Book-The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win WWII

Paperback, 2013, 16 pages of black-and-white photographs. Discussion questions and an author interview in the back. Good condition. No missing or torn pages and the spine is in solid shape. There's some cosmetic wear and a bit of creasing on the cover, a note from a previous owner, and on the front matter there's a bit of page rippling and a light stain. One dog-ear. See pics for imperfections. "They were buoyed by a shared purpose, close friendships, and a surplus of handsome scientists and Army men--but their jobs were shrouded in mystery. The penalty for talking about their work--even innocuous details--was termination and eviction. One woman was recruited to spy on coworkers. They all knew something big was happening, but few could piece together the overall picture. This is the incredible and shocking story of the women recruited from small towns across the South, to work in an Appalachian factory during World War II and play a crucial role in one of the most significant moments of American history. Oak Ridge, TN was home to 75,000 residents at the height of the war, consuming more electricity than New York City. But to most of the world this town simply did not exist. Denise Kiernan draws on the voices of those who lived the experience--women in their eighties and nineties when they were interviewed--and captures the spirit of the times through their experiences: their pluck and their enduring courage, even as the darker side of their story was unfolding in Japan...."