Those Girls

by Pamela Rushby

New, from award-winning historical novelist, Pamela Rushby, exploring the roles, and struggles, of women in wartime 1942. The world is at war. Sixteen-year-old Hilly is desperate to do something useful to the war effort, to help the boys on the front lines. So when she sees the poster recruiting for the Australian Women’s Land Army, she jumps at the chance to make a difference. Travelling to farms across Queensland, Hilly encounters backbreaking work, adversity and romance, and may find she’s capable of more than she thought possible. She is one of those girls with grit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Young Adult, War, Historical, Friendship

336 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2024

Reviews

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews at: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
In Those Girls, Pamela Rushby writes about a little known area of women's involvement in the second world war.
As men leave the country to join the fighting a void is left in the area of food production. This is where the Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA) was formed and many young women left their homes to make their contribution to the war effort, working on farms picking and packing fruit, digging potatoes and milking cows. The back breaking and relentless work was vividly described as the girls work hard and support each other making firm friendships along the way.

Those Girls is an easy, engaging read. Descriptions of the farms and working conditions are well portrayed as the girls endure harsh summers and bitterly cold winters. Rushby gives a wonderful insight into the lives of these girls (mainly aged 14 -18 years). Even with working long hours the girls find some time to socialise and have some fun, go dancing, meet American soldiers and even fall in love.

Snippets into the girls' lives before the Land Army work and the lives of their families at home waiting on news of their missing sons is well researched and written to target the young adult audience of 14+ years

content:
Alludes to consensual sex
unplanned pregnancy
unwanted advances

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

very much enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of the Land Army during WWII

[Kim Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

THOSE GIRLS by Pamela Rushby is a YA historical novel that tells the story of 16 yr old Hilly, a young woman who joins the Land Army in QLD to contribute to the war effort but to also flee a cold and heartless family life. She’s sent to pick pineapples, peaches and to be a roustabout on a sheep station. Finding love with an American soldier, she must eventually decide if she wants to leave her life and country to join her fiancé in Georgia USA. But a dream job offer throws a spanner in the works and makes the decision to leave even harder.

I love stories set during WW2 and to read one about women in Australia who joined the Land Army to help keep industry running was a really great. I only wish I’d spoken to my great aunt about her time in the Land Army when she was still with us.

Highly recommend for ages 13+

[kaitlyns_library · Rating 4 out of 5]

What first drew me in was the cover and it being a historical fiction! I love history, but fiction of it can be very hit or miss for me. I’m so glad that this was a hit!
It was a quick and easy read and featured strong women!
I will say though, that the timeline at the beginning wasn’t for me and would’ve liked a more linear timeline where Hilly and Aileen’s backstory was introduced and then the events leading up to their pineapple picking days were done first.
This book would be perfect to recommend to my junior students who can handle swiftly mentioned heavier themes.

[Alida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Better Reading for my advanced copy to read and review.

Yet again, Pamela Rushby successfully takes us into Australia’s past showing YA readers another aspect of World War II – the roles that women played in the Women’s Land Army, providing essential support to the troops.

The opening chapters introduce us to Hilly, Glad and Aileen, a threesome with completely different backgrounds and reasons for joining the LWA in 1942. They are thrown together and become firm, loyal friends and work companions. Hilly is sixteen, strong-willed, hard-working and wants to help in the war effort, learn new things and earn her way. Through her eyes we follow the girls’ ‘war journey’: the work they undertake and the challenges they face.

The action is fast-paced, with a full cast of well-developed characters and reads almost like a ‘Girls’ Own’ adventure, the difference being the overarching serious themes that Rushby cleverly weaves into the narrative. Issues such as social norms and expectations; the patriarchy and male violence; and independent thinking and feminism. Romance too, plays a part, as do ties to family, but the bonds of friendship and the encouraging ‘can-do’ attitudes of ‘those girls with grit’ outweigh everything.

This is a compelling page-turning novel, thought-provoking, hopeful and highly engaging. Go Hilly!

[Chloe (Keefe + Jaren Vallentis's Version!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing that made me buy this book was the cover (well, and the gift card I got, but that's besides the point), something about the 1940's style just drew me in, and ended up loving it.

This book was about a force in the war that wasn't as well known as the Navy, or the RAF. It was the women's land army. The men had gone to war (or most of them, anyway), and because females were still at home, they enlisted to go help put on farms. This book focused on the girls mainly going to fruit farms, and mainly picking fruit, such as pineapples, apples, and peaches. At one point, the main character goes to a shearing shed, to help be a rouseabout. I have done this on my own farm, so this was nice to see.

This book does cover some serious themes, such as war, and sexual assault. It is explained in a PG way, however this may be concerning to other readers.

One thing this book did, was discuss these issues appropriately, and it didn't skate over them, or sugar-coated them at

Overall, I loved this book, and I loved how it gave a different point of view on the war, rather than being focused on the front lines.

[Tahnaya (catsandpaperbacks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting, it was such a wholesome and cozy read, and I actually had to stop and think about how lucky we are for everything that we have today as a young woman in Australia. To say I adored this book is an understatement. A book exploring women’s roles in Australian society during WWII, full of adventure, romance, friendships and prejudice but make it YA. The story follows Hilly as she joins the Land Army at 16 and follows her journey over 3 years. Hilly grows and matures throughout her time in the Land Army and she makes a few very good friends and is even proposed to by an American soldier. Hilly becomes a writer starting with writing for her camp and progresses to writing articles in The Australian Women’s Weekly! I loved that Rushby didn’t hide the themes of sexual harassment by the male soldiers and prejudice shown by the older women, nor did she hide the racial themes surrounding Aboriginal people during this time through a character called Nancy. Thank you Rushby for writing such a beautiful story, I really enjoyed it!

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilly is 16 years old and feeling invisible. Her brother has enlisted and is now a prisoner of war. Her parents have always wanted sons to take over the business and now their only son is so far away and there is no news of him.
Hilly decides to join the Land Army to do her bit for the war effort and her parents are happy for her to go. Her English teacher isn’t so happy as she sees Hilly’s writing talents and doesn’t want her to give up her education.
Hilly makes some great friends in the Land Army and they all work hard doing what were male dominated roles. Hilly does keep up her writing for the Land Army Gazette and even has articles published in the Women’s Weekly. There is an American soldier keen on Hilly and Hilly is a little star struck but is he really right for her?
This is a great story and really shines a light on the role young women played in WWII

[Joanne Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about the role of women during the Second World War. The author introduces us to a diverse group of women who enlist in the Women's Land Army. By enlisting, some are seeking to escape and are heading away from something, and others are hopeful and going toward something. I found myself carried along gently as their stories unfolded and I became more immersed in the characters. Though 80 years have now passed since the height of the war, women readers will still find themselves able to identify with one or more of the characters. I know a lot about women in this era, and particularly about the enormous loss of personal agency that women experienced once men returned from the war. Despite this, I learned even more through reading this book. A great read.
#BRPreview

[Penny Waring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction set in QLD during WWII, about the experiences of young women in the Land Army. Told through the eyes of 16-year-old Hilly (Hilary), the story provides a great snapshot into this aspect of womens' involvement in the war effort.

16 was the youngest age permitted in the land army, and only with parental permission. Hilly is thus one of the youngest of her group, but like the others, she is gritty, smart and strong. Rusby does an excellent job of dealing with some very grown-up themes in a way that is accessible and suitable for secondary school readers.

[carys ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so sad about the ending, and I wish that Hilly had gone to America with Gene. I guess I was hoping for a bit of a more romantic ending, but I was glad that Hilly got offered such a good job. I didn't enjoy the writing of it and I thought it was a bit disjoined. However I do love historical fiction and I was glad to read about a little known involvement of women in the war.

[Dejah Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!!! I’m all for a woman empowerment book and this one did not disappoint. I rarely read historical fiction but this book kept me intrigued the whole way through. And even though it’s fiction it still teaches you a lot about how life was back in Australia in 1942. I will be recommending this book to others! Pamela Rushby did a lovely job :)

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It captivated me from the beginning until the end. I loved Hilly and her adventures as a Land Girl. It taught me a lot about what our Girls went through during war time. #BRPreview @betterreadingau Would highly recommend this book.

[Gaby Meares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Children's Book Council for an advance copy of this fabulous book. Please go to readingtime.com.au to read my full review.

[Kona Stíchter · Rating 5 out of 5]

not much to say. i liked it alot though :) writing style was captivating and overall historical fiction is an instantaneous grabs for me

[Alizey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
Fast paced and different experiences. I must say I enjoyed this book and Hilly's journey of friends, love, farming and her passion for writing. This book was inspiring

[Claire Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Queensland during the second World War, this book shows how the Land Girls lived, worked & were treated. Aimed at younger readers, but a pleasant & enjoyable read

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic characters, and to be honest I usually like anything Pamela Rushby writes. Great to see this perspective of the war written well from the women on the home front.

[Dianne Wolfer]

I loved learning more about this interesting aspect of Australian history. Very well researched and an
Enjoyable read.

[Meredith Primrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to get another view about the role of Australian women during WW2. An enjoyable read. Good to see Hilly, the main character, doing what right for her.

[Ruth Bonetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women played valuable roles in keeping farms running while the men fought World War 2. Rushby has chronicled their gutsy initiative in this readable novel.

[Annie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice and enjoyable.

[Melissa Kincaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Thank you to Better Reading Aus & WalkerBooks for generously sending me an ARC copy to read and review.✨

This was out of my normal genre comfort zone, but gosh, I really enjoyed this story!

Those Girls is a Young Adult novel set during WW2, following the main character, Hilly (Hillary) who joins the Women’s Land Army in 1942.

Each of the main characters pasts were explored, and fleshed out really well. Each were really well developed through the story. I found myself really connecting to them. They were all unique in their own ways, and all really likable.

The pacing was perfect, just enough going on at all times that I didn’t feel bored, and the writing was so easy to digest that I absolutely flew through it.

Rushby weaves some serious themes into the story, keeping attention on them, while also keeping things light. There were bonds of friendship, times of hardship, and harsh choices for Hilly, who made it through to a happy end. True girls with grit!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to lovers of light, heart filled fiction based in WW2 Australia.


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[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with YA books is that are too wholesome. Characters are too nice, except when they are too bad and quickly disposed of.
No real problems with this book, interesting commentary of war service and attitudes of the day.