
Historical fiction
Sisters in Arms
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Join today.We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Kaia Alderson, on your first book!
This is an early release that's only available to our members—the rest of the world has to wait to read it.
Grace and Eliza are fire and ice. But when called to serve their country, they forge an unlikely bond and prove heroes.
400+ pages
Social issues
Female friendships
Underdog
Grace Steele and Eliza Jones may be from completely different backgrounds, but when it comes to the army, specifically the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), they are both starting from the same level. Not only will they be among the first class of female officers the army has even seen, they are also the first Black women allowed to serve.
As these courageous women help to form the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, they are dealing with more than just army bureaucracy—everyone is determined to see this experiment fail. For two northern women, learning to navigate their way through the segregated army may be tougher than boot camp. Grace and Eliza know that there is no room for error; they must be more perfect than everyone else.
When they finally make it overseas, to England and then France, Grace and Eliza will at last be able to do their parts for the country they love, whatever the risk to themselves.
Based on the true story of the 6888th Postal Battalion (the Six Triple Eight), Sisters in Arms explores the untold story of what life was like for the only all-Black, female U.S. battalion to be deployed overseas during World War II.
"You can begin whenever you’re ready.”
Grace opened the folder that should have contained her sheet music. She would have cried had she been able to produce any more tears. She put the folder down and dug through her bag again. She found nothing else but her coin purse, her keys, and a letter she had grabbed from the mailbox on her way here.
“Is there a problem, Miss Steele?”
“I, uh . . .”
Grace Steele never left anything to chance. She always double-knotted her shoes. She always looked both ways before stepping off the curb to cross Lenox Avenue. She tuned in to her favorite radio show, Our Gal Sunday, five minutes early so she didn’t miss the beginning. And she never, ever waited until the last minute to put her sheet music into her bag.
But today wasn’t a normal day. And this wasn’t any ordinary gig. This was her audition to get into the Juilliard School of Music.
Grace glanced at her watch, a gift from her brother, Tony, during the last Christmas they had all spent together as a family before he enlisted in the Army.
“Now you have no excuse to not make time for your music,”
Tony had said, snatching a nearby pillow and using it to protect his face against Grace’s wrath. Unlucky for him, that position left his rib cage exposed. Grace landed an ineffective jab to his side. “Hey, is that any way to treat your favorite brother?”
Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson is her debut historical novel based on actual events surrounding the formation and challenges of the only all-Black female battalion to serve in Europe during World War II. This book puts a long-overdue spotlight on the women of the U.S. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)—or Six Triple Eight, as they were called—who had to deal with racism, broken promises, and so much more, and I fell in love with each of these fabulous women from page one of Alderson's story.
Sisters in Arms begins with enlistment day in New York City and takes us on a journey from Fort Des Moines, Iowa, to England, France, and back home to New York by closely following two women from very different backgrounds, Grace and Eliza. The different reasons that caused them to enlist, how they dealt with prejudice while serving their country, and how the bond between them developed and then threatened to tear them apart make this such a moving and complex tale.
This is a big story with wonderfully written Black women soldiers who are complicated, heroic, smart, sassy, flawed, and wise. It's the kind of historical fiction I love. The characters are authentic, the story heartfelt. And imagine, these women hung onto their patriotism despite the people and the government that didn't support them. Inspirational, you bet. In her debut, Alderson delivers a must-read you won't forget.
Tiffany J.
Pensacola, FL
I am a current female military officer and I love WWII history, so this book was right up my alley. I am so grateful for Kaia’s writing and bringing this important work to print. FUTURE MOVIE PLEASE!
Emily A.
Lombard, IL
Based on a true story -Two women finding their own ways and crossing paths during WW2. Each encounter their own challenges and triumphs, and end up changing one another's world with fierce comradery.
Allison F.
Chicago, IL
Love this book and the historical context and period it narrates! Alderson really brings these characters, the time period they are in and the experiences of these women doing courageous things alive!
Colleen L.
Fortuna, CA
Very good historical fiction with characters ringing true and I felt I learned a lot about what WW2 WAC gals, especially black, were subjected to. Really held my interest from the start to the end.
Chelsea M.
Portland, OR
I love love love historical fiction and this book transported me to a time, place, & set of events I know very little about. YES! The characters were so strong, & the real-life aspects were incredible