken about, even though many families were suffering under the hardships and dislocation of the Great Depression." (pg.38)

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phantomx

"Dot's composition class beat the boarding school, Chatham Hall, in a themed essay contest--an unheard-of occurrence--and the mother of the girl in her physics class came to thank her for all she had done, saying the girl planned to study physics in college." (pg.37)

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phantomx

"Five days a week, eight hours a day, Dot Braden ran from classroom to classroom, teaching, lecturing, grading, marching. For her pains she was paid $900 a year, and about $5 a day." (pg.36)

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phantomx
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From reading about the obstacles Dot Braden had faced while in Chatham, I appreciate all of the teachers and professors that have worked hard to make a difference in not only their students, but as well their communities and societies during good and difficult times. A teacher/professor work schedules are the most difficult and busiest like Dot Braden's.

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