What do you think?
Rate this book
Shipyard Gals: A Novel
In 1944, three stateside women had a job to do, but it wasn’t easy….
On the run from corrupt and violent police back in El Salvador, Elena, an outspoken journalist, is desperate to find work and send money home to her family. But the 1944 California wartime shipyard is a dangerous place. Hostile male co-workers shake her friends off rope ladders, and Elena’s torn welding gloves cause a serious burn. Rachel, a naïve nurse determined to prove herself at the chaotic shipyard clinic, treats her wound. Elena also makes friends with Ruby Mae, a young Black woman fresh from Baton Rouge, who is stunned to discover the Bay Area isn’t the escape from racism she’d yearned for.
But when a nearby US Naval base, Port Chicago, explodes, killing 200 Black sailors, Elena risks arrest and deportation if she reports the truth of the disaster and subsequent mutiny trial. Rachel can’t sleep after treating the horrific injuries of the wounded sailors. Ruby Mae may be fired for calling out harassment on the job. Each woman must lean on her friends and summon the courage to speak out against injustice in this historical novel encompassing the Rosie the Riveter era and one of the worst incidents in Naval history, the Port Chicago Disaster.
Praise for Shipyard Gals
"Stoller skillfully fleshes out the characters as they courageously confront their own fears and insecurities. Through these young women, the author draws vivid portraits of Black, Latine, and Jewish cultures, which all face the same bigotry against ‘others.’ Precise details bring readers up close to the processes of riveting and welding, the specifics of wound treatment, and the suffocating environment of the shipyard... An informative, engaging personal drama with three strong female leads." —Kirkus Reviews
“Shipyard Gals is riveting—and not just because it evokes the Rosie and all the patriots who stepped in during World War II and took over crucial defense work when American men were fighting overseas. Its three women heroes are more than just archetypes. They are as alive as your closest friends. The settings? So vividly described you’ll feel you’re back in 1944. Valerie Stoller has written a splendid work of historical fiction.” —Susan Isaacs, author of Shining Through and Bad, Bad Seymour Brown
“Set in the wake of the Port Chicago explosion of 1944, Valerie Stoller’s Shipyard Gals follows the interconnected stories of three young women from very different backgrounds, all of whom are battling the prejudices of the times to find their purpose and voice. You will fall in love with these strong women, root for them, cry and laugh, and you will learn so much about a little-known, yet essential, piece of our complicated history. I couldn’t put it down.” —Anne Raeff, author of Only the River and Winter Kept Us Warm
“In Shipyard Gals, Valerie Stoller brings to life a powerful and rarely told story of women on the home front. Set in a 1944 California shipyard, the novel follows three young women—Latina, Black, and Jewish—as they challenge racism, sexism, and societal expectations. With rich historical detail and emotional depth, Stoller honors the legacy of the real Rosie the Riveter workers who shaped American history with courage and skill. Shipyard Gals is both moving and vital. Valerie Stoller has given voice to the working women whose stories still echo today.
On the run from corrupt and violent police back in El Salvador, Elena, an outspoken journalist, is desperate to find work and send money home to her family. But the 1944 California wartime shipyard is a dangerous place. Hostile male co-workers shake her friends off rope ladders, and Elena’s torn welding gloves cause a serious burn. Rachel, a naïve nurse determined to prove herself at the chaotic shipyard clinic, treats her wound. Elena also makes friends with Ruby Mae, a young Black woman fresh from Baton Rouge, who is stunned to discover the Bay Area isn’t the escape from racism she’d yearned for.
But when a nearby US Naval base, Port Chicago, explodes, killing 200 Black sailors, Elena risks arrest and deportation if she reports the truth of the disaster and subsequent mutiny trial. Rachel can’t sleep after treating the horrific injuries of the wounded sailors. Ruby Mae may be fired for calling out harassment on the job. Each woman must lean on her friends and summon the courage to speak out against injustice in this historical novel encompassing the Rosie the Riveter era and one of the worst incidents in Naval history, the Port Chicago Disaster.
Praise for Shipyard Gals
"Stoller skillfully fleshes out the characters as they courageously confront their own fears and insecurities. Through these young women, the author draws vivid portraits of Black, Latine, and Jewish cultures, which all face the same bigotry against ‘others.’ Precise details bring readers up close to the processes of riveting and welding, the specifics of wound treatment, and the suffocating environment of the shipyard... An informative, engaging personal drama with three strong female leads." —Kirkus Reviews
“Shipyard Gals is riveting—and not just because it evokes the Rosie and all the patriots who stepped in during World War II and took over crucial defense work when American men were fighting overseas. Its three women heroes are more than just archetypes. They are as alive as your closest friends. The settings? So vividly described you’ll feel you’re back in 1944. Valerie Stoller has written a splendid work of historical fiction.” —Susan Isaacs, author of Shining Through and Bad, Bad Seymour Brown
“Set in the wake of the Port Chicago explosion of 1944, Valerie Stoller’s Shipyard Gals follows the interconnected stories of three young women from very different backgrounds, all of whom are battling the prejudices of the times to find their purpose and voice. You will fall in love with these strong women, root for them, cry and laugh, and you will learn so much about a little-known, yet essential, piece of our complicated history. I couldn’t put it down.” —Anne Raeff, author of Only the River and Winter Kept Us Warm
“In Shipyard Gals, Valerie Stoller brings to life a powerful and rarely told story of women on the home front. Set in a 1944 California shipyard, the novel follows three young women—Latina, Black, and Jewish—as they challenge racism, sexism, and societal expectations. With rich historical detail and emotional depth, Stoller honors the legacy of the real Rosie the Riveter workers who shaped American history with courage and skill. Shipyard Gals is both moving and vital. Valerie Stoller has given voice to the working women whose stories still echo today.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2025
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2025
Shipyard Gals by Val Stoller
Shipyard Gals by Val Stoller is an unflinching debut that brings to life the unsung women who kept America’s shipyards running during World War II. Stoller gives life to the women’s history that is often ignored. It’s told through the eyes and the voices of the women who worked inside Richmond, California’s shipyards. Ruby Mae, an African American from the Deep South, becomes a riveter. Elena, a Latina who came to work in the shipyards fleeing violence in San Salvador, becomes a reporter after she’s seriously injured and witnesses the Port Chicago disaster. Rachel, a white nurse, works in a clinic treating the daily accidents and triages injuries after the disaster, which should never have happened.
Val Stoller’s meticulous research is woven into her compelling storytelling, which captures the backbreaking daily work and dangers of welding torches, as well as their courage, resilience, and solidarity in the face of racial discrimination, misogyny, and other dangers. Exhausted, disrespected, and frequently at risk, they showed up day after day with grit and grace. On a positive note, they were paid well, had inexpensive health care, and 24/7 childcare for workers on all three shifts. The writing is vivid and heartfelt, the characters unforgettable; these women proved their worth in a world that needed them, but didn’t believe they belonged there.
The novel’s depiction of the 1944 Port Chicago explosions and the aftermath of the disgraceful court-martial of the sailors anchors the story in historical truth while revealing the deep injustices the sailors and the women faced. A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction, women’s stories, or novels that shed light on hidden corners of American history. Shipyard Gals is a riveting debut that demands to be read and remembered and is impossible to put down.
Shipyard Gals by Val Stoller is an unflinching debut that brings to life the unsung women who kept America’s shipyards running during World War II. Stoller gives life to the women’s history that is often ignored. It’s told through the eyes and the voices of the women who worked inside Richmond, California’s shipyards. Ruby Mae, an African American from the Deep South, becomes a riveter. Elena, a Latina who came to work in the shipyards fleeing violence in San Salvador, becomes a reporter after she’s seriously injured and witnesses the Port Chicago disaster. Rachel, a white nurse, works in a clinic treating the daily accidents and triages injuries after the disaster, which should never have happened.
Val Stoller’s meticulous research is woven into her compelling storytelling, which captures the backbreaking daily work and dangers of welding torches, as well as their courage, resilience, and solidarity in the face of racial discrimination, misogyny, and other dangers. Exhausted, disrespected, and frequently at risk, they showed up day after day with grit and grace. On a positive note, they were paid well, had inexpensive health care, and 24/7 childcare for workers on all three shifts. The writing is vivid and heartfelt, the characters unforgettable; these women proved their worth in a world that needed them, but didn’t believe they belonged there.
The novel’s depiction of the 1944 Port Chicago explosions and the aftermath of the disgraceful court-martial of the sailors anchors the story in historical truth while revealing the deep injustices the sailors and the women faced. A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction, women’s stories, or novels that shed light on hidden corners of American history. Shipyard Gals is a riveting debut that demands to be read and remembered and is impossible to put down.
November 20, 2025
We've all heard of "Rosie the Riveter" - but who was she, really, other than an icon representing women doing what were traditionally considered men's jobs? Shipyard Gals brings to life the world of a WWII shipyard through the eyes of three young "Rosies" from different backgrounds. Like many other young women of their generation, they take jobs at a Richmond, California shipyard in search of making a better future for themselves and their families. They find that the work is hard and often dangerous, and their male coworkers are both suspicious and resentful of their presence in the yard. In spite of wide cultural differences, they find friendship and solidarity in one another.
I loved how this book really gave me a window into a world I had never thought much about. You get to learn along with the characters what a riveter actually does, and what that work was like. You also get to see what the rest of their lives were like in the 1940's, from their living situations to what they did for fun. I had never heard of the Port Chicago disaster before reading this book - and it's honestly kind of shocking that it's not general public knowledge. So Shipyard Gals also sheds light on an important (and shameful) part of American history.
I actually think this book would be perfect as a historical drama or a mini-series. I can only think of a couple of movies/series that deal with the roles of women on the homefront during WWII, and none of them are about the women who actually contributed firsthand to the war effort. The shipyards and 1940's-era East Bay would be an amazing setting. Anyway! I enjoyed it quite a lot and I hope for more historical fiction from Valerie Stoller!
I loved how this book really gave me a window into a world I had never thought much about. You get to learn along with the characters what a riveter actually does, and what that work was like. You also get to see what the rest of their lives were like in the 1940's, from their living situations to what they did for fun. I had never heard of the Port Chicago disaster before reading this book - and it's honestly kind of shocking that it's not general public knowledge. So Shipyard Gals also sheds light on an important (and shameful) part of American history.
I actually think this book would be perfect as a historical drama or a mini-series. I can only think of a couple of movies/series that deal with the roles of women on the homefront during WWII, and none of them are about the women who actually contributed firsthand to the war effort. The shipyards and 1940's-era East Bay would be an amazing setting. Anyway! I enjoyed it quite a lot and I hope for more historical fiction from Valerie Stoller!
December 23, 2025
World War II was a life-changing event, not just for the young men who signed up or were drafted into the military, but for the people who threw themselves into the war effort. SHIPYARD GALS follows the fortunes of three women -- Ruby Mae, a young African American who comes to Oakland with her family from Louisiana, Elena, who has fled El Salvador, and Rachel, a Registered Nurse from a well-off local Jewish family. All three stories are woven together by their shared experiences as they encounter bigotry, sexual harassment, and the pressure of familial demands. After the Port Chicago explosion, which killed 200 and lead to a "mutiny" by black servicemen, each character faces a moral and personal choice that will change their lives. Valerie Stoller deftly brings to life, not only three diverse characters, but a time and place when the tides of history could sweep the young onto paths they never imagined.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 11, 2025
Shipyard Gals is a gripping story of women who (at first, having little in common) bond together to combat discrimination, sexism, inequality, and inadequate protection while performing dangerous Rosie the Riveter tasks building World War Two battleships in 1944 California.
With her vivid, colorful descriptions and ethnically sensitive writing, Valerie Stoller has readers experience the roller coaster emotions in the women’s personal and professional lives, following a harrowing, high mortality, utterly preventable tragedy, as they come into their own, standing up for morality and justice against all odds.
This well-written, visual, and riveting (pun intended) story - based on true, underreported, and long-forgotten wartime events - should be made into a film a wide audience can watch onscreen. I highly recommend this novel.
With her vivid, colorful descriptions and ethnically sensitive writing, Valerie Stoller has readers experience the roller coaster emotions in the women’s personal and professional lives, following a harrowing, high mortality, utterly preventable tragedy, as they come into their own, standing up for morality and justice against all odds.
This well-written, visual, and riveting (pun intended) story - based on true, underreported, and long-forgotten wartime events - should be made into a film a wide audience can watch onscreen. I highly recommend this novel.
December 19, 2025
What an enjoyable read! I really liked how the author wove the three main characters' storylines together, giving us the different perspectives and realities of each one's life circumstances. Each time one character's chapter ended, I was sad to let them go....and then as soon as I'd start the next chapter with another of the characters, I was eager to dive back into their story. The history was woven in seamlessly, educating me about the home efforts during WWII without me realizing how much I was learning. It was especially enjoyable for me because my mom's family all grew up in the region where the book is set, so I recognized SO many local references. A smooth, interesting, engaging, and well-written read!
December 4, 2025
A wonderful, fast read offering a glimpse into the lives of the real "Rosie the Riveters," the women who arrived in droves from far and wide to work in the shipyards in Richmond, California, during WWII. This well- researched novel follows three women of varied backgrounds as they navigate sexism and racism on the job, and heart-wrenching tragedy when hundreds of sailors are killed and wounded in an ammunition explosion at the docks. Full of vibrant characters and wonderful historical details, "Shipyard Gals" offers important insights into yet another fascinating piece of WWII history.
November 9, 2025
A gripping and important story about the Port Chicago 50, an overlooked tragedy and act of courage during the WWII home front in Richmond, California shipyards. Set in the Rosie the Riveter era, Valerie brings history to life through complex, likable characters who reveal how prejudice and injustice shaped this time. A compelling, emotional read that educates and inspires. Worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews