SOLDIER GIRLS Reviews

“Parenthood and roadside bombs, young love and PTSD—finally, a nuanced look at the lives of female soldiers that is as intimate as it is groundbreaking.” (O Magazine)

“A breakthrough work… What Thorpe accomplishes in SOLDIER GIRLS is something far greater than describing the experience of women in the military. The book is a solid chunk of American history — detailing the culture’s failing, resilience and progress… Thorpe triumphs.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“‘Soldier Girls’ is a breakthrough work that spans 12 years of these women’s lives, beginning just before the attacks on the twin towers…. Through minute, almost claustrophobic detail – using military as well as medical records, therapists’ notes and personal correspondence – Thorpe achieves a staggering intimacy with her subjects.” (The New York Times)

“In the tradition of Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Richard Rhodes, and other masters of literary journalism, ‘Soldier Girls’ is utterly absorbing, gorgeously written, and unforgettable.” (The Boston Globe)

“Thorpe follows three women, tracking their ups and downs with faithful detail in a brilliant tableau of their overlapping lives for 12 years as they do multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and readjust to civilian life…Soldier Girls raises important questions about how men and women serve together and the differences in how they experience war, enabling us to see the subtle challenges female soldiers face — the hardships that don’t make easy headlines.” (The Washington Post)

“A vivid and intensely personal account of the lives of three women whose only common denominator had been that they joined the Indiana National Guard never imagining they might end up in a war zone… Thorpe’s matter-of-fact tone and clear and concise prose make the book all the more riveting… a captivating read, an important book and a stunning accomplishment.” (Military History magazine)

“A raw, intimate look at the impact of combat and the healing power of friendship.” (People magazine)

“A thoughtful, fascinating and often heartbreaking account… Thorpe manages to burrow deeply into the lives of these women…incredibly intimate.” (Miami Herald)

“Heart-breaking… absorbing, funny… ” (Newsday)

“Moving… This visceral narrative illuminates the role of women in the military, the burdens placed on the National Guard, and the disproportionate burden of these wars borne by the poor.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Thorpe fills this gripping tale with the women’s own words, texts, and letters (from friends and their children, as well), and the story is engrossing and heartbreaking at once.” (Booklist)

“Intensely immersive reading.” (Kirkus, starred review)