And Rescue (Women of Action) - 26 Stories of Espionage

I have only read a few chapters so far but when do get time to read at any time it's very hard to put this book down it's so enthrawling and you can visualise what thes corageous women must have gone through, I have recommeded these books to a lot of my freinds.

It was an anthology of short stories about strong women plus informative history woven into the story. These stories of courage only make me want to strive harder to make things right when I see injustice.

This work is a collection of info about women resistence fighters spies and women who risked their lives to save Jews downed pilots and other enemies of the Axis. The women are of many different nationalities. The author has uncovered many auto bios
A compelling work.

It is good to read of women heroes. We don't tell the women's stories enough. This book offers the stories of some of the women who chose to do their part. Young women need to have their heroes too. I would love to have learned more details but I know space is limited. It is somewhat less detailed than I would like but am delighted that women's stories are being told.

My wife wanted this book for Christmas so I got it for her. She really enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. Very well written with compelling stories about some of the more interesting women of WWII. If you are a fan of heroes, World War Two or like history, this would be a great book for you.

The stories of these remarkable women who fought the Nazis and helped save Jews is very inspiring. Sometimes the author repeats phrases from other lives, but the quality of the whole overcomes this jarring error.

This is an interesting and brief review of women spies during WWII - who knew. Not alot of gory details but enough information to get the sense of the times and places and valor these women displayed. I was particulary looking for something about Nancy Wake who died recently. This is worth the price and the time to read.

É UM LIVRO VERDADEIRAMENTE EMOCIONANTE. APESAR DE JÁ CONHECER ALGUMAS DAS MULHERES BIOGRAFADAS ,A HISTÓRIA DE CADA UMA EM PARTICULAR É UMA LIÇÃO DE AMOR AO SER HUMANO, CONTRA UMA PERSEGUIÇÃO DESHUMANA E IRRACIONAL. TODAS ARRISCARAM SUAS VIDAS DEFENDENDO O IDEAL DE UMA CONVIVÊNCIA PACÍFICA. CURIOSO É QUE NENHUMA DELAS FOI INDICADA PARA O PRÊMIO NOBEL DA PAZ... TRISTE E DECEPCIONANTE....

The description of this book did not indicate that it is for young adults. Now, I enjoy YA fiction, but not so much YA non-fiction. It was nice to hear the stories of a few unsung women, but the writing was definitely for juveniles, and the WWII background provided was incredibly simplistic.

I guess it would be okay for pre-teens with an interest in this area. In fact, it is probably ideal for them. For adults such as myself with a keen interest in WWII, this was a waste of $.

@kidlitexchange #partner – We need more stories like these, capturing the female heroes who have played important roles throughout history.

Atwood’s series of wonderful works highlight the experiences and importance of women in some of the most horrific and trying times we’ve faced, not just as a nation, but globally. While the history buff may not find the stories unique or novel and may find the lack of comprehensive detail a bit frustrating, it is a superior example of how to get young readers passionate about history – and teach them some really great stories along the way! I particularly appreciate the diversity of the stories and the women themselves.

In addition to the individual stories of these intriguing women, accompanied by interesting photos, Atwood also provides a brief introduction to the historical background. These short sections ensure those just learning about the particular time period (in this case, the World War II) have the necessary basics to appreciate the nuances of the stories told.

Often, Atwood uses direct quotes from the women in the book, from journal and diary entries to letters and interviews. These add a lovely personal element to the narrative as well. Overall, the formatting and writing style is quite strong if not a bit direct. There is no need for literary flourish; these stories stand on their own.

Overall, these are wonderful young adult and perhaps even middle grade introductions to vital historical periods worth studying. I would recommend for a history buff looking for a light read or any young(ish) reader looking to broaden their historical horizons!

Thank you to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are own.

“Women Heroes of WWII,” is a collection of 26 stories, each containing a tale of an inspiring woman or girl who lived and breathed during WWII. From the four corners of the world, you learn about strong individuals who did what they could to make a difference in the dark world they were living in. Some rescued Jews, others wrote illegal pamphlets, some were spies, some lived to tell their stories and some died for what they believed in. From all walks of life, from various backgrounds, different religions, and separate social classes, these ladies left the mark on the world and are excellent role models for today’s youth. Though these ladies would never think of calling themselves heroes, read their stories and discover what true heroism is.

I actually borrowed and read this book a few years ago as research for a WIP of mine and loved it. A couple weeks ago I saw that they were giving it away on Goodreads and signed up for a chance to win. Imagine my surprise when I received a message from the author herself asking if I would be interested in a free copy in exchange for a book review. Not only that, she also sent me her latest book “Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics,” to review as well. I give “Women Heroes of WWII” five stars, not only because of the stories of the ladies featured in this book, but because I love the writing itself. The style is easy to read, smooth but very detailed. I learned about different countries and cultures that I knew very little of, and how those places responded to the Nazis and the Holocaust.

I was thrilled to find many of my own personal heroines featured in there: Sophie Scholl, Irena Sendler and Sophia Podgorska. I was also introduced to many others that I was not too familiar with: Noor Inayat Khan (fun fact, there is a PBS documentary out about her called, “Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story”), Josephine Baker (had heard of her, of course, but had not realized all that she had done) and Martha Gellhorn (one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century).

I hope to lend this book to my sister that way she can write a review too. She was particularly excited to hear that Noor Inayat Khan was included, since that is a heroine of hers. But I’m selfish and plan to keep it for myself for future reference. Thank you, Kathryn Atwood for sending this to me.

http://veronicaleigh.blogspot.com

“War can teach you so much about evil, and so much about good.” --- Zainab Salbi.

Never before have these words been so true. In WOMEN HEROES OF WORLD WAR II: Pacific Theater, readers are introduced to women who lost so much, but still had the courage to persevere and help others. For Vivian Bullwinkel, it was when she became the sole survivor of a massacre by Japanese soldiers, surviving without food or shelter for days in the jungle all while tending to a fatally wounded British soldier while wounded herself. For Sybil Kathigasu, it was when she was imprisoned and beaten for several weeks by the Japanese for giving medical attention to Chinese guerrilla fighters, all while never revealing a single piece of information. For Elizabeth Choy, it was when she lived the rest of her life hating war, not her tormentors, after enduring six month of starvation and torture by the Japanese military police.

The writer of WOMEN HEROES OF WORLD WAR I and WOMEN HEROES OF WORLD WAR II, Kathryn J. Atwood, introduces readers to not only the Bataan Death March, the Rape of Nanking and Pearl Harbor, but also to 15 women who risked their lives fighting for what they believed in, bringing influential stories of hope, resistance, and survival. It is these stories that makes WOMEN HEROES OF WORLD WAR II: Pacific Theater a compelling read.

While the stories themselves were interesting, I found it somewhat hard to get into. Each chapter is short, only 10 to 20 pages long, so you don’t really get that much information about each woman. A lot of the time I found myself wanting more, and that frustrated me a little bit. If you want a heavily detailed account of the women in World War II in the Pacific Theater, this is not the book for you, but if you want to learn about these heroes, but don’t really know where to start, this book acts an effective jumping off point to learn and find more detailed accounts of their lives. Within the book this is made easy since at the end of every story there is a section titled “Learn More," where the sources and other places where you can find more information regarding the particular woman are printed.

If you know nothing about World War II and the specific battles and events that took place, never fear! There are blocks of context information scattered within each of the chapters. Usually half a page long, these are sectioned off from the rest of the text and give a brief description of war events and strategic plans as to help the reader understand what is going on. For things that I didn’t know these were actually very helpful, and I can imagine if you really know nothing about World War II that these would be a lifesaver. However, to someone who knows their history or took a history class about World War II I can also imagine that these would seem extremely simplified.

If you have little to no idea about any of the specifics of World War II in the Pacific and want to learn more but don’t know where to start, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you. It is the perfect starting point to learn more about Allied heroes. But if you are a total history buff and read textbooks for fun, this might be a little too oversimplified for you.

Learning about history can seem daunting, but this is the perfect book to get you started. It is an easy read, structured nicely, and its stories are compelling, creating an easy to understand summary of the events of the involvement of women in World War II.

Reviewed by Zoe I.

“Women Heroes of WWII,” is a collection of 26 stories, each containing a tale of an inspiring woman or girl who lived and breathed during WWII. From the four corners of the world, you learn about strong individuals who did what they could to make a difference in the dark world they were living in. Some rescued Jews, others wrote illegal pamphlets, some were spies, some lived to tell their stories and some died for what they believed in. From all walks of life, from various backgrounds, different religions, and separate social classes, these ladies left the mark on the world and are excellent role models for today’s youth. Though these ladies would never think of calling themselves heroes, read their stories and discover what true heroism is.

I actually borrowed and read this book a few years ago as research for a WIP of mine and loved it. A couple weeks ago I saw that they were giving it away on Goodreads and signed up for a chance to win. Imagine my surprise when I received a message from the author herself asking if I would be interested in a free copy in exchange for a book review. Not only that, she also sent me her latest book “Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics,” to review as well. I give “Women Heroes of WWII” five stars, not only because of the stories of the ladies featured in this book, but because I love the writing itself. The style is easy to read, smooth but very detailed. I learned about different countries and cultures that I knew very little of, and how those places responded to the Nazis and the Holocaust.

I was thrilled to find many of my own personal heroines featured in there: Sophie Scholl, Irena Sendler and Sophia Podgorska. I was also introduced to many others that I was not too familiar with: Noor Inayat Khan (fun fact, there is a PBS documentary out about her called, “Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story”), Josephine Baker (had heard of her, of course, but had not realized all that she had done) and Martha Gellhorn (one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century).

I hope to lend this book to my sister that way she can write a review too. She was particularly excited to hear that Noor Inayat Khan was included, since that is a heroine of hers. But I’m selfish and plan to keep it for myself for future reference. Thank you, Kathryn Atwood for sending this to me.

http://veronicaleigh.blogspot.com

Not what I was expecting; not a good thing. I remember being excited when I saw the title and read the blurb. After reading "Flying for Her Country," by Amy Goodpaster Strebe, I was looking for a good work detailing the women who fought for their countries during this epic struggle.
I'm still looking.
While this work introduces the reader to twenty-six remarkable women, that's all it does. It came across as a primer for the readers to buy additional works detailing the women's contributions to the war. This is not what I was looking for, at all. I wanted an in-depth accounting of their heroic efforts, not a shot-gun smattering.
One of the most disturbing flaws is how much information is constantly repeated. If the women were from, say Denmark, Belgium, France or the Netherlands, we are greeted with the same information over and over again detailing how the Germans imposed ant-Semitic laws. This could have been covered in the beginning of each section instead of being constantly rehashed. The space should have been used to tell us much more of their activities and harrowing experiences instead of being inundated with the same information.
One other pet-peeve is the overuse of the word, had. I found it oppressive when I read Bob Dole's biography. It's just as distracting in this work. We want good, solid, exciting content; not filler words!
In retrospect, it's a good introductory work for junior high or high school girls who want an introduction to the women who served their countries and fought for their freedom.

Three stars.

I went into Kathryn Atwood’s Women Heroes of World War II hoping the experience would leave me with the same fascination I experienced after watching HBO’s excellent series Band of Brothers. While the book does deliver in that regard, in some ways I feel like I got so much more.

Atwood paints vivid stills of her twenty-six heroines, offering up generally their most significant wartime contributions as well as fascinating peeks into each woman’s personality. Perhaps my favorite profile is that of Nora Inayat Khan, a petite and quite shy British resistance worker who failed miserably early on but came back to become one of the most fierce and determined women in the book. At one time, the once gentle girl fought violently with the unfortunate Nazi sympathizer sent to arrest her, clawing and scratching him so badly that he could only restrain her by putting a gun to her head.

Atwood’s writing is straightforward and suitable for all ages, although it’s clear that the adventure-style telling of most stories is designed for younger audiences. Some profiles wrap rather quickly, but this seems to be a byproduct of Atwood’s desire to keep the book compact more than anything else. Each story could be (and often has been) expanded upon to form entire books of their own. With that in mind, Women Heroes of World War II serves as the perfect primer for those seeking a great introduction to women’s contributions in WWII.

Thankfully, Atwood treats some of the more disturbing outcomes of her heroines with a grace that will allow even more sensitive readers such as myself to continue. Still, some of the stories were so moving or unfortunate that they brought a tear to my eye. It is always difficult to read of broken families, tortures, murders and the like, no matter how gentle the treatment. But Atwood is brilliant in showing that despite the overwhelmingly dark situations these women found themselves in, their character, moral fortitude, and faith made their lives shine so brightly that we can still feel their warmth to this day.

Most outcomes are good, however. Each profile brings something new, unexpected, or even near miraculous. I found myself gut-wrenched at times, cheering at others, and sometimes just generally amazed. Atwood has taken my perception of women and their war time contributions from a merely national one to an international one. She skillfully illustrates that women abroad often fought two wars: one against the ruthless Germans, and the other against the sexism so deeply rooted in the culture of that day. Thankfully these wonderful women helped win both wars.

In Women Heroes of World War II, I feel like I got what could be called a “Band of Sisters”. It’s about a group of women not bound by a military brigade or battalion, but by the greater bond of a common moral code, one that impelled them to help those less fortunate than themselves and to sacrifice everything, even up to their very lives, for the sake of freedom. It is an excellent read.

I literally could not put this book down and have read it within a day of its arrival. I think what most drew me to it was the optimism about human nature that it encouraged. Here were 26 young women, who in one way or another, encountered directly or heard about, the massive, murderous injustices of the Nazi regime in their own or other countries and did something about it. I found extraordinary, the repeated instances where confronting an impossible moral dilemma between their own survival and saving others, so many chose to save others. I also liked how often an intuitive sense of danger or of what to do saved the day. Generally ordinary young women suddenly made extraordinary by appalling situations. Though I guess Marlene Dietrich, Martha Gellhorn, or Josephine Baker, who are included are a little less ordinary. The picture of Marlene Dietrich trapped behind the lines in the Ardennes in late 1944 is extraordinary.

And as you look through the photographs of each of the 26, you see a something they all seem to have in common: this moral courage, this ability to look profound evil in the eye and not flinch. Some of them died, and though I already knew something of the story of the White Rose German resistance group, the photo of one of its members Sophie Scholl is what really haunted me. Her seriousness and yet she was the one who in the midst of the monstrous Roland Freisler's tirade at her trial,where she was sentenced to death, she simply shouted: 'Somebody had to make a start! What we said and wrote are what many people are thinking. They just don't dare say it out loud!' And these 26 young women said or did it out loud.

And while some were executed, many of them survived to pay testament to those who didn't, and keep up the idea of resistance to evil. Many of them lived to a ripe old age and I guess having made the most of life. Thank you to Kathy Atwood for bringing their stories to life and to light. Her style of recounting the events she recalls is gripping, but deeply humane and compassionate, informed no doubt by her own faith in humanity. The book has excellent additional resources on each of the 26 and would make a great gift to any feisty young women (and men) who wonder what life direction they should take. Here are 26 inspirational stories.

And for those who died saving others or fighting evil: we remember you and this book helps us in that necessary process.Thank you all. It occurs to me that while the Yad Vashem remembers the 'Righteous among the Nations' who helped saved Jews, perhaps this book is a step towards more general recognition of those who saved their fellow humans of whatever race, group, nationality, etc.

As Georges Loustaunau-Lacau, owner of the magazine L'ordre national remarked to Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, when asking her to organize a massive French spy network that later came to be known as Noah's Ark, "Who will ever suspect a woman?" In fact, such underestimation of women's ability helped to bring down the Nazi regime, as, especially at the start of World War II, the fascist supremacists overlooked what damage women could cause to their overwhelming militaristic might. That women made a major contribution to winning the War for the Allies is undeniable, and Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue explains how.

Kathryn Atwood proves herself to be a storyteller and historian of note, as she provides an overall account of the War, as it was waged on the Western Front, before giving a country-by-country overview of the progress and impact of the War, covering Germany, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, and the United States. After contextualizing the setting that gave rise to the exploits of the heroines that Atwood describes in Women Heroes of World War II, the author describes the contribution made by each hero to the war effort. The strength and resilience of such well-known figures as Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich are paralleled with those of lesser-known women, who fought with as strong a will and determination to defy evil, no matter the odds. That they did so at great danger to life and limb is clearly shown, making them ideal role models for young and aspirant women who, although they might not have to fight against such horrors as Kristallnacht (Crystal Night, or the Night of Broken Glass), nevertheless have frequently still to overcome social stereotyping and discrimination at school, college and beyond.

Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue reads like a fast-paced and well-written action novel. In addition to being extremely well-researched and informative, because it presents a comprehensive picture of the War from ground level up, as well as providing an overview of the War at both national and international level, the work is ideal background reading for history learners, especially from middle school level up. The book is so exciting that it is sure to lure many a learner away from the Internet, which, as we all know, is not always the most reliable source of information for school and college projects. Even so, each chapter ends with a short bibliography listing a few books and websites to which students can turn if they wish to read further (and I can almost guarantee you, they will). Women Heroes of World War II is a memorable work that should find a home in all resource centers and libraries dedicated to serving the interests of the youth. [Reviewer for BookPleasures.com]

I am over-awed at the strong and brave women in our recent past; our mothers and grandmothers, a few recently passed and those who gave all during the worst of the war. Some of these names were very recognizable, though this gave new insight into their acts of heroism--to the extent they went for how strongly they believed in their cause. I was especially delighted to see a chapter devoted to the ladies of the US WASPs, as time and again they flew those brand new (untested--they were the test) airplanes to the fields where the men would take them on assignment as well as get up and fly decoy, trailing targets for our boys to practice shooting at! Not recognized as military and only recently (by Obama!) recognized at all; gratifying to see a video dedicated to them collected and recently ran by PBS(?). These ladies noted in the book of the war from various Allied countries ran some extremely independent and dangerous missions--a few getting caught but not relinquishing under torture names that would have meant the sure capture and probable death of their Resistance sisters and brothers. Not the weaker sex at all. While this calls out 26 of the outstanding, understand there are many more lesser known, but no less courageous for the missions undertaken and the lives they saved through their selfless acts in one of the more horrific times of this collective world. Particularly appreciated, the explanations of so many of the commonly known acronyms. Never really understood exactly what they stood for as well as the extended sources of additional info on most individuals profiled. The only problem I had with the book was the repeat a few times of a particular paragraph in the profile borrowed from the general intro to the country. These women were amazing, often offered medals post-war which they turned down and/or later realized the story should be told. Freedom wasn't, isn't, and continues not to be, free and still only enjoyed by us very fortunate few. It's time more appreciation is given to those who willingly chose to offer that gift; or read again about the sacrifice of those who, scared as they were, were so outraged by what was happening they did it anyway. I won this book; thrilled that I did and would not hesitate to recommend it.

With WOMEN HEROES OF WORLD WAR II Atwood returns to look at the lives of women during war time. This well written novel highlights not only the risks taken, but what each of the individuals gave and gained through their actions. I appreciate the way that Atwood makes history palpable to the masses without taking literary liberties or dumming down her subject matter.

I definitely enjoyed reading about these fantastic women and their contributions throughout the war. The sense of everyday individuals working towards something so much bigger than themselves served to remind me just how big the world really is.

HERO- person noted or admired for nobility, courage outstanding achievements, etc.

Each of the 26 women in this incredible book is a hero in her own right, and not one would use the word to describe herself. Not one.
They did what they felt compelled to do...

Most people familiar with Resistance workers of WW2 are familiar with the names Raoul Wallenberg or Oscar Schindler perhaps...or many more of the male heroes who fought to push back the advances of the Nazis.

But what of the women?? The housewives, the secretaries, the students et al who gave of themselves,and who more often gave their lives to help those being wronged?

Atwood has given us a glimpse into the lives of female fighters who used weapons as well as their wits to save lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children.

Reading this, we learned a lot about World War II as well as the individual stories of incredible women. Each chapter tells the story of an ordinary girl or woman who confronted great risks and hardships to take a stand for what she believed was right. The level of detail is impressive, and the historical and geo-political context is very helpful. The truth isn't glossed over, which I appreciated, but is presented for young adult readers who are ready emotionally to deal with the horrors of World War II. The stories were inspiring and gripping, and served as a springboard for many conversations.

Atwood's standout title brings to life 26 everyday women who made a difference during World War II. In brief, well-researched profiles, Atwood not only introduces these women, but really makes the reader feel as though they are getting to know them - including not only their accomplishments, but personal life details as well. There is simply not another book like it on the shelves.

The book opens with an overview of world events leading to WWII; then moves into the profiles of the women heroes, arranged by home country. I love that this book is international in scope, and includes both famous (Marlene Dietrich, Corrie Ten Boom) and everyday women.

Filled with photographs, bibliographies, and more, this is an essential title for school libraries but also a great pick for any reader interested in history. While written for Young Adult readers, this book does not flinch at the horrors of war and will appeal to readers at a higher reading level well - my 70-year old mother in law loved it and my husband enjoyed it, as did I!.

Great collection of impressive individual stories from WWII. It also provided references for quite a few books and a few movies about some of the individuals. This is helpful in case there is an interest in learning much more detail about any of those mentioned. Recommended for anyone interested in WWII, partisan actions against the Nazis and Vichy government, and stories of brave and dedicated women who did more than their part in helping bring defeat to the axis powers.

Disclaimer: Kathryn Atwood is a Goodreads friend. I've never met her in real life, and I brought this book. But she is a Goodreads Friend (was before this book was published). Just so you know.

Billed as a young adult history book, Atwood's Women Heroes of World War II can easily be read by people of all ages. This is great because it is a book that helps to fill two large gaps in World War II history.

The first gap is that of the helpers or rescuers of Jews in World War II. This is a gap, I can hear you wonder. Well, yes and know. Everyone knows the story of Miep Gies, but Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl is pretty much the only piece of the rescuer story that is taught in schools. This book introduces the reader to more rescuers. Miep Gies is not mentioned, and this is not an oversight. It allows Atwood to focus on lesser known people.

Atwood's book is split into sections. There is a general introduction, overview really, followed by sections about Germany, Poland, France, Netherlands, Beligum, Britian, and the United States. Each section includes, in addition to the stories of the heroes, a general overview of the country during World War II, with particular focuses on the role of women. While not all encompassing, the women Atwood focuses on could easily be fit into all sections (Slovak, Irish, Indian) and cover all age groups and social classes. While younger predominates, there are older ladies as well.

The importance of less known heroes is important. The best known three, at least in general, would be Irene Sendler, Joesphine Baker, and Marlene Dietech. While it is true that all of the women mentioned appear in books (some of have written books), very few appear in books that are used in schools. Atwood's book is readily accessible to schools not only in it's layout but in the amount of infromation it has. It would be a good textbook, good because it is not dull and dry. This is important because of the use and popularity of Saving Private Ryan and HBO's World War II mini-series. Atwood's book gives female students that in, taking away the feeling of absence that can be felt by women watching World War II movies.

Equally important, and tied to the above point, is that in addition to spies and rescuers, Atwood includes protestors, a nurse, and a reporter. She presents heroes of different types. The inclusion of the German dissenters is important for this reason as well. Atwood has both tragic and happy ending stories, but all are inspiring. She gets full points for tastefully relating some of the harsher elements of the stories (the focus of the stories is the War experience, however, additional facts are provided).

The layout of the book is excellent. In additionally to the chapter introductions and wonderfully selected photographers, there are little boxes in each section, giving more detailing to terms, historical events, people, or speeches. At the end of each woman's chapter, Atwood provides a book that includes infromation for further reading on the woman. These are repeated in the book's biblography, with books for children (or accessible by children) starred.

Perhaps the book is too focused on the European theatre, though this allows for a larger variety of women and, perhaps, there will be a second volume about the Pacific (hint, hint). Perhaps an inclusion of Twenty Jataka Tales under Noor Khan's further reading book would have been nice. But these are very small quibbles.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in World War II and for any parent of a young girl.

As a specialist on rescue and resistance during World War II, I was impressed and enthralled with Kathryn Atwood's Women Heroes of WWII. Each well-constructed story, with historical background and unique elements of surprise, oppression, outraged reaction, and closure, carries its own weight as truth gathered from first-person testimony. Her detailed accounts of no less than 26 courageous women from various Nazi-Occupied countries raise burning questions in the reader's mind: How many other unsung female heroes played their roles in espionage, sabotage, resistance and rescue? What would I have done, what could I have done, if tested under such circumstances? And how can the parents among us raise courageous children who will stand up to injustice?

Joanne S. Silver

Researcher & Speaker on Survivor Testimony of the Holocaust, Chevalier in the Order of Academic Palmes & 2011 Recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Officer Award of the American Association of Teachers of French.

This book has opened a new area of information about WW II that I had never really thought about. I knew there were resisters, spies & those that carried out espionage. I just didn't ever stop to think that so many of them were women. The risks that they took & the dedication that they had to those who were oppressed. Would I have the courage to do ANYTHING? Hopefully I'll never have to find out.

Although this is classified as Young Adult or Juvenile, Atwood relates stories that are likely so unknown that anyone would be fascinated by this book. Because it is aimed primarily at younger readers, Atwood takes time to explain some of the main concepts and names from World War II. Again, adults might find this helpful -- there is likely a name or idea you have heard but could not define. For example, I have heard of Yad Vashem, but now I know exactly what it is.

Most of the heroines of Atwood's stories are normal women in extraordinary circumstances. In the United States, we know that many women took part in the war effort by turning a wrench. Europe, they often acted as couriers and spies. Most fascinating to me were the stories of how women had to think fast on their feet when confronted by Nazi soldiers while carrying secret papers or plans. Often, these soldiers were outwitted by the fact that the people in front of them were women.

It's hard to read about this era, but take comfort in the fact that many of the women profiled here lived long lives. Atwood always tells you what happened to them, and gives you resources for more information. Atwood's book is a very important contribution to our understanding of this significant time.

I would highly recommend this book for students doing research on World War II. The book is well organized and easy to understand. The stories are compelling-some of the women are famous, like Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich, while others were not as famous, but all did their part in the war effort in some way. The stories were inspiring and the best part, in my opinion, were the extensive 'further reading' notes. This makes the book an ideal starting point for students researching women during WWII, and the further reading notes give them even more points for research.
Aside from its research value, the stories are simply interesting to read. A student might pick up this book and read it for fun, and then discover that he or she has more questions about one of the women, which could lead in all sorts of wonderful directions for research.
I am a high school librarian with a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science and a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology. My area of undergraduate study was history, and I work primarily with students in Social Studies classes, so this book is particularly relevant to my area of expertise.

World War II was an atrocity of the highest level that so many young people especially in the U.S. have no real understanding of. To live daily under these circumstances is so foreign and unimaginable. It is so important to not forget what happened.
Women Heroes of World War II is so well written and enthralling I would recommend it as a must read for everyone, it should be a required reading book for all history curriculums that study World War ll. The bravery and substance of these women are just truly amazing.

Twenty-Six true accounts of humanity at its finest while fighting humanity at its worst and least present. These are stories of women from various nations and backgrounds that fought in their own way to stick it to Hitler and his Nazi party, and each deserves to be remembered. A fascinating read for lovers of history or acts of pure selflessness.

This book is very informative without being boring. I learned a lot about WWII while still enjoying the amazing things these women accomplished.
If theres a particular story or two that peeks your interest, the author also includes references at the end of each chapter which I've already use to read more about Poland's Irena Gutman. I've recommended this to several friends who enjoy history already.

Not only does it tell about the many inspiring female heroes during WW II, I like how it gives background story and outlines to understand better the views of the local people throughout many countries in Europe who courageously resisted the evil Hitler regime.

Women's history is not always taught in school, so it is rare that young women are aware of the many accomplishments of women through the ages. One such book, Women Heroes of World War 11 identifies 26 women, who with courage of conviction, used their skills to help defeat the Nazis and made a tremendous difference in the lives of many during that time. If you are interested in history, this book is a must read, it will add to what you may have already learned and it will serve to inspire young women everywhere.

Anna Marie Petrarca Gire
[...]

"This book tells the stories of the brave, unknown women who risked their lives during World War II to fight for what they believed in. I loved the short stories on the adventures of all the women and felt inspired by all of their courageous acts"
Heidi Schmidt, (Women's Independent Press) WIP Teens

This was an engaging summary of each woman's experience and notes resources you can read for more detailed exploration of each. It is definitely written for junior high and high school students however, so if you are an adult, be prepared.

This is a good book for introduction into WWII lesser known characters. Although it's written for teens, I enjoyed it. The book highlights the women's courage and heroism in taking a stand against the extreme evil in Nazi Germany. It doesn't go into much detail, but could encourage further study. I would recommend it for teens studying the war.

The stories are compelling (interesting enough to read until the end), however the book (Women Heroes of WWII) is so riddled (haphazardly strewn) with parentheticals (for clarification or definition), that I (the reader) am finding it difficult (annoying) to read the text (Women Heroes of WWII). (Sometimes entire sentences (that could easily be integrated into the text) are written as parentheticals.) I (the reader) have read many (hundreds) of books (both for pleasure and information), and have never (to my recollection) experienced such an awkwardly (annoyingly) worded text.

If you find that paragraphs written in the style above are annoying, you will not want to read this book. Using footnotes or integrating information into the text would have been much more effective. Poor editing.

Great book! Exciting, informative, accessible, and inspiring. Fascinating true stories about ordinary people preforming extraordinary acts of courage and compassion during a very difficult time. Recommended!

It is so important to learn about authentic role models and particularly people who have taken risks to support humanitarian values. Kathryn Atwood's colorful and succinct stories of daring women will inform and challenge young people, hopefully sparking their curiosity and leading them to further study and action.