“Not every secret needs to be told. Some just need to be forgotten.”

I chose this book because I ‘knew of’ the Manhattan Project, but next to nothing ‘about’ it. The author sent me back in time to the atomic city, Oak Ridge, and educated me on the significance of this small city in East Tennessee. I was fascinated reading about its pivotal role in the development of nuclear weapons and yet flabbergasted that workers only knew information relevant to their specific jobs. How did so few people not know what was going on?

I enjoyed the dual timeline; one with 18-year-old Maebelle ‘Mae’ Willett and her roommate who goes missing and one a few decades later with Mae’s niece, Laurel, who’s studying the ripple effects of the Manhattan Project. Both timelines pulled me in and sustained my interest. The author used era-specific events, the mindset of the time, and setting specifics to convince me of the authenticity.

The mystery in the first timeline kept me turning pages and Mae’s reluctance to share history (her-story) kept me intrigued in the second timeline.

I had previously enjoyed ‘All We Thought We Know’ by this author and continued to be impressed by her skills.

I was gifted this copy by the publisher through NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Michelle Shocklee writes a riveting narrative about two women, connected through family, discover how their professional achievements interconnect. Laurel, a graduate student studying psychology at a university in Boston, learns about the Manhattan Project while speaking with a faculty member on campus. An alert on the news in the faculty room announces a court trial of a former employee accused of espionage. A conversation between Laurel and the esteemed professor reveals more information about the proceedings of the Manhattan Project and how the women who had been employed there thirty-five years ago had been discovered to have been directly working on the procession of the creation of the first atomic bomb, a war effort that was heralded for winning a war against the German Nazis but in the process caused significant destruction and mass casualties. As an aspiring psychologist, Laural feels compelled to solve disputes, ease pain and discomfort, and help bring healing to families. As it turns out, Laurel is working on her thesis and travels to Oak ridge to properly discover more information about the individuals directly involved in the Manhattan Project.

When Laurel arrives at Oak Ridge, she begins requesting more information from the women who worked at the Manhattan Project Ironically, even while neighbors and community members freely share their memories and opinions with Laurel, her Aunt Mae remains elusive and secretive. When the reason behind Mae's secrecy is finally revealed, the reader is left aware of how deeply resonant and impactful that secrecy had been. The author shares this secret with her readers in a most skillful and revelatory manner.

Michelle Shocklee creates meaning and memorable characters who helped shape a mysterious and overlooked aspect of American history. the narrative is engaging and well written and the reader is pulled into an immersive world filled with mystery, romance, and secrets. Altogether this is a wonderful reading experience and will most decidedly leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Several years ago, on a vacation "out west," we stopped by Los Alamos, New Mexico. There was a museum about the town, since it's famous as the location where the bombs that ended WWII were made. My eyes glazed over at the exhibits concerning the construction of the bombs themselves. But one gallery featured several photographs of people who lived in the town, with stories about them. Now that was interesting! I ended up reading several books about the town; the way it was "secret" and didn't even have a name. If you lived there, you couldn't even tell relatives where you lived. And most of the people working on the bomb project had no idea what they were working on. A similar thing happened in Oak Ridge, Tennessee: another "secret" town, this one involved in enriching the uranium needed for the bombs. We visited there a few years later, and it too was fascinating.

So, when I saw "The Women of Oak Ridge" at NetGalley, I signed up. It's a fictional story about Mae, a young lady from Kentucky who moves to Oak Ridge for a job. Her dad is in poor health from working in coal mines, and she wants to help her family out. She doesn't know what her work involves, and is constantly warned (as are all the employees) not to discuss it with anyone. She works at the huge K-25 building, biking papers from one location to another as needed.

She has a roommate, Sissy, who has a similar job. When an officer takes a shine to Sissy, she is thrilled. But Mae is suspicious of the guy, and for good reason. Things start to go sour, and Sissy disappears. Mae decides to try to find out what has happened.

The book has another story going on as well, this one set in 1979 with Laurel, Mae's niece. Laurel is working on her PhD in psychology and is focusing on studying people who'd worked on the Oak Ridge uranium project during WWII. She comes to town to stay with her aunt and interview her, as well as others. She's disappointed when Mae is very closed-mouth about her time in Oak Ridge.

I don't want to give any spoilers, so you'll need to read the book to see why Mae is so quiet about those years, as well as to see whether the mystery of Sissy's disappearance is solved. As you might guess, a handsome young police officer is part of the story too, and he and Laurel work together on many of the story's mysteries.

I enjoyed the book overall. It was well-written, and there was nothing objectionable by way of language or situation. A few things seemed a little off; Mae is 56 but was written easily 20 years older ("just a foolish old woman" she refers to herself once, is often mentioned lying in bed and needing to rest, the family fears her living alone, etc). There is a black woman character, Velvet, who seems to be included solely to serve as a vehicle for describing the poor living conditions of blacks working at Oak Ridge (and of course Mae, back in the 1940s, befriends Velvet and bemoans the treatment of blacks). Velvet and her pastor husband bring about the spiritual scene near the end of the book that make it feel like a fit for the publisher, Tyndale.

There is much about Oak Ridge and the bomb project, and if you find this time and place interesting, I think you'll enjoy "The Women of Oak Ridge."

THE WOMEN OF OAK RIDGE by MICHELLE SHOCKLEE is the sensitively written account of a young woman, Maebelle Willett, who goes to Oak Ridge Tennessee in 1944 to work for the secret war effort named the Manhatton Project, which was apparently going to end the war.
Her niece, Laurel, who has chosen to write her thesis on the psychological effects of helping in the production of the atomic bomb, comes to stay with her Aunt Mae in 1979 hoping to gain information for her thesis. Although they get on well Laurel cannot understand why her aunt is reticent, even fearful, of sharing her experiences……
The two timelines, 1944 and 1979, blend well in telling an amazing story of friendship, love, duty, hard work, corruption, fear and blackmail.
The characters are very real and their emotions are strongly portrayed.
The book is enfolded in a strong Christian message based on John 8:36 “If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
I cannot recommend this lovely, interesting and inspirational novel highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Laurel, a young woman working on her dissertation in 1979, visits her aunt to learn about her experiences in WWII in Oak Ridge, a nuclear research facility. Her aunt is happy to see her but refuses to talk about her work during the war. Through research, Laurel tries to unlock the mystery of why her aunt is so troubled. Interesting look at a lesser-known facet of WWII.

I recently had the pleasure of reading one of the most captivating books I've ever encountered. Prior to reading it, I was unfamiliar with the Manhattan Project. The book's fascinating narrative and dual timelines held my attention, weaving a complex tale of mystery, intrigue, and family secrets. Moreover, it shed light on a significant aspect of our history that was never covered in my education. I had the opportunity to read an advance review copy, and I was so engrossed that I finished it in one sitting, starting this morning.

A deeply moving story that had my attention from the beginning. The story jumps from past to present quite successfully bringing direction and emotional attention to the characters. Such an insight into God's grace and freedom in healing.

What an amazing book! I learned so much about what was happening with the Manhattan Project from this story. I can’t imagine what people felt with all the secrets and then the knowledge of what they had been a part of. The reminder of God’s forgiveness no matter the situation made a lovely ending to the book.

I was excited when I seen this book. When I seen it and the author I knew I had to have it.
Wow! What a story!
I didn't know that about Oak Ridge, Tnn. I learned something new about it. I enjoy learning things about new/old places. Wow!
I love the theme of this story. The truth shall set you free. Indeed it sure does!
God knows what He is doing. He knows the plans He has for us.
Love will find you in the most unexpected places too. The timing just has to be right.
I felt sorry for Aunt Mae. What perilous times she lived in! Fear is what kept her from many things in life. That is why I said the truth shall set you free.
This is a fast paced story that is told from Mae and Laurel's point of view which of course is my favorite thing.
I think though I loved Mae's story more. I loved the historical details that were added in and of course the mini mystery of what happened to Sissy
I simply couldn't put this adventure down! I didn't want to leave Oak Ridge. I felt like this little town became my home along with the family.
I will be thinking about this story especially about Sissy. What really happened to her? Well....y'all just have to pick up this adventure and read it.
5 stars for a job well done! I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Michelle Shocklee, this book is just beautiful! History majors should have to read this book! It was wonderfully done. I am a history major myself and could not put it down. It was so full of every emotion. Highly recommend! Always a love a good historical fiction book. Add this to your TBR list!