The Women of Oak Ridge

Author: Michelle Shocklee
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction
Pages: 368
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

In the hills of Tennessee, two women work at a Manhattan Project site during World War II and uncover truths that irrevocably change their lives in this captivating new story from award-winning Southern fiction author Michelle Shocklee.

1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her impoverished family. She knows little about the work she will be doing, but she’s told it will help America win the war. Not all is what it seems, however. Though Oak Ridge employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing disturbing information, then disappears without a trace. Mae desperately attempts to find her but instead comes face-to-face with a life-altering revelation—one that comes at significant cost.

1979. Laurel Willett is a graduate student in Boston when she learns about the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Intrigued because she knows her Aunt Mae was employed there, Laurel decides to spend the summer with her aunt, hoping to add a family connection to her thesis research. But Mae adamantly refuses to talk about her time in the Secret City. Mae’s friends, however, offer to share their experiences, propelling Laurel on her path to uncovering the truth about a missing woman. As Laurel works to put the pieces together, the hidden pain and guilt Mae has tried so hard to bury comes to light . . . with potentially disastrous consequences.

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Reviewer: Diana Lea

Imagine starting a job where, on day one, you’re grilled with questions like:  

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Would you turn in a family member if they did something illegal?”

“Would you ever belong to an organization that wished to overthrow the government?”

Then you’re fingerprinted and read the Espionage Act of 1917—complete with a reminder that disloyalty could mean prison… or death. This was Mae’s introduction to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1944.

During WWII, Oak Ridge was a secret city built to enrich uranium for the atomic bomb. Thousands of women were recruited from across the country, told only that their jobs were “vital to the war effort.” 

In The Women of Oak Ridge, Michelle Shocklee tells their story through two timelines: Mae Willett’s wartime experience in the 1940s, and her niece Laurel’s visit in 1979 to do research for her dissertation. The focus of her paper was on how the secrecy of those days followed the women after the war. Aunt Mae was especially reluctant to share — as some secrets don’t fade with time.

Not only did I feel I wanted to defend Mae from the harshness of her new life in the city, I also was a bit riled up over the racial segregation of the age.  

White women lived in dorms with dances and tennis courts. Black women were assigned janitorial work, housed in plywood shacks, and excluded from most social spaces. It’s uncomfortable to read, but it adds depth and honesty to the setting.

I’m not usually drawn to split-time narratives, but Mae’s chapters hooked me. Her personal struggles and the slow build of mystery kept me turning pages. Laurel’s research interviews were more fact-heavy, which slowed the pace at times, but when the mystery of the missing roommate ramped up, I was all in. 

The faith content is light—prayers in hard moments and gentle reminders of grace and forgiveness. These themes are delivered through strong, brave characters and woven naturally into the story. 

This is the second Michelle Shocklee book I’ve read, and she’s gifted at tackling messy history with honesty, anchoring it to compelling characters and a meaningful storyline. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with mystery, courage, and a touch of grace. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of Tyndale Publishers through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review. 

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

“All we can do is seek God’s forgiveness for things known and unknown, and trust in his grace to cover it all.”

 It’s another stunning novel by Michelle Shocklee. I don’t usually read historical fiction set in the 60s and 70s but have grown to love and appreciate how the author masterfully juxtaposes the 40s with the 60s/70s in her novels. In this book, she takes us to Oak Ridge, TN  - in 1944 when the Manhattan Project is at its height and in 1979 when secrets from those war days come to light. 

Mae’s first person voice in 1944 showed how a naïve, optimistic, and patriotic young woman found herself in the midst of a secret project that no one was allowed to speak about. I learned so much about the facilities and the way of life at Oak Ridge, which literally rose from the ground with the uranium purification facilities. I loved Laurel’s kind, thoughtful, inquisitive first person voice in 1979 as she delved into the personal history of those who worked and lived in Oak Ridge during the war.

 It’s crazy to think what happened to Mae in 1944 could have happened to so many others. There was plenty of intrigue, mystery, and secrecy happening in the 1944 timeline, which all hinted at the why of Mae’s reactions. I loved the elements of faith, grace, and forgiveness that Velvet and Roonie brought into the story. Mae and Garlyn’s friendship and Jonas and Laurel’s relationship added nice touches of romance to the story.

 If you enjoy historical fiction, you will definitely want to read this book. 

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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