Book of the Month May 2025 – Valiant Women

Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II

As we honor the remarkable women and African Americans who built liberty ships in our current exhibit in our museum, we’ve found ourselves especially moved by a book that complements this story beautifully: Valiant Women by Lena Andrews. It’s not only our Staff Favorite of the Month—it’s one of those books that has sparked real conversation and admiration among our team.

In this powerful and deeply researched bestseller, military analyst Lena Andrews shines a long-overdue spotlight on the 350,000 American women who served in uniform during World War II. These weren’t just supporting roles—they were essential, trailblazing, and often overlooked contributions that helped shape the outcome of the war. From codebreakers and gunnery instructors to parachute riggers and aircraft mechanics, these women showed grit, skill, and courage in roles that had rarely, if ever, been open to them.

WAVES perform maintenance on the engine of an SNJ at NAS Jacksonville National Archives and Records Administration

What makes this book especially gripping is the way Andrews brings these stories to life. She interviewed surviving veterans and unearthed long-buried archival material, crafting a narrative that’s both eye-opening and emotionally resonant. As Booklist put it, it's “brilliantly told,” and packed with vivid photos and firsthand accounts that make you feel connected to these women and their legacy.

One chapter our staff keeps talking about focuses on the Six Triple Eight—the all-Black, all-women battalion led by Charity Adams. Their story is not only inspiring, it’s a reminder of the intersection of gender and racial barriers these women had to overcome just to serve their country.

Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) officer Charity Adams (center) at the first WAAC training center in For Des Moines, Iowa. National Archives

Critics across the board are calling Valiant Women a must-read. Publishers Weekly praised it as “an enlightening revisionist history,” while Kirkus Reviews called it “a welcome celebration of military heroes who deserve more recognition.” And perhaps Shelf Awareness said it best: it’s “a fitting history of and tribute to the women who contributed so vitally to the Allied victory.”

Harriet Pickens and Frances Wills, the first Black WAVES officers. National Archives

Whether you're already diving into our Liberty Ship exhibit or just looking for a fresh perspective on WWII history, this book is a phenomenal read. It’s informative, yes—but also moving, bingeable (yes, history can be bingeable!), and truly inspiring.

You can pick up your copy right here at our Museum Store. We hope you’ll love it as much as we did—and that it helps bring even more light to the stories of the women who helped shape the world we live in today.