The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto: The True Story of Five Courageous Young Women Who Sparked an Uprising

by Elizabeth Hyman

A Holocaust historian, archivist, and history blogger adds a new dimension to the story of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising during World War II, shining a long overdue spotlight on five young, Polish Jewish women—champions who helped lead the resistance, sabotage the Nazis, and aid Jews in hiding across occupied Poland and Eastern Europe.

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is one of the most storied events of the Holocaust, yet previous accounts of have almost entirely focused on its male participants. In The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto, Holocaust historian Elizabeth Hyman introduces five young, courageous Polish Jewish women—known as “the girls” by the leadership of the resistance and “bandits” by their Nazi oppressors—who were central to the Jewish resistance as fighters, commanders, couriers, and smugglers. They

Zivia Lubetkin, the most senior female member of the Jewish Fighting Organization Command Staff in Warsaw and a reluctant legend in her own time, who was immortalized by her code name, ""Celina""

Vladka Meed, who smuggled dynamite into and illegal literature out of the Warsaw Ghetto in preparation for the uprising

Dr. Idina “Inka” Blady-Schweiger, a young medical student who became a reluctant angel of mercy

Tema Schneiderman, a tall, beautiful and fearless young woman who volunteered for smuggling and rescue missions across Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe

Tossia Altman, a heroic courier with a poetic soul, who helped bring arms into the Warsaw Ghetto, fought in the Uprising, and ferried communiques to the outside world

Interspersed with the stories of other Jewish women who resisted, The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto rescues these women from the shadows of time, bringing to light their resilience, bravery, and cunning in the face of unspeakable hardship—inspiring stories of courage, daring, and resistance that must never be forgotten.


Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Holocaust, Biography, War, Jewish

Audible Audio

First published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You NetGalley for the free ARC digital.

This was such an emotional roller coaster. I knew going in it was going to be a heavy subject, as most Holocaust stories are. It was obvious the author put a lot of time and effort into research. There is a lot of information to digest and some information was very new as I had not heard of these girls turned women. I don't know that I could have done what they did and have some moments for laughs. The girls/women were very daring. The author does a great job of giving information about these women and what they did.

What sets this book apart from other Holocaust books and Warsaw Ghetto books? New names, their actions, more information about the Holocaust, the Warsaw Ghetto, the concentration camps, etc. Definitely worth the read.

[Elana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This true story shed light on one of the more famous uprisings of WWII, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. As a WWII history enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Most of the previous information out there focuses on the male leaders of the uprising, but this one focuses on female leaders. A lot of research went in to bringing this story to light. Anytime a WWII story of resistance and resilience can be written, I'm here for it. It's so important that these stories are told.

This one is filled with A LOT of information, and sometimes it does read very much like a textbook even though the narrator does a good job with not sounding robotic or boring. With fact heavy writing like this, it can sometimes be hard to cram in all the relevant information and still keep interest levels up.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE GIRL BANDITS OF THE WARSAW GHETTO - I like that book is more of history, economics, politics, and informative data that was faced at this time, instead of a historical novel. There may be too much information for an average reader wanting a story, instead of actual history to go along with the actions of the individuals. The stories of these women are interesting and intriguing. Only 58 percent of the book is the story. There other 42 percent contains the Bibliography, a glossary, an index, acknowledgements, and author and publisher information. Source: Netgalley. 4*

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a true story, written by a master storyteller, about one of the most fearless uprisings in history...the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising...

Elizabeth Hyman writes with empathy and courageous insights into this shadowy history...the 'girls' of the ghetto who challenged the Nazis at their own game...

One of the best books ever written on 'collective determination' to save a country and take down a corrupt regime...

Highly Recommended!

[Donna Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. So much history I didn't know. I'm not sure why more hasn't been written about the Polish resistance, particularly in fiction. It was an engaging read. Parts of it were difficult to listen to. If you are interested in WWII history, this is a must-read book, and the audiobook is really well done. Read full review at Girl Who Reads.

[Lauren Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the Warsaw ghetto uprising told through the lens of five women who became integral in the fight against Nazis, this is an integral piece of writing for anyone studying or just interested in this history. The author really humanizes the women in addition to sharing their bravery throughout the resistance, learning who they were and why they were fighting which was just as fascinating and important as what they did to help the cause.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3 or 3.5. The story, based on fact, was amazing. I learned more than I ever knew before about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The writing was uninspired, though. It was sentence after sentence, but without a lot of description and "color". It was also a bit confusing, since at the beginning of the book, five women are introduced as the Cabinet of Girls, and then three of those are hardly, if ever, mentioned again. Except for a few of the characters (like Zivia), the people in the book aren't described much more than "Jewish" or "Polish Jew" and the like.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction>Holocaust, WWII

Such a heartbreaking story. Very much worth your time to read, but be prepared to allow some recovery time because the material is hard. Not hard to follow, and not hard to get into, but hard to imagine the suffering, heartache, and evil that is described. I am not even someone who tends to absorb the atmosphere of books I read very well--I don't hear the character's voices talking or imagine the scenes described. Even I couldn't help be be sucked into the world of the Warsaw Ghetto.

I read this with a work book club and we all felt it was thought-provoking and makes us see our First-World-Problems in a new light. That's why I enjoy reading things like this so much (well, enjoy is probably the wrong word...but bare with me here...): the perspectives that we learn by reading about other times and other places and situations other than our own is something that cannot be understood or taught any other way. Of course, living through the times and the hardships offers a completely different outlook, but at least spending some time to focus on what suffering is out there puts things like not finding enough time to cook fancy dinners or frustration with 5 days of going to a job every week in a new light.

The author really attempted to show (and I got the message) that Jews are not a united, monolithic, single-minded group. There were divisions, skeptics, cautious individuals, and warriors. The part of this story that hit me the most was how unbelievable the situation was--so much so that some people in the Warsaw Ghetto didn't believe what was really going on. I can see how it would be very hard to imagine or believe that anyone, even a war-hungry enemy, would be rounding up Jews, putting them on trains, and sending them off to mass deaths. The stories told here of members of the resistance just trying to get their own people to understand what was really happening was something I didn't expect. All of us have learned about the atrocities from the future looking back, and this story makes you consider what it was like in-the-moment.

The second most heartbreaking part to read about was the ignorance of (or willful disregard) the Poles who lived near the Warsaw Ghetto. Could they all really have no ideal? All be so scared to do anything if they really knew? Seeing some of our main characters get to the outside only to realize that the Poles were mostly against them...so hard to think about.

"The fundamental conflict between the right-wing, nationalist vision of Poland enshrined in the politics of such parties as the Endecja, which understood Poland to be an exclusively Polish, Catholic nation-state, and the leftist League of Nations–endorsed vision of Poland as a pluralistic, multiethnic state was never truly resolved."

"In short, the socialization they received from their mothers, combined with their educational experiences, granted this generation of Polish Jewish girls the social contacts, the social skills, and an understanding of Polish culture and language that Jewish boys could not similarly access."

"When the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising broke out in April 1943, these women fought, conveyed battlefield communiqués, printed and distributed appeals to the Polish population, and assisted with fighter escape plans."

"When starting or waging a war, it is not right that matters, but victory. Close your hearts to pity.”

"And on November 16, 1940, the Warsaw Ghetto, the largest Jewish ghetto in Poland, occupying 2.5 percent of the city’s total area, with approximately 30 percent of the city’s population behind its walls, was sealed, with German and Polish guards stationed outside each of its twenty-two gates."

"The faces of these Jewish leaders grew pale, either from sudden fear or from anger at our audacity. They were furious. They reproached us for irresponsibly sowing the seeds of despair and confusion among the people, and for our impertinence in even thinking of armed resistance."

"Until the summer of 1941, Hitler had planned for a territorial solution to the so-called Jewish Problem, involving mass deportations of the Jews to either Madagascar or the vast northern regions of the Soviet Union. British control of the seas, however, effectively negated the possibility of enacting the Madagascar Plan, and Stalin rejected the second idea out of hand."

“When conversations among the Poles on the train turned to talk about Jews, I felt compelled to take part. I must say that I did not speak about Jews in a neutral way; I made caustic comments. To this day I feel remorse, because maybe I sinned in doing so.”

"Thus, Himmler determined that they needed a new, more removed, industrial approach to the ongoing slaughter, and toxic gas—first used in Nazi Germany to euthanize disabled individuals—seemed the most promising option. Its first use on the Jews took place in November 1941 in Poltava, southern Ukraine."

"According to both Jewish underground and official Nazi accounts, the Nazis murdered between 275,000 and 310,000 Jews*—in Treblinka and in the streets of the Warsaw Ghetto—between July and September 1942."

"Once they acquired the chemicals, the women slept with the cyanide, hydrochloric acid, and further explosive chemicals under their beds..." ... "Chavka, meanwhile, was sharing a room on the Aryan side with Tema and Tosia. They slept with a suitcase full of pistols and grenades hidden under their bed."

[Book Club of One · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers or those familiar with the course of events of World War II and the Holocaust should be familiar with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. Elizabeth Hyman's The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto: The True Story of Five Courageous Young Women Who Sparked an Uprising retells this history, but with the focus on the five specific young women: Zivia Lubetkin, Adi­na Bla­dy-Schweiger, Vlad­ka Meed, Tosia Alt­man and Tema Schnei­der­man.

Through extensive research and a chronological narrative, Hyman presents the wartime experience, accomplishments, and in the case of Altman and Schneiderman, the likely circumstances of their deaths. In the introduction, alongside extensive scene setting and contextualizing for pre-war Poland life, Hyman states the simple two reasons why women became the key couriers of news and weapons: one, men were frequently and much more likely to be randomly arrested or placed in forced labor work. Two, most Jewish men in Poland were circumcised, a quick and simple way to identification.
Therefore it was much easier for women to pass as non-Jews and their work, while not without risk, was less likely to lead to arrest. The women were couriers, but also fighters.

Hyman is detailed, building up to the establishment and the living conditions of the Warsaw Ghetto. It was a struggle for survival in a system designed for death. The narrative shows the contributions to the women, and focused significantly on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and later more widespread Warsaw Uprising (1944).

Recommended to readers or researchers of the Holocaust, World War II or Polish history.


I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC of this book*

As someone who has read a lot of World War II books it seems strange to me that I have never heard of this part of the war experience.

This book is very well written (and excellently read by the narrator) and manages to tell the story of these women with empathy and care. At no point did I feel that the details were gratuitous, but the reality of the circumstances were not downplayed either. The story of these women and the work that they did for the Jewish resistance needs to be more widely known and this is the book to do it. The experience of women during war in general is always one that has less coverage, and this book also handles these subjects with care.

Whether you enjoy World War II nonfiction or not, this book would be an excellent addition or exception to your collection on the subject.

[Laura Lavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit when I first requested this book as an ARC, I expected it to be more of a “story”. That said, this is a well researched and well written, informative book that helped to give me true facts and examples of things that I’ve read about in historical fiction books that take place during the Holocaust. The things that these girls/women did during these dark and horrific times is nothing short of amazing. All of the Jewish women during this time were more courageous than I think I could ever be. I am grateful to have read this to build up my knowledge of facts of the Holocaust and to have it as a guide during my historical fiction readings.

Thank you Harper Perennial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Marisa Pruitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a feminist and WW2 history buff, I was instantly drawn to this title. I didn’t realize the level of resistance happening in the Warsaw ghetto and the accomplishments of these women were certainly impressive. While I’m glad I read it, I’m unlikely to recommend it. It was disorganized and slow moving, read like a textbook, and so heavily detailed it was hard to follow. Wish this author would’ve channeled a little Kate Moore for the topic!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This book was well written and researched. The only reason this isn’t 5 stars for me is because I think the addition of some maps would have helped as a visual aid for the layout of the ghetto and greater Warsaw for the purpose of understanding where the walls were, where the resistance fighters would cross in and out of the ghetto, and where the heavy fighting areas were.

[Kara Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and researched of the events in Warsaw!!

[Pamela Jo Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical novel with strong, fierce young women of unyielding faith and belief that life can be better; even if it won't happen for them, as long as they could have the way for those future generations, their battles won't have been for naught. Interesting, inspiring and a great read.

Disclaimer: This was a Goodreads win. I want to thank Goodreads, the publisher, and especially the author for trusting me with their words. ☺️

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book telling the stories of several female Jewess' and the Warsaw Ghetto. Starting before the war, what life was like to the German invasion, the final solution and the Warsaw ghetto uprising and the polish uprising against the Germans while the Russian Army stood by while the Poles and Nazis dukes it out. An incredible book giving in some cases a day by day account of what was going on in the ghetto. The major players, their concern when it came to their fellow Jews and the fight for survival. A great book to get the in-depth story of this period of WWII.

[Yehudit Levinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the historical recounting of 5 young women who lived during WWII in Poland and were very active in the Warsaw ghetto. The book was heavily researched presenting the events of the day from many different sources, including the diaries and journals of the 5 heroines. The willpower, courage and stamina these women exhibited under some of the most horrific circumstances is unbelievable.
I particularly enjoyed this book for three reasons. 1) It professed a feminist outlook. One of the 'bandits,' Zivia, was described throughout as the ultimate leader, looked up to and admired by all who came in contact with her. In a description of the many different youth groups active in the immediate prewar Poland, "none of them made the concept of radical equality between the sexes, or a reconsideration of gendered labor" (pg 15) part of their agenda. But Zivia let nothing get in her way. 2) It documented how much of the older population was not willing to accept the reality that was happening before their eyes. "I told them about the massacre in Vilna….But they refused to believe her, accusing her of lying." (pg 73). "I felt they did not believe us" (pg 84). "they adamantly refused to the believe the rumors of mass exterminations." (pg 90). 3) It denies the myth that all the Jewish victims of the Holocaust were passively accepting their fate. The resistance in the ghetto proclaims to those remaining "to ask the ghetto Jews to die now, honorably, as heroes, and not to permit themselves to be led sheeplike to slaughter. (pg 90). And to "restore the honor of the Jewish nation by our resistance and by our death. (pg 106).
Much of history is portrayed by whom is telling the story. Not enough history is told by the women who lived through the periods. This landmark book does much to alleviate this glaring inequality.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Warsaw Uprising was a significant but tragic event in Polish history, with deep importance as both a military and political failure and a lasting symbol of national pride and resistance during WWII. This detailed battle account of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising focuses on five young Polish Jewish women who were central figures in the Jewish resistance to Nazi Germany. Holocaust historian Hyman provides background information and context, describing the political landscape and circumstances during the years that led up to the revolt. This information is especially helpful for anyone not already aware of the event and its implications.

"The five bandits" refers to five young Polish Jewish women who were central figures in the Jewish resistance and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. They were known as "the girls" by the resistance leaders and "bandits" by the Nazis. The five women who have been prominently featured in historical accounts include Zivia Lubetkin, Vladka Meed, Dr. Idina Blady-Schweiger, Tema Schneiderman, and Tossia Altman. These women were vital to the resistance through their work in sabotage, smuggling, rescue missions, and communication. Their roles included being fighters, commanders, couriers, and smugglers who helped acquire weapons and information. Without there help I wonder if this uprising would have succeeded. Hyman shows how the grim day-to-day existence in Poland and the Ghetto shaped the women at the narrative’s core, prompting them to become heroines who saved many lives and continued to fight.

I must say this book was a challenging read for me as there is so much going on. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in a WWII history, resistance, or stories of bravery against impossible odds.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction and have started to dip my toes into the nonfiction side of the stories. Loved that it really focused on the female leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, so many times you hear about the males but more recently the female side of the stories are coming out.
The story focuses on five specific young women: Zivia Lubetkin, Adi­na Bla­dy-Schweiger, Vlad­ka Meed, Tosia Alt­man and Tema Schnei­der­man. These women were able to go "undercover" because men were more likely to be arrested or forced into labor and most Jewish men were circumcised making it an easy way to identify. It did not go without hesitation tho, everyone was always questioning if they could trust even their oldest neighbor. This book is extremely detailed in explaining the living conditions, the risks they had to endure, but yet how there were some who were able to find love, hope and courage in this time.

During my read of this there was mention of when the girls were standing in line and the SS officer was directing them to the left or to the right. It reminded me of when I was in 8th grade learning about the Holocaust and my teacher walked up to me, stared into my eyes and pointed me to my right. Later she said I was safe because I had blonde hair, blue eyes and was white. I never forgot that moment, that is when I learned what it was like to privileged because of the way I look.

A must read for readers of the Holocaust, WWII or Polish history.

[Roger Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1939, Nazi Germany opened the Second World War by attacking Poland and this included the bombing and attacks on the city of Warsaw which soon fell to the Germans. At this time, the Jewish population had reached about 350,000 in a city of just over a million. Soon after, the Nazis began their attacks on the Jews, arresting and deporting many to the newly opened death camp at Treblinka. Soon they created the Warsaw Ghetto which was essentially an open air prison for the Jews of that city. This remarkable book tells the story of the Jewish resistance in the Ghetto and ultimately in the city and focuses on the untold story of the young women who became some of its most valuable leaders. What is amazing to read is the incredible acts of courage these young people displayed over the four years before the city was finally liberated by the Soviets including the armed uprising in the Ghetto in 1943 and their inclusion in the later Warsaw Uprising of 1944. It seems incredible to realize how they endured the unbelievable hardships and constant fear of discovery by their Polish neighbours or the German or Polish police. This is a very inspiring book despite the horrors it describes.

[Zoe Ngan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn't realised how much Polish nationalism (and its virulent anti-semitism) laid the groundwork for Hitler's deportation of Jews. I'd always assumed that the deportations were only made possible by terrorising the populace, but the book suggests a more unsettling reality: that the Nazis merely acted on prejudices that already existed locally.

According to the author, the Poles didn't require much coercion to turn against their Jewish neighbours, perhaps a testament that mass persecution doesn't require universal hatred - just enough normalisation of exclusion and indifference. 

Structurally, the book felt like a broad history of Jewish extermination with the "Girl Bandits" intermittently woven in, rather than a work truly centered on women’s lives. The women felt difficult to remember as individuals, especially in the beginning, amidst the wider historical narrative & discussions of the various Jewish-Polish political parties. 

While I didn't find the prose as engaging as I expected, this book is still an important read on how humans persevere & survive against all odds.

[Carla Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

**⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ — A Solid, Informative Read with a Dark, Heavy Tone**

*The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto* adds a valuable new layer to what I already know about this time period. The book goes beyond a simple retelling of historical facts, instead diving into the darker, more complex realities of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. What stood out most was the focus on the often-overlooked women of the resistance—Zivia Lubetkin, Vladka Meed, Idina “Inka” Blady-Schweiger, Tema Schneiderman, and Tossia Altman—whose stories are compelling and undeniably courageous.

The author does a strong job highlighting their roles as fighters, couriers, and rescuers, and the personal details included make their bravery feel vivid and personal. However, the book’s heavy tone and dense narrative sometimes made it difficult to stay fully engaged. While informative and important, it wasn’t as gripping or emotionally resonant as I expected.

Overall, this book shines a needed light on extraordinary women whose stories deserve to be remembered, even if the delivery didn’t completely captivate me.

[Casi Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to think of myself as well educated. I was in advanced placement and then IB. I have a college degree. I love history and enjoy nonfiction. So how is this the first time I'm learning that there was a full uprising during the Holocaust? I feel like that should be something any one of the world history classes I took should have at least mentioned. It's always oh the tragedy of the poor Jews, oh no pearl harbor, well I guess the war is done now. I feel like hearing this story, particularly the role of the women involved, is wildly important from a historical point of view and in the heart of our current political climate.

The only thing I'm going to mention that is knocking this down from 5 stars is that I found the narrator of the audiobook to be a bit slow and disengaged. I wound up speeding it up to 1.25 and the added speed did help a great deal.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3.5 (Nonfiction)

I felt throughout that this was written academically for juveniles. However, knowledge of World War II is necessary to grasp some of the happenings. The book felt cluttered. Try as I did, I couldn't tell you much about the girls. What I can remember I think is from this book but could be information stored from lifelong reading.

I suggest picking up and reading quietly and perhaps take notes.

Thank you HarperAudio Adult | Harper Perennial for allowing me to audibly read and review The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto The True Story of Five Courageous Young Women Who Sparked an Uprising on NetGalley.

Narrated by Gilli Messer (Okay, voice was young for the material. Given this is a nonfiction text, I wanted a more authoritative voice.) Messer does have a place in the narrative community.

[C.Z. Munu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a powerful and important account, and the information alone carries an enormous emotional weight. I’m always drawn to WWII history, so the subject matter gripped me immediately, especially the spotlight on young women whose bravery is rarely highlighted in mainstream narratives. Their resistance, fearlessness, and resilience are unforgettable, and the historical significance of their actions shines through every chapter.

That said, I found the book leaned heavily into fact-dense nonfiction, almost to the point of feeling like a textbook at times. While the research is meticulous and the details are valuable, I often wished the narrative had been shaped into more of a story rather than a steady stream of information. A more immersive or character-driven approach would have made the emotional beats land even harder.

Still, the impact is undeniable. The sheer courage of these girls, the impossible choices they faced, and the context of the Warsaw Ghetto make this an important read, especially for anyone fascinated by WWII history. Even though the delivery felt academic, the content is deeply meaningful.

A heavy but powerful piece of nonfiction that preserves voices we desperately need to remember.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance ALC.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising remains one of the most well‑known acts of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, yet the crucial part women played in it, as fighters, couriers, and smugglers, has seldom received the attention it deserves. In Girl Bandits, Hyman brings this hidden history to the forefront, centering on five extraordinary women while also acknowledging the many others whose bravery shaped the uprising.

Although the book does not claim to provide an in-depth history of interwar Poland, the Holocaust, or the Warsaw Ghetto, it offers a clear and compelling overview that is accessible to newcomers while also enriching for readers already familiar with the subject. Its heart lies in a narrative that is both deeply informative, drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources, while also being powerfully written. Anyone interested in the topic will find this work difficult to put down.

Above all else, Hyman treats her subjects with great dignity. The title itself exemplifies her approach: Girl Bandits reclaims both the patronizing label “girls,” used by male comrades, and the Nazi slur “bandits,” used to vilify Jewish resisters, transforming both into symbols of defiance and pride. The result is a moving and illuminating account, a fitting monument to the courage and resilience of these women and a restoration of their rightful place in the history of Jewish resistance.

[Christine Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧5 🎧 Gilli Messer does an excellent job narrating the tales of these five women along with detailing the history of the Warsaw Ghetto. Her voice was engaging and she did a wonderful job saying the polish names correctly.

⭐4.5⭐ Excellent storytelling about a time in history that was inconceivable and the conditions unimaginable for human kind. After reading Elizabeth Hyman's novel, I learned so much about the Warsaw Ghetto and was truly impressed with the attitude and resilience that so many young Jewish adults carried while living in the ghetto. Thank you Elizabeth for sharing these stories with such care and thorough research on these special lives.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and tragic look at German occupation of Warsaw in WW2. The treatment of the Jewish and Polish people was horrific and heart breaking. How these young patriots found the courage to fight back is amazing and inspiring. The story provides great information on the conditions faced by the Jewish people and the uprising that occurred. It is informative and will keep you interested. A great read.

This book was completed as an audio book. and I found the narration to be good, but a little monotone at times. However, I would listen to books performed by the narrator again.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Faith J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely devastating book that made me emotional several times. It did start slow and is very history - forward. The author is a blogger and loves to get all her facts right with all the little details and cite her sources. At first I felt like this was a book assigned in a history class and I still could see it being used that way.
The stories of these incredible and STRONG women will stick with me. It is hard to read (due to the graphic details) and that is what makes it something that you should read. I'll most likely do a reread at some point of this one - there is so much information in it that I'm sure different readers will latch onto different pieces of it.

[Judy Chessin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto took me back to a story I’ve spent years reading and thinking about. There’s nothing romantic about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, but I’m always drawn to the courage and determination it demanded. Having read so much about these fighters before, the book felt like returning to people I already knew — and at the same time, meeting them more fully. Because the author clearly worked closely with the women’s own memoirs, their stories gain color, detail, and voice. The result is a well-researched, deeply human book that reminds us that women were not on the sidelines of resistance, but at its center.