I've read a lot of historical fiction about women serving in World War II. But all of those novels were about white women. Joshunda Sanders' Women of the Post is about the Black women serving in the WAC, specifically the women serving in the 6888th Battalion.
From a woman looking for more opportunities and a better life for her family to a woman learning she's half-white and half-Black, joining the Women's Army Corp held an appeal to all of the fictional women in Sanders' novel. But they're all based on the 855 Black women who served their country at home and abroad. They were the first and only all-Black female unit to be deployed overseas during WWII. And their task was to clear out a backlog of mail, ensuring that male American soldiers received their letters from home.
I appreciated how Sanders captured the diverse reasons why these women joined the WAC and how she expanded on real events. Sometimes the dialogue felt forced, but overall, I enjoyed reading the novel. It sheds light on a little-known part of history, but also reminds us of the part of history we know too well - racism. Not only were these women experiencing racism at home (and a little bit abroad from their fellow Americans), but they were also treated as less-than because of their gender. These women showed their mettle and got to experience something they never dreamed - traveling overseas, getting paid a decent wage for doing work they could be proud of, and having more freedom in a foreign country than in their own.
I think this book would be a wonderful book club read, and there is even a reader's guide in the back of the book with discussion questions!
Women of the Post is published by Park Row and is available to purchase now. I received a free e-ARC.
Comments
Post a Comment