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Gray Girl #2
Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rules
Change is coming to West Point!
One drives off a cliff. An alarming number of others resign. Something at the military academy is causing the unusually high attrition of women cadets. Jan Wishart aims to find out before she's the next statistic at West Point. Her second year at the formerly all male citadel should be the fun year. But when one friend shows signs of abuse and another friend suddenly resigns, Jan's coming of age year becomes anything but enjoyable. The culture of hazing and harassment must be addressed, but it's almost impossible to get results through the chain of command. In a closed academy environment, sometimes the best way to call attention to an issue is to leak it the press.
In order to fulfill her duty, Jan must break with tradition and the longstanding culture of the United States Military Academy. Yet not everything is as it seems. Once again Jan's worldview is about to be upended by the secrets of West Point.
5-star Readers’ Favorite Review, 2015 KINDLE BOOK AWARD semi-finalist!
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 due out in 2019. All books can be read alone, but best read in order.
For more information, go to GrayGirlSeries.com or SusanISpieth.com
One drives off a cliff. An alarming number of others resign. Something at the military academy is causing the unusually high attrition of women cadets. Jan Wishart aims to find out before she's the next statistic at West Point. Her second year at the formerly all male citadel should be the fun year. But when one friend shows signs of abuse and another friend suddenly resigns, Jan's coming of age year becomes anything but enjoyable. The culture of hazing and harassment must be addressed, but it's almost impossible to get results through the chain of command. In a closed academy environment, sometimes the best way to call attention to an issue is to leak it the press.
In order to fulfill her duty, Jan must break with tradition and the longstanding culture of the United States Military Academy. Yet not everything is as it seems. Once again Jan's worldview is about to be upended by the secrets of West Point.
5-star Readers’ Favorite Review, 2015 KINDLE BOOK AWARD semi-finalist!
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 due out in 2019. All books can be read alone, but best read in order.
For more information, go to GrayGirlSeries.com or SusanISpieth.com
- GenresMysteryMilitary Fiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2015
19 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Susan I. Spieth
7 books29 followersSusan I. Spieth graduated from West Point in 1985 and served five years in the Army as a Missile Maintenance Officer. After completing her military service, she attended Seminary where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. She is an ordained clergywoman in the United Methodist Church, having served five churches as Pastor/Associate Pastor for seventeen years. Susan and her husband have two children and live in NJ.
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 is Fall Out: Courage Always Stands it's Ground.
More recently, Susan has published a non-fiction book about her first-time visits to 50 churches. It's a candid look at worship styles in various denominations. Also, an informative read about the basics of the Christian faith.
For more information, please visit: www.susanispieth.com
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 is Fall Out: Courage Always Stands it's Ground.
More recently, Susan has published a non-fiction book about her first-time visits to 50 churches. It's a candid look at worship styles in various denominations. Also, an informative read about the basics of the Christian faith.
For more information, please visit: www.susanispieth.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 25, 2015
If you have ever wondered what it was like to be a woman attending the United States Military Academy at West Point in the early 1980s, read Susan Spieth's "Gray Girl" series. "Area Bird", the second book chronicles the happenings of Cadet Jan Wishart's second year at West Point. The first book, "Gray Girl", is an account of Jan's plebe (freshman) year. Spieth gets the details right, from describing the many different uniforms worn to the food served in the mess hall. While Jan's experiences might not be the typical cadet's, they do give you the feel of cadet life. This is an excellent book and I look forward to the next year in Cadet Jan Wishart's life.
December 16, 2015
I have collected almost every piece of fiction written on West Point since the 1850's. Hundreds with a couple works emerging each year. The genre has really moved along with the times and Gray Girl series breaks new ground
There were several fictional series about cadets moving through the four years of West Point in at the turn of the 19th century and into the 1950's. Nothing dark, just melodrama with cadet hazing or cheating, a villain, a hero, a positive moral resolution. The drama moved to a serious level with Robert Wohlforth's 1934 book Tin Soldiers which introduced the spectre of homosexuality at the Academy. Horrors! The book was suppressed and many copies destroyed. Hard to find these days. Then Lucien Truscott's Dress Gray in 1974 first laid open to the public the sexuality of cadets and a cadet murder at West Point! Heavy stuff, but it was post-Vietnam with the Academy's reputation at a low-ebb. It was reviewed in Playboy!
Since 1980 there have been several memoirs and fictional accounts of the challenges female cadets face at West Point written by those who endured. All quite readable, The Gray Girl series is unique in my opinion 1) it is a series that follows one cadet through her first two years (so far); and 2) because it goes beyond the description of plebe and yearling cadet life touch topics that have not heretofore been broached - the sexuality of the female cadets, the harsh politics of command structure, and an extensive look at sexual abuse, rape and suicide at the academy, The book is fictional, but I have no doubt, it is truth behind it. I expect the situation has improved dramatically in the last two decade with better management and a new generation of cadets.
I look forward to Ms. Spieth completing the first 4 year series on women at West Point.
If you are a West Point reader, you might take a look at my recently published picture book on the Cemetery at West Point focusing on a couple of hundred heroic individuals interred there. Be Thou at Peace, A Resting Place of Warriors. www.blackgraygold.com
There were several fictional series about cadets moving through the four years of West Point in at the turn of the 19th century and into the 1950's. Nothing dark, just melodrama with cadet hazing or cheating, a villain, a hero, a positive moral resolution. The drama moved to a serious level with Robert Wohlforth's 1934 book Tin Soldiers which introduced the spectre of homosexuality at the Academy. Horrors! The book was suppressed and many copies destroyed. Hard to find these days. Then Lucien Truscott's Dress Gray in 1974 first laid open to the public the sexuality of cadets and a cadet murder at West Point! Heavy stuff, but it was post-Vietnam with the Academy's reputation at a low-ebb. It was reviewed in Playboy!
Since 1980 there have been several memoirs and fictional accounts of the challenges female cadets face at West Point written by those who endured. All quite readable, The Gray Girl series is unique in my opinion 1) it is a series that follows one cadet through her first two years (so far); and 2) because it goes beyond the description of plebe and yearling cadet life touch topics that have not heretofore been broached - the sexuality of the female cadets, the harsh politics of command structure, and an extensive look at sexual abuse, rape and suicide at the academy, The book is fictional, but I have no doubt, it is truth behind it. I expect the situation has improved dramatically in the last two decade with better management and a new generation of cadets.
I look forward to Ms. Spieth completing the first 4 year series on women at West Point.
If you are a West Point reader, you might take a look at my recently published picture book on the Cemetery at West Point focusing on a couple of hundred heroic individuals interred there. Be Thou at Peace, A Resting Place of Warriors. www.blackgraygold.com
March 3, 2016
Fast read and realistic of the issues and human dynamics of being a cadet at West Point. Really enjoyed the book. Didn't read it...devoured it. Suggest you read both books in order. Enjoy! I felt I relived my USMA days by reading this book, but even if you didn't have that experience, its just a great mystery, great book about the military leaders getting trained.
October 5, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. I found myself reading into the wee mornings. It has many twists and turns. I found that I put everything on hold so that I could find out what happened next. I was never disappointed! The ending surprised me to say the least but I will let you find out for yourselves. I highly recommend this book and this series. Enjoy!
June 16, 2016
Great writing! Great stories!
The Grey Girl stories are wonderful reads. Former cadet Susan Spieth knows whereof she writes. Anyone who is interested in the military academies, leadership, and roles of women will find these books intriguing. Do yourself a favor and read these. I can't wait for more.
The Grey Girl stories are wonderful reads. Former cadet Susan Spieth knows whereof she writes. Anyone who is interested in the military academies, leadership, and roles of women will find these books intriguing. Do yourself a favor and read these. I can't wait for more.
August 17, 2015
Great book
Loved this book and really wish the third one was written already. As a female grad from the class of 1988 the story brings back memories and has me wishing I'd kept a journal. Looking forward to the next book
Loved this book and really wish the third one was written already. As a female grad from the class of 1988 the story brings back memories and has me wishing I'd kept a journal. Looking forward to the next book
March 20, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from the GoodReads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review. Great read, really enjoyed it.
April 17, 2015
Intriguing, although fiction the author takes you inside the lives of women at West Point. A twist at the end I didn't see coming.
Thanks to Goodreads and Susan Spieth for my copy.
Thanks to Goodreads and Susan Spieth for my copy.
August 23, 2015
Wonderful book
I loved both books I finished both books in four days. hope to read more books by this author.
I loved both books I finished both books in four days. hope to read more books by this author.
January 13, 2020
I have pretty much the same comments about this one as I did the first in the series. They're not great literature, but the author has created good stories and un-put-down-able books.
June 4, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting story about Jan Wishart who is in her second year at at West Point. It described many of the every day happenings that befell Jan as a female in a mainly male military setting. It described many of the problems and goings on at the academy. It also addressed the problem of the high number of women cadets who unexpectedly left mid term and the possible reasons why they abruptly left. Jan and her friends, Kristi and Pamela, try to find out why Jan's friend from last year, Angel left without giving anyone a reason ans why no one had heard from her. The girls struggle to find out information while staying within the boundaries of Honor Code. A good stand alone novel except I wish I had read the first one because reference was made several times about what happened to Jan the prior year. 4 stars.
March 28, 2015
This novel is about Jan Wishart, a West Point cadet in the early 1980s, and the trials and tribulations she and her friends endure as women in a male-dominated institution. It was a lively, enjoyable read, although it did feel a bit like the author tried to mention every possible issue that could affect these young women: discrimination, harassment, rape, unplanned pregnancy, abusive relationships, eating disorders, closeted lesbians. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it felt rather melodramatic. However, there were welcome doses of humor to keep things from bogging down too much. All in all, this was an entertaining read, and I would be willing to read more from this author.
June 11, 2015
Interesting inside look at the early days of women at West Point. I would liked to have read a little more about the academic side of life; it seems like they had plenty of time for sex and drinking. I would have thought the busy schedule and tough academics would have left little time for the wilder side! Sounds like it was more like a typical college life than you would think1
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews