The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto by Elizabeth R. Hyman; New York: Harper Perennial; © 2025; ISBN 9780063-355019; 247 pages plus acknowledgments , notes, glossary, bibliography, and index; $19.99.
By Sandra Scheller
CHULA VISTA, California — Having returned from Poland—my first visit in search of original stories and living Holocaust survivors—I came across The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto, a book that immediately captured my attention.
From the very beginning, author Elizabeth Hyman clearly conveys her purpose and the profound importance of telling this story. She takes readers on an emotional journey that powerfully reminds us that women, too, can be heroes.
The narrative is gripping and intense—a true “wild ride.” With so many names and situations to follow, it demands the reader’s full attention, yet it’s nearly impossible to put down. For anyone interested in World War II history, this is a must-read. Drawing from diaries, letters, and interviews, the author brings to life five courageous women whose bravery and leadership during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising rivaled that of their male counterparts.
The final section of the book is dedicated to documenting the author’s research and verifying her sources. While important for context and credibility, it slows the pace slightly compared to the emotional intensity of the earlier chapters. Still, it reflects the depth of scholarship behind this remarkable and necessary story.
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Sandra Scheller is the curator of the traveling RUTH (Remember Us the Holocaust) exhibit now at the La Jolla Library.