Member Review

As a parent of a recent female West Point graduate, this book provided me with both an in depth reflection of my own daughter’s similar journey, as well as a unique perspective from a mother (the author) who also graduated from West Point during a time when the military had not quite figured out how to effectively fully integrate women into the military, nor had given them credit for how much the military could benefit from their service. I was reminded of my own fears about sending my daughter to a school that had less than 25% women, and a male dominated culture. The book takes you through an artfully woven story with intimate reflections on the author’s journey, highlighting the parallels and differences in her’s and her daughter’s experiences. The military has undergone many internal changes, by now allowing women to serve in combat roles that were previously unavailable to women, for one. Reflecting on her decision to attend the Academy, the author seeks to understand why she chose this challenging path and expresses her fears for her daughter experiencing some of what she went through, while trying to understand why she would have also have chosen this path. This would be a great read for mothers whose daughters have expressed an interest in pursuing a service academy and military service. The dialogue also provides the mother’s perspective, which I could also relate to. The well earned life experience of a mother that naturally comes with the desire to protect your children from harm was especially unique in the authors case, but all mothers, including me, relate to. . Do those fears ever go away? How much can you influence their decisions after you have raised them to be independent, and to take charge of their own destinies knowing the path they chose, while honorable, is not an easy one.. The author has artfully crafted her story and experiences woven in with her daughters, while providing historical perspective, in an engaging manner that I could not put down. Definitely a recommended read for those interested in an inside view of the West Point experience, mothers, fathers and their daughters.