“Gracie and the Radar Girls,” written by Karen J. Moore and illustrated by Lyn Meredith, is the story of Grace Hudlow and her experience during WWII as a Radar Girl. The story tells about the pivotal role of the WARD (Women’s Air Raid Defense) in the war efforts.
Gracie was only 16 years old the day she learned Pearl Harbor was under attack. When President Roosevelt declared war, everyone was called to do their part. After graduation, Gracie heard of efforts recruiting women to assist with vital top-secret jobs in the Hawaiian Islands. Gracie was interviewed and investigated by the FBI and accepted for the job! She became part of the Women’s Air Raid Defense, and she and the other women recruited worked in an underground bomb-proof tunnel that was code named LIZARD! The training was intense, and the women had to learn a new technology: RADAR: Radio Air Detection and Ranging. Known as Shuffleboard Pilots, the women of WARD played an essential role for the United States and were respected and celebrated when they returned home after the war ended.