Shipyard Gals: A Novel

by Valerie Stoller

1944. California’s wartime shipyards are booming—and deadly.

Fleeing corrupt and violent police in El Salvador, Elena, an outspoken journalist, risks arrest and deportation to work as a welder in a California shipyard so she can send money home to her family. The promise of safety is an illusion. Male coworkers sabotage women on the job, racial hostility simmers, and a single mistake can be fatal.

When Elena is badly burned at work, she’s treated by Rachel, a naïve but determined nurse struggling to prove herself in the chaos of a wartime shipyard clinic. Elena also befriends Ruby Mae, a young Black woman newly arrived from Baton Rouge, who quickly learns that the Bay Area offers no escape from racism—only a different, more insidious kind.

Then disaster strikes.

A massive explosion at a nearby naval base—Port Chicago—kills 200 Black sailors and leaves hundreds more wounded. As the Navy rushes to bury the truth, Elena uncovers evidence that could expose injustice at the highest levels—but telling the story could cost her freedom. Rachel is haunted by the injuries she treats and the silence demanded of her. Ruby Mae faces losing her job after speaking out against harassment and discrimination.

As pressure mounts, each woman must decide how much she’s willing to risk—for the truth, for justice, and for one another.

Inspired by true events, this gripping WWII historical novel explores the Rosie the Riveter era through the lives of three women bound by friendship and courage, confronting sexism, racism, immigration fear, and institutional betrayal on the American home front.


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 ... 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

“... 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.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2025

Reviews

[Charla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and eye-opening book about a unique time for women in American history: working in a WWII shipyard in Richmond, CA. Although I was already familiar with some of the history, thanks to the excellent Rosie the Riveter National Historic Museum in Richmond, I learned a lot from this well-researched novel about three different women from different backgrounds who find themselves together trying to take advantage of the new opportunities the war offers women while fighting the typical racial and sexist discrimination common in the 1940s. The three main characters are distinctly created, the plot is well-paced, and the dialogue is engaging. The book also weaves in the story of the Port Chicago tragedy and subsequent mutiny trial, a shameful part of American history that deserves far more attention. Get yourself a copy and take a trip back in time: you won't regret it.

[Sue Granzella · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie Stoller's Shipyard Gals is a wonderful historical novel with a compelling story line and strong, fascinating female characters. It addresses racism, prejudice, and the impact of war on ordinary lives. Most of all, it deals with the struggles of women in the 1940's to find their role in America in the midst of World War II. I learned so much about history reading this book, while also finding it relevant to contemporary life in America. The characters are engaging, the writing is excellent and it is a highly recommended read.

[Barbara Ridley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Betty Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the early days of WWII, young people left the life of poverty to find work in war industry industries. In some regards the young women who are the protagonists of this novel pushed themselves beyond what they thought they could accomplish. The author incorporates the social upheaval of the day and documents the social prejudices of the day: racism, antisemitism and sexism. Included is an accurate portrayal of Port Chicago Disaster.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Beth B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ramsey Hootman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Angela Verry · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚⚓ Book Review: Shipyard Gals by

I found this gem at the 2026 at the women authors over 50 table — and wow, what a find! 💙

Historical fiction about amazing women is totally my jam, and this book delivered. The story follows the women who stepped into shipyard jobs during while so many men were away fighting. I loved seeing the grit, friendship, and determination of these women as they took on work no one expected them to do. ⚓✨

Halfway through the novel, the story introduces the tragic on July 17, 1944. At 10:19 p.m., an explosion at the Port Chicago munitions center shattered windows in San Francisco. 322 people were killed and over 1,000 injured in the worst military loss of life on the U.S. home front during WWII. The blast was even felt as far away as Nevada. That part of the story was heartbreaking and fascinating because I knew very little about this disaster before reading the book.

This was such an interesting mix of little-known history, strong women, and emotional storytelling. Definitely a great pick for readers who love hidden stories from history and women-centered historical fiction. 📖💥

[Andrea Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie Stoller’s novel, "Shipyard Gals," does what only a compelling historical novel can do: it not only informs the reader about women like the well-known “Rosie the Riveter,” but the lesser-known racism and sexism faced by those heroines working at a California shipyard. The women witness the aftereffects of the horrific Port Charles Naval base explosion and subsequent trial of the Black sailors who refused to load dangerous ammunition. Stoller, who worked as a nurse practitioner, brings her medical knowledge to the scenes of the daily accidents and the effects of the explosion in compassionate detail. The author portrays the story through the points of view of three young women with diverse geographical, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, bringing them together in their common concerns of survival, friendship, and justice. Readers will love these women, suffer with their tragedies, root for them, and be grateful to learn about a sorry chapter in our American history. Highly recommended.

[Pam Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Fiction That Can't be Beat! -- Valerie Stoller takes on life in the naval shipyards in Richmond, California during WWII and brings it alive! This is a story that teaches, especially about the Port Chicago explosion that killed 320 people and injured hundreds of others, then following through with the trial of 50 sailors who refused to load ammunition because of a lack of proper safety protocols. Finally, this was the birth of the occupational health and safety movement for workers in the United States. But beyond all of that, which is deeply researched and never didactic, there are the characters—three women at the center who need to decide how they will each respond. Author Valerie Stoller deals beautifully with unfolding each of these characters—one from El Salvador, one black, and one Jewish—and the relationships among them. You will be steeped in their struggles, fears, and hopes. And they will stay with you, along with this important piece of history, I promise!

[Bonnie Tunick · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The story, characters and history. The multicultures especially the women that intertwined at the shipyard and the history of the Port of Chicago was enthralling. I learned so much about the amazing men and women that served.

[Matt Boitano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moment in history brought to life in a vivid way with complex characters and good pacing. Highly recommend!

[Patricia Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look into the lives of the women who "served" on the home front during World WarII.
Historical data on the Port Chicago incident was well done.

[Marissa (Bookish City Gal) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about the lives of the real life Rosie the Riveters in this historical fiction novel. As a whole the different characters had unique perspectives and I appreciated the overall exploration of prejudice and discrimination. The story got a bit muddled for me in the last quarter and felt like it dragged a bit and then suddenly ended. As a whole if you like historical fiction and strong female characters, it’s worth a read.

[Moe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few months ago it has continued to stay with me. I live in Richmond and remember hearing so much about the disaster at the 50th anniversary, but this book gave me such a deeper understanding and appreciation of how devastating and horrifying it was. Absolutely haunting, but also inspiring and hopeful to read about the bravery of the people who survived it and later stood up for justice. It should be required reading in schools. Stoller brought it to life in such a moving and relevant way.