Code Girls: The True Story of the American Women Who Secretly Broke Codes in World War II

by Liza Mundy

Code Girls is the true story of the young American women who cracked German and Japanese military codes during World War II.
More than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II, recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to the nation's capital to learn the top secret art of code breaking.
Through their work, the "code girls" helped save countless lives and were vital in ending the war. But due to the top secret nature of their accomplishments, these women have never been able to talk about their story--until now.
Through research and countless interviews with the surviving code girls, Liza Mundy brings their story to life. Abridged and adapted for a middle grade audience, Code Girls brings this story to young readers for the first time, showcasing this vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, War, World War II, Biography, Childrens

336 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2018

About the author

Liza Mundy is an award-winning journalist and the New York Times bestselling author of five books, including CODE GIRLS, and her latest, THE SISTERHOOD.

Published in 2017, CODE GIRLS tells the story of more than 10,000 female code breakers recruited during World War II to perform work that saved countless lives, shortened a global war, and pioneered the modern computer and cybersecurity industries.

Available October 2023, THE SISTERHOOD is a gripping history of women in the CIA across three generations--beginning with unlikely female spies who served in the war and its aftermath, through to the women who tracked down Osama Bin Laden.

Her other titles include MICHELLE: A BIOGRAPHY; THE RICHER SEX; and EVERYTHING CONCEIVABLE.

In addition to her work as a narrative non-fiction author, Liza, a former staff writer for The Washington Post, writes about history, culture, and politics for publications such as The Atlantic and Politico.

At various points in her life as a working parent she has worked full-time, part-time, all-night, at home, in the office, remotely, in person, on trains, in the car, alone, in crowds, under duress, and while simultaneously making dinner.

Reviews

[Wynee Igel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the movie Hidden Figures as did my teenage girls. My husband picked this out and my 14 year old read it as did I. The overall back story is great, inspirational like Hidden Figures. This young reader version had a lot of facts. The narrative bounced around a bit. It was hard to follow a set number of women who performed this entire work as well as the timeline and events. That made me lose interest and my daughter's response (she read it first) was "it was okay." It does paint a good picture of the expectations and discrepancies between men and women working and pay during that period of time. I'm not sure whether the original adult version is clearer, but I'd try reading that version. Regardless it doesn't take away from the important and incredible work that the women did.

[Stephi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Code Girls is a wonderfully informative book detailing the valuable work of women code breakers in the United States during World War II. The narrative style was organized and easy follow, and I loved learning about all the brilliant women that helped save tens of thousands of Allied soldiers during the war.

I picked up the young readers edition because it was the one I happened to see at the library, but I might read the original some time.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I pitched this book for a book club, but didn't realize there is a regular & a Young Readers edition when I requested it from the library. Since there's about a 150-200 page difference, I'm guessing the regular book has a lot more details in it.

If someone isn't really familiar with WWII & the effort put in behind the scenes, this is probably a good intro, but as someone who has read/watched an enormous amount about WWII, this feels a bit redundant to me. It's similar to Hidden Figures with all the women behind the scenes doing most of the work and getting little to none of the credit at the time, only to be recognized too late.

[Anais · Rating 2 out of 5]

“It was not easy being a smart girl in the 1940s. People thought you were annoying.”

The length and topic of this book is pretty daunting for 3rd or 4th graders, even if it is a young reader’s adaptation; dumbing down the writing doesn’t change this. After reading half of this edited version, my thoughts were concentrated on the decline in our country’s literacy. The text often reads as if the author is talking down to young children, and then, when the more specialized subject matter picks up, such as the vocabulary and explanations of the cryptoanalysis processes, the condescending tone cuts out and the writing seems to get clearer and less patronizing. Informal colloquialisms (such as “divvy up”) or lazy diction (the Japanese losses “were bad”) are followed by technical explanations on the enciphering of the Japanese Fleet codes. The writing style is so polarized that I often get the feeling that this was written by two authors. I imagine that the more engaging technical passages were the parts less butchered by the incompetent editor.

There is also an annoying prejudice against the norms of the 1940s.
“Women were brought into the workforce to free up men for military service. As a result, men who had been doing office work were able to ship out to work. So women were welcome, but also resented.”
What kind of logic is that?
It’s difficult to avoid prejudices in nonfiction writing but this author’s attempt to hide her feminist bullying fails. Other frequent logical fallacies include generalizations, over simplifications, and judging the past by modern sensibilities. Opposition to women in the military is represented by a singular caricatured voice, instead of presenting multiple points of view and legitimate concerns. According to the cited reports, the self-proclaimed primary motivation for a large number of women to join the Navy was the fashionable uniform. And female military recruits had low graduation rates (less than 50%) because many would quit to start families. The author paints silly images of them marching in heels and then falling backwards on their bottoms. Then the author complains that others saw these female recruits as a risk, and that their pay was not as high as the men. Can we be honest enough to admit that there is more to this particular problem of equality than men trying to keep women down? The women who did stick around and worked hard to accomplish great feats were amazing and their coworkers, male and female, acknowledged this.

The information in this book would add to conversations on women’s rights struggles, World War 2 intel and strategy, and US Military history. (Or perhaps cancel culture, hidden agendas, and the decline of American literacy?) I’m just not sure that I want my kids to use it as a secondary source on account of the writing being so inconsistent, even if we were to ignore the bias. I am willing to try the original text to see if it might be better written.

2 stars for the adaptation.
Might recommend for 10 year olds recognizing that there are parts that could go over their heads

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Code Girls is a non-fiction book about the American women cryptanalysts who broke Axis codes and ciphers during WW2. It was a great read with a topic that was vastly interesting. It explains that most of the contributions made to win the war was not on the battlefield, but instead by these women that worked behind the scenes. I think the author definitely did a good job explaining their story. Specifically, she shows us what it was like to be a women code breaker for the army by telling the story of Dot Braden and “Crow” Weston. The two women worked in Arlington Hall, the headquarters of the US Army code breakers. The author explains the significance of their work with much detail. She shows how breaking enemy codes affected D-Day, The Battle of Midway, bombing of Pearl Harbour, etc. I think these women should be more recognized for what did during the war. After all, the soldiers would’ve never succeeded without the intelligence they provided. This book was great about spreading the message. I hope everyone reads this book to learn about the women and they can be more appreciated for their contribution.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic was super interesting. The YA version’s writing was a bit clunky and repetitive though. I loved the more wonky parts about the code breaking process and advancements. I grew pretty tired of the lists of the women’s boyfriends/husbands/courtships. It’s good context to know what society was like for women but like WE GET IT can we get back to the code breaking? Overall I felt excited that these remarkable women are getting their due credit for massive contributions to WWII victories, even if it’s very delayed. Probably 3.5 stars but worthwhile and we learned a ton.

[Mackinzie Kempton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story. Learned a lot

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

During WWII, as more and more men were going overseas to serve in the armed forces fighting, the US Army and Navy started secretly recruiting women to work as code breakers. This book outlines how the programs started, how the women were covertly recruited, what kind of work they did, what living and working conditions were like for these women, and how some of their lives were changed forever by their wartime jobs.

A fascinating look at women code breakers in the US during WWII. Mundy highlights some real women and the kind of work they did as she tells broader stories of the work women were doing for the Army and Navy at home related to code breaking. She also explains the kind of work involved in code breaking and major achievements of US women in this field during the war. Due to the secretive nature of the work and the fact that the women were sworn to secrecy for life, many of these stories are just now leaking out as WWII becomes a very distant memory and the US has decided to let certain secrets out. This is the young readers edition and at times you could tell that the writing had been pared down to just the basics for kid readers, it seemed like some details had been left out and it was a little dryer than expected. (I'm curious enough I may read the adult version at some point.) For the most part, though, this was fascinating stuff and highlights women figuring out that their mathematical and analytical skills were valuable at a time when that was unheard of. It also talks a great deal about what all is involved in code breaking, so it should appeal to those who like codes and puzzles. This is a great companion read to Hidden Figures for those who like reading about women in math fields. Also recommended to those who like unique aspects of WWII history.

Notes on content: No language issues that I remember. No sexual content. War casualties and deaths are mentioned but not described in any graphic details.

[Tiina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Code Girls" nagu pealkirigi ütleb räägib naistest koodimurdjatest. Lugemiseks valisin põhikooliealistele suunatud versiooni, sest siis on mul lihtsam raamatust vabaneda. Koju mulle raamatuid enam väga palju ei mahu. Annan selle oma kooli raamatukogule, et mu nunnud õpilased saaksid keeleoskust arendada. Niisiis lugesingi raamatut natukene ka hoopis teistsugusel pilgul: pöörasin tähelepanu lauseehitusele, sõnavarale, kõigele lingvistilisele. Sõnavara poolest on see mu üheksandikele veel raske, kuid lauseehitused on enam-vähem täpselt sellised, mida nad koolis sel ajal õpivad. Eesti õpilastele pistaksin ma juba pihku originaalversiooni.

Minu jaoks oli väga põnev seda raamatut lugeda, sest selle kirjutamisel on tehtud väga põhjalik töö. Siia on kogutud paljude kooditüdrukute kogemused: kuidas nad välja valiti, mida nad tegid ja kuidas kõike saladuses hoiti. Väga palju oli juttu Jaapani poolt kasutatud olevatest koodidest, mille murdmine võttis väga palju aega. Juttu oli erinevatest koodi loovatest masinatest, koostööst teiste riikidega. Ilmselt sellepärast, et tegu oli lihtsustatud variandiga, lugesin selle läbi kiiresti ja vaimustunult. Lapse ja varase teismelisena oleksin ma sellest raamatust veel suuremas vaimustuses olnud, kuna kõiksugu salakeeled ja koodid olid üheks mu huviobjektiks. Maailmasõjast on kirjutatud mitmeid raamatuid, kuid mulle meeldis just see lähenemisnurk. Naised, keda sel ajal tegelikult armeesse ega mereväkke võtta ei tahetud, tegid ära tohutu töö. Nende edust sõltusid mitmed elud.

[Joslyn Myers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to start off this review by saying that these women were absolutely incredible! I loved learning about their bravery and the fantastic things they did. My issues with this book unfortunately lie with the writing and what they chose to add.

I haven't read the original Code Girls, so I'm not sure if this was a problem with the adaption or the writing in itself. This book, in my opinion, was very dry. And I mean VERY dry. This is on the list for Battle of the Books, so I did have to read it in some way. That way being I ended up just listening to it.

Not only did the writing feel dry (in my opinion), but it also felt too simple. And yes, it is a young readers edition, however I am a young reader in Middle School and every single person in my BoB class agreed that it was a bit oversimplified.

My third reason for giving it two stars, is the fact that it didn't really feel focused on the women. I went into this book hoping for some insight on how they lived and who they were. I did get that to an extent, but it almost felt like certain spots got too focused on the codes themselves. I do find codes interesting, and I do understand that the codes are a huge part of this book, I mean that's the job, right? But the point of this book (at least what I thought was the point of this book) was to know more about these girls, I personally felt the topic that I learned the most about was... you know, the codes.

Bottom line: Definitely not my favorite book, but not the worst I've ever read. I personally wouldn't recommend it.

[Emma Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

As World War II raged on, the United States turned to an unlikely group to break enemy codes and assist the Allies to victory. Code Girls by Liza Mundy is a journey through time, taking the reader back to the 1940s when war flared across the globe and countries were desperate to gain intelligence. Mundy’s eagerness to tell the story of the women who deciphered codes is captivating. She sheds light on a topic that is not well known, showing a role of women in the war. The women Mundy chooses to include and the details she provides about their lives give the reader an in-depth understanding of who these women were and what motivated them to keep working to help end the war. After code breaker Jimmie Lee’s husband was killed in action, she realized the full cost of the war and increased her work to break codes and hopefully prevent more casualties. By using descriptive and detailed language, Mundy paints visual images in the reader’s mind that make this book almost impossible to put down. Her inclusion of details, such as the dimensions, colors, and where women slept at Arlington Hall, gives the reader a vivid picture of what it was like to live in this setting. Code Girls is informational and compelling, especially for young adults.

[Emma Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a country where women were expected to stay out of the workforce completely, they were suddenly needed desperately to win the Second World War. Liza Mundy's nonfiction novel, Code Girls, showcases the difficult lives of female codebreakers in WWII. The author's attention to detail and organization shines in writing, and they gave these complex stories justice. The effective organization was shown in Mundy's ability to tell the stories of these women's lives, educate about code, and give war facts all in chronological order. The women in the book were all memorable and were given unique introductions and story arcs. For example, Annie Caracristi was introduced with the fact that she washed her hair with laundry soap; these quirky facts made the women feel more realistic. Mundy's use of quotes effectively showed the thoughts of the real people of WWII. Quotes such as, "Any man-made code could be broken by a woman," said by Agnes Meyer Briscoll shows the attitudes of the real, living female codebreakers. Although this version of Code Girls was intended for young readers, the book can be enjoyed by anyone.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book in the library in honor of Women's History Month, I knew I had to get it. I'm glad I did.

Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space has launched my interest in the topic of women and their hidden/covered-up contributions to the world. Some of the cover-up is deliberate as part of the "war is for men" idea. Some of it was a matter of national security. I'm so glad to see books like this coming out. I want more!

Fortunately, the back of the book holds some suggested reading. I want to add more of these books to my classroom library.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This covers a lot of ground and is filled to the brim with interesting characters. It's a lot. It may be too much, but as an introduction to the world where women were doing as much, if not more, to defend our way of life, it is spectacular. To think of all the prejudice these women had to see, even if it wasn't directed at them personally (and so much of it had to have been). "Women can't do math." Oh, if only you knew. To have to keep these accomplishments secret, and thereby lose a great defense of themselves and their capabilities.... Spectacular and captivating and important, vitally important. When I checked it out from the library, I wasn't paying attention. I am disappointed that I only got the Young Readers version.

Ann Caracristi is my new hero. Mundy might also be my hero -- shining the light on the work of women like this -- women like these women.

[Katie Satathite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truthfully don’t have much of an in-depth knowledge of anything related to WW2 and found the code breaking and intelligence offices to be fascinating, especially since they were heavily staffed by women. The research was thorough and gave a great depiction of all the aspects of code breaking in the Army and the Navy during this time. I gave this 3 stars purely because for a Young Readers edition, I feel like students would get confused with listing so many different women, giving their backstories and their jobs, then randomly circling back to them chapters later. There was SO much information (not complaining!) that I think it would be very overwhelming for younger readers. For the right student, I think they would be fascinated (like I was!).

[Kimberlyanne.Lottgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the content of the book. It was interesting to learn about how women were included in the war effort. I believe the book said previous to the war only 4% of women had 4 year college degrees! But as men shipped over seas they needed women to work in the code rooms, and they needed women who had the math skills to do it. Some women jumped at the chance because there were not many other jobs that hired women for this kind of high level critical thinking. The chapters were a little hard to follow because they jumped back and forth between the stories of the different army and navy code offices, similar to the style of the book Fly girls about women pilots in the war.

[Jennifer Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My tween daughter checked this out of the library and really enjoyed it. I decided to renew and read it myself. I knew about the fly girls of WWII, but hadn't realized women were involved in code-breaking, although not surprising. I knew that code breaking was important. Everyone has heard of the Enigma, but code-breaking is so much more! I really enjoyed the personal stories of the women the author interviewed in preparing to write the book. It made the history so much more relatable. I definitely recommend.

[Victoria B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting but VERY dense, even for "young readers." I got a little confused trying to keep up with all the different women who were mentioned, in addition to the different machines/encryption names. 4th grade daughter (7th grade RL) gave up reading it early on because she couldn't keep up with the story and had no clue where some of the locations were. Probably best for 8th or 9th grade & up.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the "young readers" edition because it was the only one that my library has. The codebreaking parts were honestly pretty technical for me (I could feel my eyes glaze over) and it made me wonder what the full-version book contained. I did find the jumping narrative a bit scattered and confusing. I enjoyed this book- especially the glimpses of day-to-day life- but would have liked to read more about the women's transition to post-war life. Reading about the interviews was great.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on 2 flights in one day. Loved reading this book. I was super into the narrative and learning about the different women and the things they were able to accomplish in spite of frequent setbacks and low expectatIons. I would frequently
Tap my husband next to me and Highlight some
Hard to believe story.
Loved.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting to read this book at the same time Amy Farrah Fowler is accepting a Noble prize for physics on The Big Bang Theory exhorting girls to pursue careers in science. And while I knew that women were not treated as equals, it is fascinating to read of the vast differences between the Army codebreakers and the Navy.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for mother-daughter book club. Excited to see what girls think - they are pretty savvy mathematician and one knows Japanese. I loved learning more about this part of history I wasn't too familiar with. In awe of these women's intellectual talent; I was struck by what appeared by be a single minded focus and dedication of the country to the war effort.

[Memory Toast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating true story of women code breakers during WWII. I learned a lot from this book, but could have done with out hearing about the girls love lives. I get that it's part of the history, I just wasn't interested in reading about it, which made those parts of the book less enjoyable. Compromising with 4 stars, because otherwise would have been a 5 star read for me.

[Abby Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I don’t know if the one for adult as opposed to young readers is vastly different since I read the one for young readers. (It’s what the book store had in stock at the time.) Vastly different or not I really like it. Felt like it moved at a good paced and covered a lot of information about the war, the work, and the women involved.

[MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a Young Readers' Edition, a better explanation of how codebreaking works, with illustrations and diagrams, would have worked better.

I will read the original in due course. The subject is fascinating, and the women who did this work -in all its complicated technical, intellectual and emotional facets- were truly extraordinary.

[clivey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reveals the broader scope of American women serving during WWII. While the writing felt a bit scattershot for me and I had trouble keeping track of who/what/when/where, I still found it helpful to learn how many women were helping break codes in the US and what their experience of the war was.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Young Readers Edition and I'm glad I did. This could have been a better book and I was happy to read a shorter version. There was some repitition in places and I found the organization a bit strange. Lots of interesting info, but could have been better.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

I read this as an audiobook and didn’t realize I grabbed the young readers edition, but that’s okay. It was easy to follow and informative, with some great details and stories. At times it was a little repetitive, though.

[Haylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this gave good information but I can’t help but wonder if it being the young readers edition made it lose some of the content that would make it seem more cohesive. It followed the timeline of the war but jumped around too much

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is too convoluted for young (and not so young) readers. Jumps around so much historically and between characters. We were listening to the audiobook until we'd had enough and didn't bother to finish it. It's a shame for such an important story.