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A memoir of uncommon depth, structural elegance, and emotional courage—one that earns its perfect early community rating . . . through the genuine literary and intellectual force of its undertaking.

A book that thinks as rigorously as it feels — and the combination is both rare and deeply satisfying.

          Sarah Jensen, #29 top reviewer on Goodreads, 5 stars

Benefiting from lucid prose and thoughtful, experience-driven analysis, RAISING ATHENA is an eye-opening examination of the process by which female Army officers were—and are—trained. . . a fascinating memoir.

IndieReader Rating, 4.7 stars

MyLinh masterfully weaves the threads of the story lines—to create a beautiful, honest, and human tapestry.

Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D., Brigadier General (Retired) U.S. Army, First woman Dean of the Academic Board at West Point

*Signed copies are available directly from the author.  Hardcover: $30 (tax included) + shipping.  Happy to inscribe — just let me know who it’s for.

A meaningful gift for those joining the armed forces and for military parents, or for anyone interested in leadership and military service. Email mylinhshattan@gmail.com OR click here to ORDER A SIGNED COPY*

Raising Athena is a true story of a mother and daughter who choose the leader’s path in the armed forces. The memoir examines what compels them to choose this journey and marks the beginning of a new military tradition: one passed on from mother to daughter.

The prologue opens on the embassy roof as MyLinh’s father escapes with the U.S. Ambassador on the last helicopter out of Saigon in 1975. This is her origin story. Just how will those final hours and the iconic and tragic end of an era in U.S. history figure into her life and her daughter’s?

Saigon, 50 Years Ago Today — April 30, 2025 — Read the Prologue, a true story of escape from the embassy roof and the beginning of a new military tradition.

To remember the 50 year anniversary of the Fall of Saigon in 2025

To honor 50 years of Women at West Point in 2026

“MyLinh’s book is a beautiful testament to the power of raising a daughter to stand tall in her own strength. Her words remind us that confidence isn’t inherited — it’s nurtured with intention, love, and courage.”

–Erin Appleman, Head Volleyball Coach, Yale University, 13-Time Ivy League Champion

“It’s perilous not to have a people who understand their relationship to their warriors in a nuanced way. . . this book is, to my way of thinking, an excellent antidote to these problems. It is plainly the product of a woman warrior (a sheepdog, in the parlance of my favorite chapter) who has a firm grasp on the principles of storytelling and the art of creative nonfiction. That’s a vanishingly rare sort of being, growing rarer all the time.”

—Pinckney Benedict, American short-story writer and novelist, Professor of English at Southern Illinois University, Graduate of Princeton University (studied with Joyce Carol Oates) and Iowa Writers’ Workshop

“Raises interesting questions and ultimately addresses them in satisfying ways. Why did the narrator leave the military? What was it like being a woman when women were only ten percent of the class?  I appreciate uncertainty and nuance, vulnerability and doubt, as the narrator contends with transcendent subjects such as divinity, love, and mortality.”

–Kathryn Rhett, Chair of English Department and Professor of English, Gettysburg College

“An awesome thing you have captured here–so eloquent and thoughtful. I see for the first time how truly gifted your mind is. I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoyed it and how strongly I feel that those entering the service will like it.”

–John Stark, PhD, U.S. Army (Retired) and Former Diplomat

“Excellent. It was an absolute pleasure to read. I enjoyed it so much!”

–Francesca “Ox” Ziemba, Colonel (Retired) U.S. Army

Why should you care?

This is a singular, first-of-its-kind memoir about a mother and daughter, modern warriors in an era of global strife. Mothers who want to raise strong daughters will find this engaging, not only how to survive and thrive at West Point, but anywhere: on the athletic field, in the classroom, in the boardroom, and in life. This is not a how-to manual, but a personal story of two women who felt called to the profession of arms.

An inspirational aspect of military culture is about more than military training and leadership; it’s about physical and mental toughness, and personal and moral growth. Angela Duckworth developed her theory about grit while studying West Point cadets going through summer basic training.

Be inspired by this classic ideal of grit at the country’s Military Academy. Read a free Chapter, recognized by Writer’s Digest in its oldest and most popular contest.