Switchboard Soldiers

Best-selling author Chiaverini (The Women’s March) offers a novel about one of the great untold stories of World War I—the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, also known as the “Hello Girls.” These brave American women, requested by General Pershing because of their skills and accuracy, answered the call of the U.S. Army in June 1917. They were deployed throughout France (even at the front lines), serving as telephone operators who translated both English and French. Even though they could not yet vote or enlist in the armed forces, they did their duty with great courage and patriotism, weathering dire conditions and enemy fire. This story of love, war, patriotism, courage, hardship, influenza, and sacrifice follows several women from a variety of backgrounds from their prewar lives through their recruitment, then to the battlefield and beyond. Saskia Maarleveld provides an emotive narration, bringing out the book’s rich descriptions and engaging listeners in the adventure and heartache of the characters. Maarleveld brings a warmth to the story and adds depth with pitch-perfect accents.