I love discovering good books through happy accidents, like randomly peeking at the book table at Costco. That’s how I found my latest historical read with an attention-grabbing title: “Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II,” by Lena Andrews, a former military analyst for the CIA. It’s rare to see a book devoted to women’s roles in WWII, so I naturally decided to take it home. I knew I wanted to read it for Women’s History Month in March.
I do admit that I felt a bit skeptical at first. I thought that American servicewomen in WWII would be too broad a category for such a small book. However, Andrews provides an excellent look into the details of the various military jobs that women held, from roles traditionally associated with women, like typists and nurses, to less common occupations like airplane test pilots and hand-drawing maps. I don’t associate female soldiers with any particular jobs in our modern society, but before reading this book, I subscribed to the idea that most servicewomen in past wars fulfilled standard clerical or nursing-related work. Now, I think differently.
Most of “Valiant Women” takes place during America’s involvement in the second World War, detailing the birth of women’s corps in each military branch and the disbanding of these same groups once the Allies’ victory eliminated the dire need for them. From the movement to create the corps to the problems and successes that servicewomen experienced, Andrews paints a vibrant picture of the work environment and the new lives that these driven ladies readily stepped into. The newest members of the military did their jobs and exceeded expectations while adjusting to unfamiliar circumstances and attention from the media and other soldiers who took advantage of the novelty of ladies in the military. Some units, such as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), did their jobs so well that they paved the way for new opportunities for other women.
Andrews shares some of the difficulties in researching and writing a book like this in her acknowledgements, and her heart easily shines through in the sheer amount of information and servicewomen’s stories incorporated in the book. I found “Valiant Women” extremely engaging for this reason. It’s all too easy to write about history and only state facts, but that’s neither interesting nor accurate. The history we study is the direct result of the choices people make and the actions they take. To read a book that revolves around the people who literally made history is always a treat, and I think Andrews does an excellent job of keeping the focus on the women and not just what they achieved.
Clocking in at about 300 pages, “Valiant Women” could be longer and cover more subject matter. I believe that its small size may be a good thing, though, and perhaps inspire more people to read it. I enjoy long history books, but it usually takes someone with a particular interest to read a 650-page biography. Despite being a short read, “Valiant Women” is intended for more mature audiences. There are some chapters that examine violence against servicewomen as well as controversial topics for the time and the military’s policies for dealing with them.
Though there is some historical context included in “Valiant Women,” there’s not much of it. Most of the information is presented chronologically, but for those who aren’t familiar with WWII’s various fighting fronts and the battle timelines, it can be difficult to follow. Andrews incorporates some of this information, but I found it challenging to keep track. I realize that this book is intended to convey the importance of servicewomen and shed light on some of the lesser-known military roles they fulfilled, but I do think the book could benefit from a little more general information.
One aspect of “Valiant Women” that I particularly enjoyed is the scattering of black and white photos throughout the book. I think it’s truly special to see old photos of any kind, but especially photos of such incredible women who devoted themselves to our country during the War. It makes it more real for me after I’ve seen their faces.
The most valuable thing I gained from reading “Valiant Women” is a better appreciation for all of America’s former, current, and future female soldiers. In WWII, the need for manpower at the frontlines was so great that we may not have won the war if women hadn’t stepped forward to fill vast numbers of military jobs. Today, women make up a little under 20 percent of soldiers, and the number only appears to be growing.
Ultimately, the purpose of any history book is to inform readers and give them a better appreciation of a topic. “Valiant Women” achieves this goal while being an engaging read, which is a hard feat to accomplish. It’s well worth it to read this incredible book, and I highly recommend it.
Purchase “Valiant Women” here on Amazon.
For more stories of incredible women who shaped history, check out these articles:
Women’s History Month: Meet “Stagecoach Mary” Fields
Elizabeth Smith Friedman: The Woman Who Smashed Codes
Women’s History Month: Celebrating Elizabeth Peratrovich
Move Over Annie, These Women Were Great Shooters, Too!
8 Red Army Female Snipers of World War II
"Anna" is a teenage girl who loves to write, read, and do just about anything artsy. She enjoys writing about nature crafts and her experiences while learning to hunt and cook wild game. Anna firmly believes that backyard chickens lay the best eggs and that spending time outside with her flock every morning will start the day off happily. She is extremely grateful to her best friend, who inspired her to really take writing seriously. You can find her lost in her latest idea or listening to her sister "Rose" read book quotes. View all posts by Anna
Women’s Outdoor News’ review of Valiant Women spotlights a long-overdue reckoning in adventure literature—one that replaces the tired “trailblazing woman” trope with nuanced portraits of female explorers as strategic collaborators rather than anomalies. The book’s strength lies in its refusal to romanticize:
Key Revelations:
The Teamwork Mythos: By chronicling how early 20th-century climbers like Fanny Bullock Workman systematically trained Sherpa teams (counter to male narratives of solo heroism), the book reframes expedition success as collective labor.
The Gear Gap: The chapter on 1930s Arctic explorer Louise Boyd exposes how improvised gear (e.g., repurposed silk parachutes for insulation) compensated for manufacturers’ refusal to design for women.
Modern Echoes: The review rightly notes parallels to today’s outdoor industry—where women still adapt men’s equipment despite comprising 48% of campers (Outdoor Foundation 2024).
This compelling book review highlights how Valiant Women dismantles “lone male adventurer” myths by showcasing female explorers’ collaborative brilliance and gear innovations. A timely read as women still fight for equal recognition in outdoor spaces.