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The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II
For fans of Radium Girls and history and WWII buffs, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line takes you inside the lives and experiences of 15 unknown women heroes from the Greatest Generation, the women who served, fought, struggled, and made things happen during WWII - in and out of uniform, for theirs is a legacy destined to embolden generations of women to come.
The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line are the heroes of the Greatest Generation that you hardly ever hear about. These women who did extraordinary things didn’t expect thanks and shied away from medals and recognition. Despite their amazing accomplishments, they’ve gone mostly unheralded and unrewarded. No longer. These are the women of World War II who served, fought, struggled, and made things happen - in and out of uniform.
Liane B. Russell fled Austria with nothing and later became a renowned US scientist whose research on the effects of radiation on embryos made a difference to thousands of lives. Gena Turgel was a prisoner who worked in the hospital at Bergen-Belsen and cared for the young Anne Frank, who was dying of typhus. Gena survived and went on to write a memoir and spent her life educating children about the Holocaust. Ida and Louise Cook were British sisters who repeatedly smuggled out jewelry and furs and served as sponsors for refugees, and they also established temporary housing for immigrant families in London.
Retired US Army Major General Mari K. Eder wrote this book because she knew their stories needed to be told - and the sooner the better. For theirs is a legacy destined to embolden generations of women to come.
The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line are the heroes of the Greatest Generation that you hardly ever hear about. These women who did extraordinary things didn’t expect thanks and shied away from medals and recognition. Despite their amazing accomplishments, they’ve gone mostly unheralded and unrewarded. No longer. These are the women of World War II who served, fought, struggled, and made things happen - in and out of uniform.
Liane B. Russell fled Austria with nothing and later became a renowned US scientist whose research on the effects of radiation on embryos made a difference to thousands of lives. Gena Turgel was a prisoner who worked in the hospital at Bergen-Belsen and cared for the young Anne Frank, who was dying of typhus. Gena survived and went on to write a memoir and spent her life educating children about the Holocaust. Ida and Louise Cook were British sisters who repeatedly smuggled out jewelry and furs and served as sponsors for refugees, and they also established temporary housing for immigrant families in London.
Retired US Army Major General Mari K. Eder wrote this book because she knew their stories needed to be told - and the sooner the better. For theirs is a legacy destined to embolden generations of women to come.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 3, 2021
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About the author
Mari K. Eder
12 books96 followersMari K. Eder, retired U.S. Army Major General, is a renowned speaker and author, and a thought leader on strategic communication and leadership. General Eder has served as Director of Public Affairs at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and as an adjunct professor and lecturer in communications and public diplomacy at the NATO School and Sweden’s International Training Command. She served in a number of senior positions in the Pentagon, on the Army Staff, as Deputy Chief of Public Affairs and Deputy Chief of the Army Reserve, and with DoD’s Reserve Forces Policy Board. General Eder speaks and writes frequently on communication, ethics, and security topics in universities and for international audiences and consults on communications issues.
When not writing, lecturing, or traveling, she works with rescue groups and fosters rescued Schnauzers.
When not writing, lecturing, or traveling, she works with rescue groups and fosters rescued Schnauzers.
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August 1, 2021
ONE WORD: INSPIRATIONAL
I have often wondered, why we hear so few stories of the women, who aided in the war effort during WWII. Apparently, I have not been the only one. I applaud Eder for taking on this mammoth effort - and for pulling it off so spectacularly!
👍 What I Liked 👍
Premise: I cannot stress how amazing I feel this premise is! To finally give this women the recognition they so truly deserve is wonderful and just right. They deserve to have their stories told and acknowledged at last. Without them, the war would not have gone the way it did.
Women: There were so many different women from all walk of life. And they contributed in so many different ways, spy work, topography work, education, documenting, helping refugees etc. I loved the variety of these women.
Blend: The way this was written and told was so great. It is a great blend of storytelling and biographical facts. I enjoyed the feeling of viewing them closely and getting into their minds as well as seeing their lives from afar. Wonderful!
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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I have often wondered, why we hear so few stories of the women, who aided in the war effort during WWII. Apparently, I have not been the only one. I applaud Eder for taking on this mammoth effort - and for pulling it off so spectacularly!
👍 What I Liked 👍
Premise: I cannot stress how amazing I feel this premise is! To finally give this women the recognition they so truly deserve is wonderful and just right. They deserve to have their stories told and acknowledged at last. Without them, the war would not have gone the way it did.
Women: There were so many different women from all walk of life. And they contributed in so many different ways, spy work, topography work, education, documenting, helping refugees etc. I loved the variety of these women.
Blend: The way this was written and told was so great. It is a great blend of storytelling and biographical facts. I enjoyed the feeling of viewing them closely and getting into their minds as well as seeing their lives from afar. Wonderful!
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 15 Bookworm Problems
August 31, 2021
The short chapters are no less compelling as they record the accomplishments of 15 impressive, exceptional women who did their part in WWII against all the odds.
Even as women were not expected to do more than sew and cook they excelled, some at great risk to themselves, not for the medals, but because it was the right thing to do and because they could.
This line stuck out to me: “Not all acts of humanity have to be large or sweeping to have an impact.” (Pg.189)
It took years for these women’s accomplishments to be recognized or even told, let this not be the case going forward.
Even as women were not expected to do more than sew and cook they excelled, some at great risk to themselves, not for the medals, but because it was the right thing to do and because they could.
This line stuck out to me: “Not all acts of humanity have to be large or sweeping to have an impact.” (Pg.189)
It took years for these women’s accomplishments to be recognized or even told, let this not be the case going forward.
August 17, 2021
“The Girls Who Stepped Out Of Line” recounts the incredible stories of fifteen women who answered the call during World War II not only to serve but to also make history. They overcame fears, witnessed unspeakable acts of war, and created the future. It is impossible to condense these lives and experiences into a short review, so I am listing each name with a short sentence.
There is nothing to say better than what they say for themselves.
1. Alice Marble -- international tennis star. “I did what I’ve always done. I fought.”
2. Hilda Gimpel Eisen -- Germans and Russians in the woods. “You either make it or you don’t. You have nothing to lose.”
3. Stephanie Czech Rader – X-2, a spy. “What the heck was I gonna do with a dumb gun?”
4. Elizabeth Peet McIntosh, Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Fake News. “I speak Japanese.”
5. Virginia Hall Goillot – a reporter writing stories with imbedded messages. The CIA named a building for her.
6. Mary Taylor Previte – Japanese internment camp (in China) as a child. “Making a mistake, even when you’re so young as fourteen, can leave you marked for the rest of your life.”
7. Ruth Gruber -- war refugees and wounded U.S. servicemen heading to safety in the United States. “From this moment, on my life would be forever bound with rescue and survival.”
8. Dame Mary Sigillo Barraco -- the real world of a dark prison cell. She told her story, the meaning of patriotism, and the strength to be found in faith and resistance.
9. Berendina Diet Eman -- The Hague, the Netherlands, coordinating shelter for Jews. “I thought that, whatever would happen to me, God was in control.”
10. Ida and Louise Cook -- the gray areas of smuggling “We weren’t the James Bond type— we were just respectable Civil Service typists.”
11. Marion Armstrong Frieswyk – Power Maps a career field that didn’t even exist, “We’re doing war work for the government. It’s Oh. So. Secret.” (The OSS)
12. Elizabeth Bemis Robarts – a work so secret it she did not know what it was until 1995, but it shortened the war by two years. “It was mind-boggling to find out the truth.”
13. Ola Mildred Rexroat McDonald – Millie could not drive a car but she could fly. “After all, nothing could be better than flying.”
14. Katherine Flynn Nolan – nurses went the whole way, from the beaches of Normandy through France right into the heart of the Third Reich. “We were dirty, weary, and chilled to the point of numbness.”
15. Charity Adams Earley – a two-year backlog of mail for troops .“We have a job to do and we’re going to get it done.”
“The Girls Who Stepped Out Of Line” by Mari K. Eder is a MUST READ book for all generations.
There is nothing to say better than what they say for themselves.
1. Alice Marble -- international tennis star. “I did what I’ve always done. I fought.”
2. Hilda Gimpel Eisen -- Germans and Russians in the woods. “You either make it or you don’t. You have nothing to lose.”
3. Stephanie Czech Rader – X-2, a spy. “What the heck was I gonna do with a dumb gun?”
4. Elizabeth Peet McIntosh, Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Fake News. “I speak Japanese.”
5. Virginia Hall Goillot – a reporter writing stories with imbedded messages. The CIA named a building for her.
6. Mary Taylor Previte – Japanese internment camp (in China) as a child. “Making a mistake, even when you’re so young as fourteen, can leave you marked for the rest of your life.”
7. Ruth Gruber -- war refugees and wounded U.S. servicemen heading to safety in the United States. “From this moment, on my life would be forever bound with rescue and survival.”
8. Dame Mary Sigillo Barraco -- the real world of a dark prison cell. She told her story, the meaning of patriotism, and the strength to be found in faith and resistance.
9. Berendina Diet Eman -- The Hague, the Netherlands, coordinating shelter for Jews. “I thought that, whatever would happen to me, God was in control.”
10. Ida and Louise Cook -- the gray areas of smuggling “We weren’t the James Bond type— we were just respectable Civil Service typists.”
11. Marion Armstrong Frieswyk – Power Maps a career field that didn’t even exist, “We’re doing war work for the government. It’s Oh. So. Secret.” (The OSS)
12. Elizabeth Bemis Robarts – a work so secret it she did not know what it was until 1995, but it shortened the war by two years. “It was mind-boggling to find out the truth.”
13. Ola Mildred Rexroat McDonald – Millie could not drive a car but she could fly. “After all, nothing could be better than flying.”
14. Katherine Flynn Nolan – nurses went the whole way, from the beaches of Normandy through France right into the heart of the Third Reich. “We were dirty, weary, and chilled to the point of numbness.”
15. Charity Adams Earley – a two-year backlog of mail for troops .“We have a job to do and we’re going to get it done.”
“The Girls Who Stepped Out Of Line” by Mari K. Eder is a MUST READ book for all generations.
August 7, 2023
The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line is a novel written about fifteen women who fought, served, and did the unexpected and extraordinary things during the 1930’s to 1940’S. I have chosen to share six women’s stories that I found inspirational, most waited over fifty years for what they did to be recognized and many paved the way for women of today.
Alice Marble was an American tennis Player, she won Wimbledon in 1939, during the war she was an editor for D C Comics and they created the character of Wonder Woman. Alice played tennis exhibitions matches for the troops, and undertook dangerous spying missions to expose where the money the Germans were stealing was being sent and she was wounded. Alice later went on to promote women’s tennis, she gave lessons and taught Billy Jene King.
Elizabeth Peet McIntosh was living and working as a journalist in Hawaii when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour and she wondered what was going on. Elizabeth could speak Japanese, in 1943 she was asked to join Office of Strategic Services, and she transmitted fake broadcasts to the Japanese troops, altered postcards and was one of the first women to use physiological warfare against the enemy and later went on to join the CIA.
Ida and Louise Cook were English sisters who worked as secretaries for the civil service, they loved Opera and made their own evening dresses. They smuggled Jewish people out of Germany, wearing the persons jewellery and furs in plain sight, so the refugees could sell them and establish a new life. Ida wrote romance novels for Mills & Boon and she used this money to buy a flat in London, where displaced people could stay and they both lobbied for people to donate money and help.
Katherine Flynn Nolan was a nurse and a member of The Fifty-Third Field Hospital, she landed on Utah Beach on the fifteen of July 1944 and she served on the front line in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. If you were a wounded soldier, no matter what side you fought on you would have wanted to be receive emergency treatment by these remarkable nurses and only four percent of their patient succumbed to their injuries while in their care and Kate was reunited with one of the men she saved fifty years later.
Major Charity Adams, she was one of the first African American Officers in the US army, she was sent to England and waiting for them was a two year back log of mail. The Women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion worked seven days a week, in three shifts and sorted 65,000 items of mail a day and it took six months to clear the huge mountain of mail. The parcels contained food, it was rotten, full of maggots, and some of the mail was damaged and wasn't addressed properly.
Mari K. Eder's book highlights how these remarkable women had the chance to do more that they'd been allowed to do before, they were trail blazers, most couldn't talk about what they did and they defied societies expectations of what women could do. Four stars from me and I can't wait to read the authors next book The Girls Who Fought Crime and it's about America's first female police officers.
Alice Marble was an American tennis Player, she won Wimbledon in 1939, during the war she was an editor for D C Comics and they created the character of Wonder Woman. Alice played tennis exhibitions matches for the troops, and undertook dangerous spying missions to expose where the money the Germans were stealing was being sent and she was wounded. Alice later went on to promote women’s tennis, she gave lessons and taught Billy Jene King.
Elizabeth Peet McIntosh was living and working as a journalist in Hawaii when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour and she wondered what was going on. Elizabeth could speak Japanese, in 1943 she was asked to join Office of Strategic Services, and she transmitted fake broadcasts to the Japanese troops, altered postcards and was one of the first women to use physiological warfare against the enemy and later went on to join the CIA.
Ida and Louise Cook were English sisters who worked as secretaries for the civil service, they loved Opera and made their own evening dresses. They smuggled Jewish people out of Germany, wearing the persons jewellery and furs in plain sight, so the refugees could sell them and establish a new life. Ida wrote romance novels for Mills & Boon and she used this money to buy a flat in London, where displaced people could stay and they both lobbied for people to donate money and help.
Katherine Flynn Nolan was a nurse and a member of The Fifty-Third Field Hospital, she landed on Utah Beach on the fifteen of July 1944 and she served on the front line in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. If you were a wounded soldier, no matter what side you fought on you would have wanted to be receive emergency treatment by these remarkable nurses and only four percent of their patient succumbed to their injuries while in their care and Kate was reunited with one of the men she saved fifty years later.
Major Charity Adams, she was one of the first African American Officers in the US army, she was sent to England and waiting for them was a two year back log of mail. The Women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion worked seven days a week, in three shifts and sorted 65,000 items of mail a day and it took six months to clear the huge mountain of mail. The parcels contained food, it was rotten, full of maggots, and some of the mail was damaged and wasn't addressed properly.
Mari K. Eder's book highlights how these remarkable women had the chance to do more that they'd been allowed to do before, they were trail blazers, most couldn't talk about what they did and they defied societies expectations of what women could do. Four stars from me and I can't wait to read the authors next book The Girls Who Fought Crime and it's about America's first female police officers.
September 7, 2021
Just wonderful! A celebration of some amazing women from history, detailing their bravery, their trials and tribulations, and their tremendous successes. Inspirational and uplifting - Mari K. Eder is a fabulous storyteller.
March 15, 2022
While there are some good stories in the first part of this book, I would not recommend it. The last third of the book is just a recap of the first two thirds. I was surprised that the author quoted two radicals, Greta Thunberg and Ilhan Omar. Important stories are told in this book, but it is not worth the price.
February 10, 2021
The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line by Mari K Eder is a wonderful nonfiction book that is a fascinating collection of real-life women that went above and beyond in a multitude of avenues during the events of WWII.
I truly loved reading about all of these brave, selfless, courageous, and impressive women that in some way contributed to the success of the county and the allies during the war. I find it invaluable for current-day young girls, adolescents, and women to be able to read such accounts of heroic women in the past to know how resilient we are, what we are capable of, and how we as the human race, and society, can overcome if put to the test.
The wonderful array of accounts, some involved with military operations, some outside of these events, all important, and all somewhat under the radar thus far (and unjustly so!). I am so honored to be able to experience and learn about all 15 of these brave and impressive women and will forever be changed and grateful for all that they risked and added for the betterment of all.
An excellent collection and book.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Sourcebooks(nonfiction) for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I truly loved reading about all of these brave, selfless, courageous, and impressive women that in some way contributed to the success of the county and the allies during the war. I find it invaluable for current-day young girls, adolescents, and women to be able to read such accounts of heroic women in the past to know how resilient we are, what we are capable of, and how we as the human race, and society, can overcome if put to the test.
The wonderful array of accounts, some involved with military operations, some outside of these events, all important, and all somewhat under the radar thus far (and unjustly so!). I am so honored to be able to experience and learn about all 15 of these brave and impressive women and will forever be changed and grateful for all that they risked and added for the betterment of all.
An excellent collection and book.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Sourcebooks(nonfiction) for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
August 8, 2023
3.5 stars
Not everyone will like this book. However it is a good tribute to many women who were ignored and past over, when they should have been championed and decorated for their bravery, dedication and fearlessness.
Eder, the author, was an Army Major General and she took it upon herself to bring to light a number of ladies who during WWII did some astonishing things, both in and out of uniform. These are vignettes of several women, mostly who lived into the 21st century, but unknown to most everyone, including their own families, had a hand at helping people or turning the tide of the war. They not only stepped up when needed, they 'stepped out of line" to do what most people would never begin to imagine.
If you are an advocate for women or are curious about what went on behind the scenes of WWII, this book is for you.
Not everyone will like this book. However it is a good tribute to many women who were ignored and past over, when they should have been championed and decorated for their bravery, dedication and fearlessness.
Eder, the author, was an Army Major General and she took it upon herself to bring to light a number of ladies who during WWII did some astonishing things, both in and out of uniform. These are vignettes of several women, mostly who lived into the 21st century, but unknown to most everyone, including their own families, had a hand at helping people or turning the tide of the war. They not only stepped up when needed, they 'stepped out of line" to do what most people would never begin to imagine.
If you are an advocate for women or are curious about what went on behind the scenes of WWII, this book is for you.
October 20, 2022
Enjoyable read of women heroes.
April 23, 2022
Great Book
“The girls that stepped out of line” is really a fantastic book and one I totally enjoyed.
Diverse collection of stories of women who offered were told they couldn’t do things. Yet, they not only compost what they were told they couldn’t do but they excelled at it.
Truly a good book.
“The girls that stepped out of line” is really a fantastic book and one I totally enjoyed.
Diverse collection of stories of women who offered were told they couldn’t do things. Yet, they not only compost what they were told they couldn’t do but they excelled at it.
Truly a good book.
June 20, 2021
I love reading about amazing, courageous women who have been forgotten, women who made a difference and whose lives should be remembered. Theirs are the stories that need to be told. Women such as famous tennis player Alice Marble, who claimed to have been a spy during WWII. Or the fascinating Stephanie Czech Rader, who served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Counter Espionage Branch X-2. And then there was Ruth Gruber, an intelligent young woman who obtained her doctorate at the age of 20! Ruth became a journalist and helped 1,000 refugees escape Europe in 1944.
Retired U.S. Army Major General Mari K. Eder said she didn’t want to write a book “about what these women were forbidden to do. Or how they were discriminated against.” Instead, she chose to write “the story of who these women were and what they did do.” She wrote about what they accomplished in spite of the discrimination that they all confronted and fought to overcome. These women were part of the greatest generation and, as Eder stated, they “not only made history, they created the future.” This book reminds us of what they accomplished and how their determination to fight for their dreams and for their country helped open doors for women decades later.
This book is well-researched and has an extensive bibliography. It also includes numerous pictures of each of the women, both during their time in the military and in later years when they were finally recognized for their World War II service. I highly recommend this book that shares the stories of 15 women who made a difference during the war and throughout their lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Retired U.S. Army Major General Mari K. Eder said she didn’t want to write a book “about what these women were forbidden to do. Or how they were discriminated against.” Instead, she chose to write “the story of who these women were and what they did do.” She wrote about what they accomplished in spite of the discrimination that they all confronted and fought to overcome. These women were part of the greatest generation and, as Eder stated, they “not only made history, they created the future.” This book reminds us of what they accomplished and how their determination to fight for their dreams and for their country helped open doors for women decades later.
This book is well-researched and has an extensive bibliography. It also includes numerous pictures of each of the women, both during their time in the military and in later years when they were finally recognized for their World War II service. I highly recommend this book that shares the stories of 15 women who made a difference during the war and throughout their lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2023
Overall I really enjoyed these stories and getting a glimpse into some stories that I am not as familiar with. I liked that we had a mix of American and European women, I wish we had more BIPOC stories like the last chapter.
My main little annoyance was the overuse of the whole "step out of line" metaphor - like, I get it, they went above and beyond and went against the grain for women at the time, we get it lol
Still, if you're looking for a book that is easy to read, you can read a short story and then pick it up later to read another one, this is a great starting point for getting some history on women during WWII - and then go find the full length books that have been written about several of these women.
My main little annoyance was the overuse of the whole "step out of line" metaphor - like, I get it, they went above and beyond and went against the grain for women at the time, we get it lol
Still, if you're looking for a book that is easy to read, you can read a short story and then pick it up later to read another one, this is a great starting point for getting some history on women during WWII - and then go find the full length books that have been written about several of these women.
May 8, 2025
A most enjoyable read.
November 26, 2021
Well, I was going to say "solidly mediocre" and say how it frustrated me that more time seemed to be spent on the "post script" part of the women's lives than on what they actually did.
Unfortunately the end of the book knocked this review down to one star.
As it is, it's potentially a decent jumping off point for further research. Having already read full books about Virginia Hall I will openly admit I skipped that chapter as nothing new was going to be said. I wish the chapter titles had included the name of the woman the chapter was going to be about. It's especially funny that the description of the book touts the women as "unknown" but then talks about Virginia Hall...who has several books written about her. I think the chapter on Major Charity Adams was actually the most interesting and at least to me, the one about the "least known" figure.
Hopefully I'll forget this just as quickly as I read it.
Unfortunately the end of the book knocked this review down to one star.
As it is, it's potentially a decent jumping off point for further research. Having already read full books about Virginia Hall I will openly admit I skipped that chapter as nothing new was going to be said. I wish the chapter titles had included the name of the woman the chapter was going to be about. It's especially funny that the description of the book touts the women as "unknown" but then talks about Virginia Hall...who has several books written about her. I think the chapter on Major Charity Adams was actually the most interesting and at least to me, the one about the "least known" figure.
Hopefully I'll forget this just as quickly as I read it.
January 18, 2023
This book is a collection of a dozen or so stories about some truly amazing women - most I hadn’t heard of.
But I had to battle a little with the way it was told. A lot of unnecessary commentary from the authors perspective added a lot of pages but not a lot of substance.
It did give off some high school history text book vibes and I would have preferred a deeper dive into the stories themselves rather than the authors view of the significance of their actions.
But I had to battle a little with the way it was told. A lot of unnecessary commentary from the authors perspective added a lot of pages but not a lot of substance.
It did give off some high school history text book vibes and I would have preferred a deeper dive into the stories themselves rather than the authors view of the significance of their actions.
June 1, 2021
I requested this book through Netgalley because of course I want to read a book about some amazing women. And I am really glad I did so.
In this book we read the stories of 15 women who in some way contributed in the war effort… maybe by being a pilot, a spy, a smuggler for Jewish refugees, part of the resistance, a map maker or by sorting out the mess that was the postal services. Women may not have fought on the front lines, but still they were incredibly important during WWII… something for which they didn’t get their rightful recognition until far too late.
Although most of the women included in this book are American, I hugely appreciated the other nationalities included in this book. Especially the Dutch Diet really struck close to home (being Dutch myself) and just… wow. That women, as all the others included in this book, was so incredibly strong and inspirational.
The book itself is incredibly well written. I’m impressed the the anecdotes Eder managed to include in here. The chapters themselves are also just the perfect length, making this whole book very easy to read. After the stories of the 15 women, we are told about how long it took for them to get their medals. We also get to see how the actions of these and other women during WWII influenced future generations, especially the Baby Boomers. Eder concludes her book by showing how there are still too many firsts, and drawing our attention to some of the women and girls who step out of line today (such as Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai, but also many more).
If you want to read a book filled to the brim with strong, smart, brave, amazing and inspirational women… please pick this up. I adored it.
In this book we read the stories of 15 women who in some way contributed in the war effort… maybe by being a pilot, a spy, a smuggler for Jewish refugees, part of the resistance, a map maker or by sorting out the mess that was the postal services. Women may not have fought on the front lines, but still they were incredibly important during WWII… something for which they didn’t get their rightful recognition until far too late.
Although most of the women included in this book are American, I hugely appreciated the other nationalities included in this book. Especially the Dutch Diet really struck close to home (being Dutch myself) and just… wow. That women, as all the others included in this book, was so incredibly strong and inspirational.
The book itself is incredibly well written. I’m impressed the the anecdotes Eder managed to include in here. The chapters themselves are also just the perfect length, making this whole book very easy to read. After the stories of the 15 women, we are told about how long it took for them to get their medals. We also get to see how the actions of these and other women during WWII influenced future generations, especially the Baby Boomers. Eder concludes her book by showing how there are still too many firsts, and drawing our attention to some of the women and girls who step out of line today (such as Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai, but also many more).
If you want to read a book filled to the brim with strong, smart, brave, amazing and inspirational women… please pick this up. I adored it.
August 31, 2021
“The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: untold stories of the women who changed the course of World War II,” by Maj. Gen. Mari K. Elder (Sourcebooks, 2021). Overall disappointing. Not that the stories aren’t interesting---it’s that they were not untold. In fact, almost all of the information in the book comes from previously published stories. Most of these women were already known, and some well-known. In addition, except for a few who definitely did step out of line to get into the war one way or another, most of these women were part of larger groups. Some were active in the Resistance, some were in the OSS, some were reporters, a few were actual spies. But by and large they did not step out of line. On the other hand, the stories are all interesting. They have been told, but all in all they are not well-known.
https://read.sourcebooks.com/non-fict...
https://read.sourcebooks.com/non-fict...
July 11, 2022
Very interesting book about the lives of women who made a difference in the 1930's and 1940's during the war. Many of them lived to be over 100 years old which speaks to their grit, determination, continual learning, and "stepping out of line" and doing things that were non-traditional for women during their era---and even now.
Highly inspirational, particularly for women and girls, who want to follow their dreams, passions and abilities when society and/or others are trying to hold them back.
Highly inspirational, particularly for women and girls, who want to follow their dreams, passions and abilities when society and/or others are trying to hold them back.
April 7, 2024
Rating this book presents quite a challenge. On the one hand, the content, which illuminates the lives and WWII accomplishments of a group of eighteen previously “invisible” women, is invaluable; but on the other hand, the writing style and grammatical structure is rather pedestrian and decidedly unexceptional. I am glad I learned about these women—I just wish the delivery of the information were more entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
May 25, 2022
Interesting essays on relatively unknown women who accepted and accomplished heroic missions during WWII.
Virginia Hall (spy) and Kate Flynn Nolan (D-day triage nurse at Normandy, assigned to follow Patton’s army through the Battle of the Bulge) were most amazing to me.
The last two chapters should have been left out.
Virginia Hall (spy) and Kate Flynn Nolan (D-day triage nurse at Normandy, assigned to follow Patton’s army through the Battle of the Bulge) were most amazing to me.
The last two chapters should have been left out.
July 4, 2022
important topic, poorly written and edited
the underlying stories are great, and they need to be told. but this book reads like a C+ high school term paper. it is full of repetition and other filler ... and the sentence structure varies between long and overwrought, and ... fragmentary.
the underlying stories are great, and they need to be told. but this book reads like a C+ high school term paper. it is full of repetition and other filler ... and the sentence structure varies between long and overwrought, and ... fragmentary.
September 16, 2021
This book was ok, but it felt like an elementary primer for woman during WW2. I have enjoyed the memoirs during this period that cover one person and go deeper into their story. These blurred together for me.
September 15, 2025
This book was inspiring and eye opening in so many ways. The resilience of these women in a male-dominated world and war was incredible. The grace and absolute brilliance of how they fought, got involved, and overcame challenges kept me turning pages. The wild thing to think is that this was only a dozen or so stories of remarkable women during this time, but there are so many more stories out there that deserve to be told. Highly highly recommend!
January 29, 2026
I have heard of a number of these women before but I read a lot of nonfiction. Screw the patriarchy. Women wishing to fly in the WASP had to have extensive flying experience. Men did not have to have any to be trained as fighter pilots.
The women covered were in different fields and countries.
The women covered were in different fields and countries.
June 27, 2021
Once again we have stories of behind the scenes heroism by women who stepped up to help win WWII and stepped out of line to do what needed to be done. A tennis pro turned spy, an amputee who was one of the most sought after female spies behind enemy lines, resistance fighters and much more.
They did these selfless acts risking their lives and couldn't tell anyone about their role. There was no ticker tape parade when these ladies came home after the war and picked up their lives. The author who has made her career in the armed forces, has an easy going storytelling writing style that pulls you in and you get a sense of how much research went into getting the story right. For any reader that is fascinated by both the female based WWII fictional stories and the real women the stories inspired. Unbelievable what they accomplished with so little training. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
They did these selfless acts risking their lives and couldn't tell anyone about their role. There was no ticker tape parade when these ladies came home after the war and picked up their lives. The author who has made her career in the armed forces, has an easy going storytelling writing style that pulls you in and you get a sense of how much research went into getting the story right. For any reader that is fascinated by both the female based WWII fictional stories and the real women the stories inspired. Unbelievable what they accomplished with so little training. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
April 6, 2022
This was a very readable non-fiction book about 15 women who were active during World War II. Each chapter has a mini-biography of a different woman.
Based on the cover I expected this to be about women who served in the military, but that turned out not to be accurate. It included several who were active in the Resistance (one in France, one in the Netherlands), two sisters who helped Jewish refugees by smuggling their belongings out of Germany, one woman who was in a Japanese prison as a child during the war, and several who had different jobs with the OSS, as well as several who were in the military.
Many of the chapters spent at least as much time describing the women's lives after the war as they did describing the women's wartime actions. Most of them described long-lasting (heterosexual) marriages, which left me wondering whether the author was consciously avoiding lesbians or whether any of the women who weren't described as getting married were actually lesbian.
The last three chapters were summaries of the varied roles of women during the war, what that means for women today, and the overall status of women today.
I was planning to rate this 4 stars until I ran into an obvious factual error on page 298 (chapter 17):
"Of the twelve seats on the Supreme Court, three are held by women justices." The U.S. Supreme Court only has nine seats! After I read this, I couldn't help wondering how many other facts in the book might be wrong that I didn't know about. So rating dropped to three stars.
Based on the cover I expected this to be about women who served in the military, but that turned out not to be accurate. It included several who were active in the Resistance (one in France, one in the Netherlands), two sisters who helped Jewish refugees by smuggling their belongings out of Germany, one woman who was in a Japanese prison as a child during the war, and several who had different jobs with the OSS, as well as several who were in the military.
Many of the chapters spent at least as much time describing the women's lives after the war as they did describing the women's wartime actions. Most of them described long-lasting (heterosexual) marriages, which left me wondering whether the author was consciously avoiding lesbians or whether any of the women who weren't described as getting married were actually lesbian.
The last three chapters were summaries of the varied roles of women during the war, what that means for women today, and the overall status of women today.
I was planning to rate this 4 stars until I ran into an obvious factual error on page 298 (chapter 17):
"Of the twelve seats on the Supreme Court, three are held by women justices." The U.S. Supreme Court only has nine seats! After I read this, I couldn't help wondering how many other facts in the book might be wrong that I didn't know about. So rating dropped to three stars.
February 9, 2021
This was a very eye-opening and interesting read! I had no idea who any of these women were before reading this work, and I'm so glad that I do now. The book is well-structured, each impressive woman has a dedicated chapter, making it an easy book to digest and to come back to. I was also impressed how the author was able to connect some of the women to each other, strengthening the stories of each of the women. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a little inspiration!
April 19, 2024
This book was written like a “who’s was” for adults. It was written poorly. I thought it had potential to really be an interesting story. I’ve read bios on some of the women mentioned, but was frustrated that they spent more time on the before/after parts of their lives than on what was actually done during war time. The term “they stepped out of line” must have been repeated thousands of times. Also the last 2 chapters could have been left out.
August 3, 2022
The women’s roles were to be commended; didn’t like the authors writing. Also Dordt College is in Sioux Center, Iowa, not Sioux City.
February 7, 2024
2 stars
Picked this up for an audiobook since I do love more civilian/supporting role history than war strategy and thought this would be decent. Reminded me of that war class that I took with @Alex Grudzinski. Learned a lot but was disappointed by the way the history was narrated.
I totally get that this book was about female empowerment and girlbosses in WWII acting as trailblazers for women, especially women in military now. However, there was absolutely no nuance at all in how these women were portrayed, in fact it was almost a disservice to portray these women as perfect shining beacons of light who could do no wrong because it really sends a message of perfection to the intended audience (young girls with big dreams i guess).
It was just an overtly patriotic book, which may have been biased by my personal beliefs, but I think some of the lives and actions of these women was truly heroic and helping the war effort while others were just actually horrific war crimes that we really should not be applauding. Like fighting in the French Resistance and helping people escape from Nazi Germany really isn't on the same level as being a spy with the OSS responsible for psychological torture on the Japanese civilians to gaslight them into surrendering. It also gets really old hearing how "they broke through the glass ceiling" 500 times, there was just no real discussion of the intricate ways structures of military and government were set up to fail, instead you just heard that it was a bunch of times.
This book exposed me to more history and did a good job making it digestible and easy to follow - just fundamentally disagreed with the way these stories were portrayed.
Picked this up for an audiobook since I do love more civilian/supporting role history than war strategy and thought this would be decent. Reminded me of that war class that I took with @Alex Grudzinski. Learned a lot but was disappointed by the way the history was narrated.
I totally get that this book was about female empowerment and girlbosses in WWII acting as trailblazers for women, especially women in military now. However, there was absolutely no nuance at all in how these women were portrayed, in fact it was almost a disservice to portray these women as perfect shining beacons of light who could do no wrong because it really sends a message of perfection to the intended audience (young girls with big dreams i guess).
It was just an overtly patriotic book, which may have been biased by my personal beliefs, but I think some of the lives and actions of these women was truly heroic and helping the war effort while others were just actually horrific war crimes that we really should not be applauding. Like fighting in the French Resistance and helping people escape from Nazi Germany really isn't on the same level as being a spy with the OSS responsible for psychological torture on the Japanese civilians to gaslight them into surrendering. It also gets really old hearing how "they broke through the glass ceiling" 500 times, there was just no real discussion of the intricate ways structures of military and government were set up to fail, instead you just heard that it was a bunch of times.
This book exposed me to more history and did a good job making it digestible and easy to follow - just fundamentally disagreed with the way these stories were portrayed.
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